Different Types of Family Tree Charts and When to Use Them

Family tree charts sound simple.

You want to show your family tree.

So, you find a chart.

You fill it in.

Done.

Except genealogy rarely allows anything to be that easy.

Because then you discover there are pedigree charts, descendant charts, fan charts, hourglass charts, family group sheets, timelines, genograms, ancestor charts, bowtie charts, and probably at least one chart format created specifically to humble people who thought they were “just making a quick family tree.”

Rude.

The good news is that you do not need every type of family tree chart.

You just need the right chart for what you are trying to show.

Some charts are best for tracing your direct ancestors. Others are better for showing descendants.

Some help with research. Others are better for sharing with family.

Some are pretty. Others are practical.

Some are both, if the genealogy stars align.

Let’s walk through the main types of family tree charts, what each one is good for, what information usually goes in them, and how to choose the one that actually fits your project.

Genealogy desk with multiple family tree chart examples, old photos, notes, and research materials.
Different family tree charts do different jobs, so the best one depends on what story or research question you are trying to show.

First: What Is a Family Tree Chart?

A family tree chart is a visual way to show family relationships.

It helps you see how people connect across generations.

Depending on the chart type, it may show:

  • ancestors
  • descendants
  • spouses
  • children
  • siblings
  • family groups
  • dates
  • places
  • relationships
  • life events
  • patterns
  • gaps in your research

A family tree chart is not the same thing as all of your genealogy research.

It is a visual summary.

The research behind the chart is where the evidence lives: records, sources, notes, timelines, photos, interviews, and all the tiny clues you collected while muttering, “This should not be this complicated.”

If you are brand new to family trees, check out What Information to Include in Your Family Tree.

How to Choose the Right Family Tree Chart

Before choosing a chart, ask yourself one question:

What am I trying to show?

That question matters because different charts answer different questions.

For example:

  • Want to show your direct ancestors? Use a pedigree chart.
  • Want to show everyone who descends from one couple? Use a descendant chart.
  • Want something pretty and compact? Try a fan chart.
  • Want to show ancestors and descendants around one person? Use an hourglass chart.
  • Want to explain one nuclear family? Use a family group sheet.
  • Want to track events over time? Use a timeline.
  • Want to explore family patterns or relationships? Consider a genogram.
  • Want a numbered ancestor list? Use an ahnentafel-style list.

If you skip this step, you may end up with a chart that looks nice but does not actually answer the question you had.

Which is very genealogy.

Very aesthetically pleasing, while very unhelpful.

1. Pedigree Chart

A pedigree chart is one of the most common genealogy charts.

It starts with one person and moves backward through that person’s direct ancestors.

Usually, it shows:

  • you or another starting person
  • parents
  • grandparents
  • great-grandparents
  • additional generations, depending on the chart size

Pedigree charts are sometimes called ancestor charts because they focus on direct-line ancestors.

They usually do not show every sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, or in-law.

Which is probably for the best, because otherwise one simple chart would become a wall-sized family reunion with lines.

Best for:

  • starting genealogy research
  • tracking direct ancestors
  • seeing missing ancestor lines
  • organizing known generations
  • printing a clean beginner chart
  • lineage research

Information usually included:

  • full names
  • birth dates and places
  • marriage dates and places
  • death dates and places
  • sometimes burial places
  • sometimes reference numbers

A pedigree chart is a great starting point because it keeps you focused on one direct line.

It also reveals gaps very quickly.

Nothing says “please research me” like a blank great-grandparent box staring back at you.

If you are brand new to family trees, check out:
How to Start Building Your Family Tree: An Essential Genealogy Guide
What Is Genealogy, Really? And Why So Many of Us Can’t Stop Doing It

2. Ancestor Chart

An ancestor chart is very similar to a pedigree chart.

In fact, people often use the terms interchangeably.

An ancestor chart shows one person’s ancestors going backward in time.

The difference is mostly wording and format.

Some ancestor charts are simple, like a standard pedigree chart.

Others are more decorative or expanded.

Best for:

  • showing your direct ancestral line
  • creating a family history display
  • organizing generations
  • sharing a “where I come from” view
  • identifying missing branches

Information usually included:

  • names
  • birth and death years
  • generation labels
  • sometimes birthplaces or countries
  • sometimes photos, if it is a decorative chart

Ancestor charts are especially nice when you want something family members can understand quickly.

A pedigree chart can feel more research-oriented.

A decorative ancestor chart can feel more like:

“Look, here are our people.”

Which is sometimes exactly the point.

3. Descendant Chart

A descendant chart goes the opposite direction of a pedigree chart.

Instead of starting with you and going backward, it starts with one ancestor or couple and moves forward through their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on.

This kind of chart is great when you want to understand how a family expanded over time.

It can also get very large, very quickly.

Because one couple can have ten children, and those ten children can have eighty-seven descendants, and suddenly your “small chart” needs its own zip code.

