Example of a Family Tree Diagram

If you're planning to make a chart of your ancestors and their relationships, it might help to view an example of a family tree diagram. These diagrams can be very useful for genealogists, and they are easy to create.

What Is a Family Tree?

You've probably heard of family trees, but there are actually several different chart styles to choose from. You can pick the tree that best displays your information.

Pedigree family trees show the direct ancestors of an individual. These charts often go back several generations, and branches represent parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of the person.
Descendant charts are another type of family tree. These diagrams show everyone who is descended from an individual, and they have more of a pine-tree shape. They usually include several generations.
Family lineage diagrams are another option. They are similar to pedigree charts, but they aren't limited to direct ancestors. Instead, they can include siblings, as well as additional marriages and blended families.
Combination charts usually look like a tree with a root system, but they can also be displayed like an hourglass on its side. These diagrams show both the ancestors and descendants for an individual, and they can be a great way to provide a comprehensive view of a person's genealogy.

Find an Example of a Family Tree Diagram

Before you choose which family tree style you'd like to create, it can be helpful to view examples. It's hard to find every tree style on a single website, so you might have to visit several sites to get a sense of your options. Try some of the links listed below.

Examples of Pedigree Charts

The following websites offer great examples of pedigree trees:

Genealogy Search has several free family tree charts and forms, including an excellent example of a pedigree chart.
Ancestry.com, the paid subscription genealogy site, offers a free ascendency chart that can help you illustrate the pedigree of an ancestor. There are also examples of a variety of other family tree styles.
Michigan.gov has a free example of a pedigree chart. You can download the form and then fill it out, or you can simply use it as inspiration.
Brigham Young University has a free download for a pedigree form, which includes guidelines about how to properly record information about your ancestors.

Examples of Descendant Charts

These Internet sites provide examples of descendant charts:

Rootsweb has a great example of a descendancy chart for one large family. You can see how all the generations fit together, and color coding helps keep things organized.
Genealogy Pro Charts has examples of both vertical and horizontal descendant charts and tips about which style works best for your situation.
Second Site has a page of information about the different ways you can lay out a descendant chart. You'll find helpful diagrams and examples.
Pictorial Genealogy is a company that sells genealogy charts featuring photographs, and they have a very nice example of a descendant chart.

Examples of Family Lineage Diagrams

You can see examples of family lineage diagrams at the following sites:

Twigs and Branches is an Australian site that sells large-format family trees. It has many great examples of family lineage charts, some of which even include photographs.
Cyndi's List is a great resource for examples of lineage diagrams, as well as several other tree styles.
Rutger's has a downloadable family medical tree that includes siblings. Although this isn't targeted at genealogists, it's a very nice example of the style you might use.
Enchanted Learning has several tree templates an examples, including some that might be perfect for a family lineage diagram.

Examples of Combination Charts

If you're looking for examples of combination charts, check out the following sources:

Misbach Enterprises sells all kinds of family tree charts, including combination diagrams. Whether or not you decide to order one of these charts, they make inspiring examples of family trees.
TT Family Tree Research has several well-conceived chart designs, one of which is an "hourglass chart" or combination diagram. This is a good place to go to compare the different styles of family tree diagrams using examples.
Obituaries Help has several different styles of family tree diagrams, including a great six-generation hourglass chart.
Genealogy.com has a combination or hourglass tree example that is color-coded for clarity.

Tips for Choosing the Right Style

After you've viewed an example of a family tree diagram, it's time to choose the type of family tree that's best for your situation. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you want your chart to include an individual's ancestors, descendants, or both?
How many generations do you plan to include?
Will your family tree include siblings and multiple marriages?
What do you hope to show with this tree?

No matter which style you choose, you will find that making a family tree is a satisfying and educational process. Your family history research will be clearly displayed for you own use and for future generations.