Click on the picture to enlarge it. You can download the template itself from the link at the end of the page GENEALOGY BOOK ( GO TO PAGE TO DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE...), and the process of filling it out is described below.
- Open the template using Word.
- Hover your mouse over the window you need and fill in the relative’s full name.
- If you want to insert photos, then select “Picture” from the “Insert” menu. Select the desired photo of your relative.
- In the “working with drawing” menu, select the “text wrapping” - “behind text” function so that the drawing can be freely moved around the working field.
- Next, use the “crop” and “scaling” tools in the “work with pictures” menu to crop and fit the photo to the size of the frame.
- Do the same with other windows.
- Print it on your printer or take it to your nearest printing house.
- Your family tree is ready!
Sample of a completed family tree template
The family tree (Genealogical) tree can be hung on the wall in the room in a prominent place, as a solemn and elegant piece of furniture. Its presence places important emphasis on the relationship between those living in an apartment or a house. And the home itself is painted with a new shade - another truly significant thing has appeared in the house. An ascending (to ancestors) family tree is the simplest and most understandable type of family tree. This is a great gift from parents to their children, to parents from their children, or a gift from close family friends.
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Family tree
« Family tree" - this is the name given to a schematic tree-like representation of family ties, where the ancestor is located at the “roots”, and the “branches” represent the lines of his descendants.
In past family tree was stylized to resemble a real tree, and such a scheme was considered very convenient for perception and formation of ideas about the development of each specific genus. Also called a family tree is a depiction of genealogies in the form of descending or ascending genealogies or genealogical tables.
Family tree template
The circular table is a private option, and therefore rarely used in geneology. The variant of “mixed ascending pedigree” is also not very common, in which the ancestor is located in the center, with lines extending to the ancestors on the paternal and maternal lines. Similar tables are typical for English and French genealogy.
Family tree: template to fill out
The person whose ancestors are being studied is placed in the center of the circle, the outer one, the second circle is divided in half, and the father and mother are indicated in it. In the third, concentric circle, divided into 4 parts, grandparents and so on are written down. To this day, tables of ascending ancestry are necessary to represent those entering the Order of Malta (a knightly organization whose charter requires evidence of the origin of a sufficient number of ancestors).
Anyone who is interested in their ancestry and wants to build family tree, they know that this is quite difficult to do. However, now there are many ways to help build your own pedigree using special devices. Thus, a family tree, the program for which can be freely downloaded on the Internet, can be built completely intuitively, if, of course, you have the necessary data. This, undoubtedly, significantly increases the popularity and importance of conducting research into the history of one’s surname.
Family tree
Family tree of the Zhukovs
Some services offer family tree building for free, which also attracts many users. This creates the preconditions for a massive passion for studying genealogies of a wide variety of families. If at first it is not clear to you exactly how to build a family tree, then you can download a ready-made family tree. Its template can help you form your own structure and fill it with the content you have.
As you can see, you can create a family tree on your own, without the help of specialists. But the same cannot be said about the actual acquisition of information with which you will fill the family tree. Here you cannot do without the help of historians-archivists, unless of course you want to get to the very roots. As an example, you can refer to the Romanov family tree, which is still popular today. Who knows, maybe among your ancestors there was someone of royal blood.
Common family trees for surnames:
- Ivanov tree, 6% Petrov tree, 4% Mazurov tree 3.8% Belozersky genealogy, 2.6%
Having compiled a family genealogical tree, it can be passed on to children and grandchildren, who will continue to refine and supplement it, honoring the memory of their ancestors and increasing the authority of the family. This is where special tools can help, such as a family tree program, which is very easy to download for free. The interfaces of such programs usually do not cause any difficulties; you can learn how to work quickly and very easily. On average, you can find up to 25 connections for one surname or family.
Compiling a family tree can radically change the life of your entire family and will influence all subsequent generations. The presence of great ancestors will help maintain respect and imitation among the younger generations of the family. Currently, experts recommend having a family tree in every family, because it will have a positive impact on the attitude towards the family’s past and history in general.
Example of a simple Tree
Consequently, it is very difficult to overestimate the importance of the family tree for modern man. It is capable of performing cognitive, educational, stimulating and many other functions. The family tree program, which is offered for free download by a wide variety of sites, will help you organize the work of structuring the available information in the best possible way, avoiding repetitions and inaccuracies.
Thus, the process of compiling a family tree will not take much time, will not require a lot of effort, and is accessible to everyone. There is always the opportunity to download a family tree template and, based on the example received, order information search and compilation by specialists. In this case, in addition to an excellent family tree, you will receive the accuracy and quality of the information contained in it.
With the help of modern technologies, you can supplement the information contained in the family tree with other documents that reveal the content of each important event that happened in your family. In addition, illustrating family history with diaries and special albums, which can also be ordered from specialized companies, is quite widespread.
How to make a family tree
Number the envelopes containing the papers. There is no need to restore old documents and photographs; if necessary, give them to specialists. Do not paste documents into albums - just put them in pre-prepared envelopes, copy and scan. The template will help you create a “schedule” for your project and track the status of each task. When you open a database using the Open command on the File tab, you can view a list of shortcuts to recently opened databases by clicking the My Recent Documents button in the Open dialog box. Back to top Note: Disclaimer regarding machine translation. For more information about installing the Jet update, see Office Online Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 (SP8) or later. Its main advantages from my point of view are that it is very simple and with its help you can print your tree on paper to show your relatives. And if you don’t have a printer, you can simply redraw what you got.
Related posts:
The family tree can be made directly on the wall of the house or in the form of a panel. A painted family tree or one made from polymer clay also looks great.
Family tree on the wall
It will become not only a decorative element of decoration, you can hang photographs of family members here. Such a tree will certainly attract the attention of guests. And you tell them how related you are to this or that person.
You can buy ready-made stickers of such a tree with frames or make it yourself using a stencil. For the last option you will need:
- cardboard, whatman paper or wallpaper;
- scissors;
- stationery knife;
- large ruler;
- sponge;
- brown paint;
- brush;
- scotch;
- soft cloth.
- You will need not only a template for the family tree, but also a stencil, which is easy to make yourself. To do this, draw its parts on a disassembled cardboard box, whatman paper or wallpaper. You can take large pieces or glue small ones with tape to draw the entire tree at once. It must have a trunk and branches.
- You can make it symmetrical. To do this, only half of the tree is drawn on paper. It will be enough to unfold it in a mirror image and then apply the outline of the second half to the wall.
- But first, carefully cut inside the template with a knife and scissors. If your wall is dark, then the wood is cut out from the outside, applied to it, and the part of the wall being used is painted over with light paint.
- If the wall is light, then apply the stencil to the wall and stick it to it with tape. Dipping a sponge into the paint, sketch the trunk and skeletal branches; thin ones can be drawn with a brush.
- Make separate stencils of leaves, attach them with tape to the wall, paint the inside with paint, when it dries, paint the veins with a brush.
- If you don't want to draw a tree, but glue it, then buy brown adhesive paper and cut out the tree elements from it.
- Cut out rectangles inside the sheets, attach them to the wall, and paint over them. When dry, glue a photo to each.
You can arrange the photographs not vertically and diagonally, but slightly obliquely to avoid strict forms.
Place relatives on the mother's side on the left, and on the father's side on the right. At the bottom, paste photographs of the older family members; at the top are the youngest. You can cut out rectangles from sticky paper that will become photo frames. It’s okay if you have small fragments of different colors left from the repair. These will also look good, especially if their tone is in harmony with each other.
If you want to quickly make a family tree, you can skip cutting the leaves. Even without them, this family heirloom looks great.
You can make the ends of the branches with curls, like in this photo, or without them, like in the next one.
If you have a desire to create a family tree on the wall, but are short on materials, you still shouldn’t give up on this idea. If you have a plain light wall, it will work great, if not, you can paint it. If there is no dark paint or self-adhesive paper available, then use pieces of brown suede, leather or fabric of that color. From such materials you need to cut out wood elements and glue them on the wall.
To avoid confusion, draw the parts of the tree on the newspaper first. Number them starting from the top or bottom. Then put these numbers on the back of the fabric or leather pieces.
All that remains is to nail or glue the photo frames. If you don’t have them either, lay everything out of the same fabric or leather, or glue it together from ceiling plinths.
Fans of high-tech style can create a family tree and photo frames in the same color. Using the above materials for this.
Volumetric family tree - master class
It can be made from a variety of materials. Knowing how to create a topiary, you will make the base of the tree from wire and wrap it with paper. If you have enough time, try creating a family tree to look like a golden heirloom.
To do something similar, take:
- brass tube;
- copper wire;
- plastic;
- walnuts;
- brown and gold acrylic paint;
- hot gun;
- foil;
- large gold-colored beads;
- copper paint in a can;
- a finished box or wooden planks, paint, glue and varnish for it.
- The brass tube is a tree trunk. Cut the wire lengths. Take a few at a time and twist them to form branches. Leave the ends of these blanks free for now in order to wrap them around the trunk and attach them to it.
- If you don’t have a ready-made box, make it from wooden planks or plywood, but you can do it easier - put the tree in a pot, pour plaster or alabaster into it, let the solution dry so that the artificial plant is well fixed in it.
- Now take plastic (polymer clay), which hardens in air. Gradually coat the entire tree with it. When the time specified in the instructions for this material has passed, start decorating the tree. But to avoid downtime while the plastic dries, start working on walnuts.
- Carefully split each into 2 halves, remove the contents, only the shells will be needed. Coat the outside with copper spray paint. Place a piece of foil crumpled in your hand inside.
- Cut out a photograph of the first family member to fit the size of the hole in the shell and glue it along the edge to the nut shell with a hot gun.
- Make photo borders from polymer clay and attach them along the edge of each shell so as to secure the photos. Using a thin brush, cover these decorations with gold paint.
- Cut the copper wire with pliers, bend each piece into a hook shape, and attach it to the branches. Other segments need to be given a crescent shape, their straight edges greased with silicone from a hot gun, and stuck into a drying polymer clay decoration on a nut.
- Once the plastic and glue are dry, place the portraits on the branches. If you want to give a family tree as a gift, then remove the shelled photographs from it and place them in the compartments of the box for the duration of transportation.
- Make the leaves for the tree from gold beads. If you want to speed up the process, then cut them out of a plastic bottle of this or brown color. Make a hole at the top of each leaf with a hot needle or awl, insert a piece of wire here to secure these elements to the tree.
If you do not set such a goal for yourself, you want to know about an easier way to create it, then check out the next idea.
How to draw a family tree?
Tell your child how to do this. Prepare:
- a sheet of white cardboard;
- colour pencils;
- eraser;
- a simple pencil;
- white paper;
- scissors;
- portraits of family members;
- glue;
- oval template.
You can outline the oval pattern in advance to leave these areas unpainted. But it’s easier to cut them out of white paper and stick them on wood, as shown in the photo.
Now let the child cut out portraits of household members. Then glue them onto the prepared ovals. Then you can outline the photo with a pencil. As you can see, he will place his portrait below, a little higher - his parents, and at the top - his grandparents. As a result, he will clearly know who whose parents are, their names and patronymics. Because as you work, you will begin to name them.
Make sure that when cutting, the child holds the scissors with the tips away from him and twists the paper rather than them in this process.
How you can make such a tree as a gift for your grandmother, you will learn from the video below.
To make the next family tree you will not need a template, as it is very simple to do. For it you need to take:
- dark felt;
- glue;
- cardboard;
- double sided tape;
- a piece of wallpaper measuring 50x60 cm;
- green yarn or felt of this color;
- dry soap;
- glue;
- photo frames
On the back of the felt, draw a tree with a trunk and branches using soap. Cut it out.
Glue a piece of wallpaper onto the cardboard using 2-sided tape or glue. Be especially careful when attaching thin branches and their tips.
Glue yarn on top of the crown to imitate leaves. You can cut them out of felt and also attach them.
Insert photographs into frames and glue them to the finished tree. Here below are portraits of older family members - above - younger ones.
Here's how to create a family tree that can be flat or 3D. Make this not only for yourself, but also to give to the elders of the family. They will certainly be happy. Therefore, in conclusion, check out the visual process of its creation. See what kind of family tree you can make as a gift for your grandmother.
Here’s how to create a “Family Tree” panel, which will also be an excellent gift or a source of pride for your home.
In pre-revolutionary Russia (and in most civilized countries) it was customary to study the history of your family. Of course, the nobility had their own traditions. Huge genealogical tables in the halls of family palaces were not uncommon. But even in simple families, as a rule, children were told about who their relatives were (both the closest and the most distant). But in the Soviet Union they were of the opinion that a son should not be responsible for his father. And the famous item number 5 in the questionnaires (nationality) ruined the nerves of many people. And the presence of noble people with famous surnames among their ancestors even became the reason for refusal to accept a non-prestigious job or to enter an elite university. Therefore, in our country for many years they forgot about what genealogy is. But today everything has changed! Many people are becoming interested in the question of how to draw a family tree. This can be done in different ways. Next - about them!
How to draw a family tree: the simplest options
If, for example, you want to tell the story of a family to a child, then you should not delve into the historical jungle. It is clear that a kindergartener or elementary school student will simply not understand why he should consider his fifth cousin great-grandfather, who lived in time immemorial, as his relative.
It’s better to start with the simplest scheme, which will involve those relatives whom the baby knows (usually parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents). You can draw a schematic tree with him and color it brightly (with pencils or paints). You can draw both on a landscape sheet and on whatman paper. The details are not that important! You can limit yourself to the trunk, crown, a minimum of branches, and then paste a photo with captions (for example, “Grandfather Vanya, Dad’s dad,” “Grandma Galya, Mom’s mom”). The main thing is that you have fun during the process! You can tell some stories from childhood that will be accessible to the child’s understanding. The warm and friendly atmosphere when compiling such a “masterpiece of genealogy” will remain in the child’s memory. Perhaps, as he gets older, he will want to delve into family history.
A child who is about 10 years old can be shown how to draw a family tree with a pencil on a more “professional” level. Here you will need to first decide what kind of tree it will be (oak, apple tree or, for example, maple). Then you should decide how many relatives (and how) will “settle” on the tree. Maybe the photos will be pasted inside apples or cherries? Or will there be nameplates neatly etched into the crown?
How to draw a family tree: more complex options
If you seriously decide to understand the history of your family, then preparation for visualizing the family tree will be more significant. First, you will need to collect as much information as possible about To draw a family tree, you may have to delve into special databases, as well as visit archives in your city, make requests in writing and send them to other cities or even countries.
It is necessary to understand that this process is very labor-intensive. By the way, requests must be written correctly. If you want to not only learn in practice how to draw a family tree, but also do it efficiently, you should approach the matter responsibly! You should not write something like: “I am Petya Ivanov, somewhere in Russia I have many relatives, but I don’t know them. Do me a favor and find out their details!” It is more correct to make separate queries on the facts that interest you. For example, if you want to find out what your great-grandmother’s maiden name was, you should send a request to the authority where she registered her marriage to her great-grandfather, indicating the year of this event and the data known to you. For example, like this: “I ask you to draw up an extract on the marriage of citizen Ivan Petrovich Sidorov (born in 1930) and citizen Anna Ivanovna (born in 1932), maiden name unknown. The painting took place in 1950 in the village of Makeevo.”
Can do it on his own. By the way, for reference:
Many psychologists, according to professional observations, describe those who do not know their relatives and their family history as less confident in life and, as a rule, having greater internal problems. Knowing your pedigree certainly includes knowing the interpretation of your surname. Still, it doesn’t hurt to know in detail what is our personal identifier, what we hear every day and pass on to our children as an inheritance.
There are several ways you can make your own family tree. Of these, the most common are:
- The first way is to do it virtually, on a computer.
- The second is to make it in reality, from a variety of available materials.
We will describe both methods and start with the first.
Creation of a virtual family tree.
Options are also possible here. One of them is to turn to the many free and not so free sites and communities where you can register and create your tree with pleasure and using built-in tools. Some communities even offer the function of “crossing” different family trees of members to find relatives.
The second option is to create a family tree using an editor on a computer (Photoshop, Corel, Paint). For help, you can use the article “Computer collage”. And also the following sequence of actions:
- We go to the Internet and look for a suitable picture of a tree to accomplish the task. In a few days (weeks) you will find many different options, some of which will form the basis of your design creation.
- Next, we methodically prepare photographs of our relatives. In this case, it is advisable to limit yourself to direct ancestors and their spouses, otherwise you will have to look for a completely different picture of the tree.
- Then we place them along the tree using any graphics program in which you enjoy working. You can add inscriptions under photographs, even mark the place of birth or some historical events (for example, resettlement and connections with a noble family).
- You can also draw a timeline along the side of the tree. This will very clearly show the development of the family against the background of history. You can also add your family coat of arms (if you have already acquired one), rare family photographs, a short information about the history of the family, and a link to your personal website on the Internet.
That is, with some imagination and a little time, you can make a beautiful family tree on the computer. And then, if desired, print it out on a large sheet of paper. But problems may arise with this, since professional printing requires large resolutions of drawings and photographs (300 pixels per inch), and if pictures and photographs are of lower resolution, then they may not look very beautiful when printed. Therefore, in this case, if you want to materialize a family tree, it is better to use the following sequence.
Creating a real family tree
In this case, you are doing nothing more than, so to improve the quality of your work, you can use the articles “Beautiful postcard in 5 minutes” and “Collage - how to make?”. Below is an example of creating a family tree from a piece of wallpaper, felt, photographs and patience. You will also need thick cardboard the size of the wallpaper, double-sided tape and glue.
The sequence of creating a real family tree is very simple:
- Draw the outlines of the tree (roots, trunk and branches) on felt with soap and cut it out.
- Cut a piece of 50 x 60 cm from the wallpaper. Glue the cut-out wallpaper onto the cardboard using glue or double-sided tape.
- Place felt wood on top and glue all thin parts with glue.
- Trim the excess protruding parts to fit the size of the base. Spray picture frames with spray paint and place them in a box with high sides to protect against splashes.
- Place the half-finished collage in a frame. Glue green yarn (threads, felt) to the top of the tree to imitate foliage.
- Insert photos into frames. Place them in the middle of the collage. Place children's photographs at the top, and photographs of grandparents at the bottom. Glue all the frames to the family tree with glue.
Thus, preparing a family tree is very simple.
The question remains - what to fill the family tree with?
Well, the simplest option is three generations:
- grandparents
- moms and dads
- and children.
But you can make it even cooler. You can delve a little into the archives (grandmother’s old photo albums) and conduct an interview (talk to your grandparents). Usually such a conversation makes it possible to go 4-5 generations deep.
And finally, we invite you to download a small presentation (fully automatic) about the family tree. The basic terms are explained simply and clearly (because for children) and the sequence of creating a family tree with source codes is given. Download presentation You can follow the link: family tree.
By the way, for reference:
- Father-in-law is the father of the husband.
- Mother-in-law is the husband's mother.
- Father-in-law is the wife's father.
- Mother-in-law is the mother of the wife.
- Matchmaker is the father of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other spouse.
- Matchmaker is the mother of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other spouse.
- Brother-in-law is the husband's brother.
- Sister-in-law is the husband's sister.
- Brother-in-law - wife's brother.
- Shurich (obsolete) - son of brother-in-law.
- Sister-in-law is the wife's sister.
- Godfather is the godfather in relation to the godson's parents and godmother.
- Kuma is the godmother to the godson's parents and to the godfather.
For more detailed reference:
- Grandmother, grandmother - mother of father or mother, wife of grandfather.
- Brother - each of the sons of the same parents.
- Godbrother is the son of the godfather.rat of the cross, brother of the cross, named brother - persons who exchanged pectoral crosses.
- Bro, bro, bro, bro, bro - cousin.
- Bro - cousin's wife.
- Bratanna is her brother’s daughter, brother’s niece.
- Bratova - brother's wife.
- Brother - a relative in general, cousin or distant.
- Bratych is a brother's son, brother's nephew.
- A widow is a woman who has not entered into another marriage after the death of her husband.
- A widower is a man who did not marry after the death of his wife.
- Grandson - son of a daughter, son; and sons of a nephew or niece.
- Granddaughter, grandson - daughter of a son, daughter; as well as the daughter of a nephew or niece.
- Brother-in-law is the husband's brother.
- Grandfather is the father of the mother or father.
- The godfather is the father of the godfather.
- Dedina, grandfather - uncle's aunt.
- Dedich is the direct heir of his grandfather.
- A daughter is a female person in relation to her parents.
- The named daughter is an adopted child, a pupil.
- Dsherich is his aunt's nephew.
- Daughter's aunt's niece.
- Uncle - assigned to care and supervise the child.
- Uncle is the brother of father or mother.
- A wife is a married woman in relation to her husband.
- The groom is the one who has betrothed his bride.
- Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law - husband’s sister, sometimes brother’s wife, daughter-in-law.
- Son-in-law is the husband of a daughter, sister, or sister-in-law.
- Godfather, godfather - see: Godfather, godmother.
- A mother is a female person in relation to her children.
- Godmother, mother of the cross, is the recipient of the baptismal ceremony.
- The named mother is the mother of the adopted child, the pupil.
- Dairy mother - mother, nurse.
- The planted mother is a woman who replaces the groom’s own mother at the wedding.
- Stepmother is the father's other wife, stepmother.
- A husband is a married man in relation to his wife.
- The daughter-in-law is the son's wife.
- A father is a male person in relation to his children.
- The godfather is the godfather at the font.
- The named father is the father of the adopted child, the pupil.
- The father is spoken, the father is imprisoned, the father is disguised - a person speaking instead of his own Father at a wedding.
- The father is the eldest in the generation.
- Stepfather is the mother's other husband, stepfather.
- Fatherlander, stepfather - son, heir.
- A stepdaughter is a daughter from another marriage in relation to a stepparent.
- Stepson is the step-son of one of the spouses.
- Nephew is the son of a brother or sister.
- Niece is the daughter of a brother or sister.
- Nephew - relative, relative.
- Progenitors are the first known pedigree couple from which the family originates.
- Grandfather - parent of great-great-grandfather, great-great-grandmother.
- An ancestor is the first known representative of the gens from which genealogy is traced.
- Matchmaker, matchmaker - parents of young people and their relatives in relation to each other.
- Father-in-law is the father of the husband.
- Mother-in-law is the husband's mother.
- A relative is a person who is related by husband or wife.
- Brothers-in-law are persons married to two sisters.
- Cousins-in-law are persons married to cousins.
- The sister is the daughter of the same parents.
- Sister - cousin, daughter of mother's or father's sister.
- Sister, sister, sister - cousin.
- Sestrenich, sister - son of mother's or father's sister, sister's nephew.
- Daughter-in-law, son - son's wife, daughter-in-law.
- The wife of a brother-in-law, the wife of two brothers in relation to each other, the daughter-in-law.
- Spouse - husband.
- Spouse - wife.
- A son is a male person in relation to his parents.
- Godson (godson) is a male person in relation to the recipient.
- The named son is an adopted son, a pupil.
- Father-in-law is the wife's father.
- Aunt, aunt - sister of father or mother.
- Mother-in-law is the mother of the wife.
- Brother-in-law is the wife's brother.
- Grand-grand-grand-grand-grandchild - about a relationship originating from the third generation (also second cousin) or even further.
- Cousin - about kinship coming from the second generation.
- Blood - about kinship within the same family.
- Homogeneous - about descent from the same father.
- Monouterine - about descent from one mother.
- Full-born - about descent from the same parents.
- Pra is a prefix meaning kinship in distant ascending or descending order.
- Married - about descent from the same parents, but born before marriage and then recognized.
- Native - about descent from the same parents.
- Step-by-step - about descent from different parents.
- An adopted person is a male person in relation to the adoptive parents.
- Adopted is a female person in relation to her adoptive parents.
How the entire process of drawing up a pedigree will go depends on your desires and capabilities. The results will largely be the embodiment of your zeal, ability to establish contacts and “detective” thinking. In any case, all the information will be of great value not only for you, but also for all subsequent generations of your large family. It is so important to remember those who were, take care of those who are and think about those who will be.
Want to do research and learn about your family's roots? Have you been asked to build a family tree as part of compiling a portfolio for school? Or are you thinking about creating a family tree with your own hands to please your loved ones?
In our article you will find not only tips on finding information about ancestors, but also various options for designing a tree. We have also prepared two templates for you to fill out your family tree: for children and for adults.
How to make a family tree with your own hands
Where to begin
Before you start, you must determine for yourself why all this is needed. The course of the project depends on your answer - whether it will be an in-depth study, or you will simply share with the children stories about your parents and grandparents that are still vivid in your memory.
A clearly defined goal will help you achieve the final result faster.
Think over a plan, break it down into small steps - this way you can easily track progress, which, in turn, will add even more motivation and positive emotions.
Searching for information about relatives
Once you have decided how far into history you want to go, the most mysterious stage begins - collecting information about modern relatives and distant ancestors. You will probably learn many funny and touching stories, find distant relatives scattered all over the world, and maybe even reveal some family secret. To find as much information as possible on how to create a family tree, use the following methods:
- Interview with loved ones
- Analysis of the family archive
Carefully study all documents, letters and diaries that have been preserved in your family. In birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, work records and diplomas you will find answers to key points important for the pedigree. These records will help restore information that loved ones could not remember. Look through old photographs: perhaps grandma forgot to tell about her second cousin. And already at this stage you can choose photo cards for your family tree.
- Internet searches
Check out various genealogy websites and related resources for historical information. Thus, the “Feat of the People” website provides open access to archival documents about the exploits and awards of all soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.
Register on several thematic forums. For example, on the All-Russian Family Tree forum it is possible to search for a specific person by last name, region and country.
Try to find distant relatives of your generation on Odnoklassniki or VKontakte. But do not forget that in proper genealogical research, any information must be confirmed by archival references.
- Collection of information in registry offices and archives
If you are looking for information about marriage, dates of birth or death, contact the registry office. If a relative has something to do with the army, for example, is a WWII veteran, make a request to the military registration and enlistment office at your place of residence, service or conscription. But keep in mind: in order to obtain certificates from deceased relatives, you must prove your relationship with them by providing, among other things, your birth certificate.
When doing a genealogical search in archives, you should not hope for a quick result. The process can take months and even years. But the information you find can significantly advance your research.
- Contacting specialists
If you don't want to waste time building a family tree, turn to professionals. Archives staff, designers and special companies will help you find the necessary information and create a family tree. In addition, with their help you can create a genealogical book, a film presentation and even a family coat of arms.
What are the types of family trees?
There are several methods for compiling a tree.
- Descending tree
The family pattern is formed from ancestor to descendants. This method of design allows you to clearly trace the history of the family from distant times to the present day.
- Ascension tree
Compiled from a person to his ancestors. This structure will be especially convenient for those who have not yet completed their search for information and are consistently moving from the known to the unknown.
- Circular table
It is built in a circle, in the center of which one of the descendants is placed. The second, outer circle is divided in half and the mother and father are written in it. In the third circle, cut into four parts, grandparents are indicated. Then a fourth circle is added, which is divided into eight parts, and so on. This type of tree is quite rare, but this arrangement of data is the most compact that exists.
How to create a family tree
- Family tree on computer
Programs for creating a family tree will help you save time and get guaranteed results. Use the MyHeritage online service or GenoPro, Family Tree Builder or Tree of Life programs. Select a template, enter your ancestry information and enjoy the results.
You can also find or draw a blank tree yourself to fill in in .doc (for Word) or .psd (for Photoshop) format.
- DIY family tree
Get creative with your family tree results. We have selected a few examples for you for inspiration:
Family box
For each ancestor, a box is wound up or one cell is allocated, into which documents, photos, and objects are placed. By opening such a box, you can touch the past and find out what kind of person your ancestor was.
Family tree made from scrap materials
This design option is perfect for a kindergarten or school project.
Family tree in the album
Decorative stand with photo frames
How to work with a family tree template
We have prepared two templates that will appeal to both children and adults.
You can work with templates both electronically and in printed form:
- Print out a blank template and add drawings or photos of yourself and your ancestors.
- Use any graphic editor and insert scanned images into the template. Print the result.
Filling out a template in Movavi Photo Editor
In Movavi Photo Editor you can not only edit pictures and insert them into a template, but also restore old photos.
View our sample template to learn how to correctly create a family tree.
1) Launch Movavi Photo Editor.
2) If you want restore a photograph who has lost her appearance from old age, open the image in the program, go to the tab Restoration and press the button Restore on the right side of the screen.
3) To adjust colors and clarity, go to the tab Photo enhancement. Change the required settings. Save the result.