Best for:

  • family reunion displays
  • tracing all descendants of one ancestor
  • organizing cousin branches
  • showing how one family line spread over time
  • identifying living cousin connections
  • sharing research with extended family

Information usually included:

  • ancestor or starting couple
  • children
  • spouses of children
  • grandchildren
  • birth and death years
  • sometimes locations
  • sometimes photos

Descendant charts are wonderful for family sharing because they help people see where they fit.

They are also useful when you are trying to identify cousins, trace inheritance, or understand a whole family group.

Also check out Sharing Your Genealogy at a Family Reunion.

4. Family Group Sheet

A family group sheet is not always what people picture when they hear “family tree chart,” but it is one of the most useful genealogy forms.

Instead of showing a whole tree, it focuses on one family unit.

Usually, it includes:

  • husband/father
  • wife/mother
  • children
  • birth details
  • marriage details
  • death details
  • burial details
  • sources
  • notes

A family group sheet is very practical.

Not flashy. Not especially decorative.

But extremely helpful.

It helps you understand one household before trying to connect that household to the entire ancestral universe.

Best for:

  • organizing one family at a time
  • tracking siblings
  • checking children’s birth order
  • identifying missing children
  • comparing census households
  • preparing research notes
  • keeping family units straight

Information usually included:

  • parents’ names
  • parents’ birth, marriage, death, and burial details
  • children’s names
  • children’s birth and death details
  • spouses of children
  • sources and notes

Family group sheets are especially useful when you are dealing with same-name ancestors, multiple marriages, blended families, or families that moved.

So, basically, genealogy.

What Are My Top 5 Genealogy Research Forms?
What to Include in a Genealogy Research Log

5. Fan Chart

A fan chart displays ancestors in a curved, fan shape.

Usually, the starting person appears at the base or center, and ancestors spread outward by generation.

Fan charts are popular because they are compact, visually appealing, and very good at showing gaps.

A missing branch in a fan chart is hard to ignore.

It sits there like:

Hello. I am your unfinished research.

Subtle.

Best for:

  • visualizing multiple generations
  • identifying missing ancestor lines
  • making decorative family history prints
  • sharing a quick overview
  • seeing surnames across generations
  • creating webpage images or family history displays

Information usually included:

  • names
  • birth and death years
  • sometimes birthplaces
  • sometimes countries
  • sometimes photos or color coding

Fan charts are great for overview, but they usually do not hold much detail.

They show the big picture.

They do not explain the proof behind every relationship.

Fan charts are lovely.

But please do not let a pretty fan chart make an uncertain line look more proven than it is.

The chart is confident.

Your sources may not be.

6. Hourglass Chart

An hourglass chart shows both ancestors and descendants for one person.

The starting person is usually in the middle.

Their ancestors go upward (or backward), and their descendants go downward (or forward).

It is called an hourglass chart because the shape can resemble an hourglass.

This format is helpful when one person is the center of the story.

For example, you might use an hourglass chart for:

  • a grandparent
  • an immigrant ancestor
  • a family matriarch or patriarch
  • a person featured in a family history book
  • an ancestor whose life connects multiple branches

Best for:

  • showing one person’s ancestors and descendants
  • family history storytelling
  • ancestor profiles
  • reunion displays
  • visualizing one key person’s place in the family

Information usually included:

  • central person
  • parents 
  • grandparents and ancestors
  • spouse
  • children
  • grandchildren
  • sometimes birth and death years
  • sometimes photos

Hourglass charts are useful, but they can become busy very quickly.

If you include too many generations, spouses, descendants, and details, the chart may start looking like a genealogy octopus.

A meaningful genealogy octopus.

But still an octopus.

7. Bowtie Chart

A bowtie chart usually places one person in the center and shows one parent’s ancestry on one side and the other parent’s ancestry on the other side.

It can be a nice way to show both sides of a family without stacking everything vertically.

Best for:

  • showing maternal and paternal lines
  • comparing two sides of a family
  • creating a balanced visual chart
  • decorative family tree prints
  • showing a person’s ancestry in a compact way

Information usually included:

  • central person
  • father’s ancestors
  • mother’s ancestors
  • names
  • birth and death years
  • sometimes places or photos

Bowtie charts can be especially helpful if you want a visual that says:

Here are the two main branches that led to this person.

It is also a nice option if a regular pedigree chart feels too plain but a fan chart feels too crowded.

8. Timeline Chart

A genealogy timeline chart shows events in chronological order.

It may focus on one person, one couple, one family, or one branch.

Unlike a pedigree chart, a timeline is not mainly about relationship structure.

It is about time. (Shocker)

A timeline can show:

  • birth
  • marriage
  • census records
  • moves
  • military service
  • children’s births
  • land purchases
  • deaths
  • historical events

Best for:

  • understanding an ancestor’s life
  • tracking movement
  • spotting gaps
  • comparing conflicting records
  • adding historical context
  • separating same-name people
  • turning records into a story

Information usually included:

  • dates
  • ages
  • events
  • places
  • record types
  • notes
  • sources
  • follow-up questions

Timelines are one of my favorite research tools because they make seemingly overlooked problems visible.

For example, if your ancestor appears in Michigan in 1880 and also somehow gets married in Texas three days later, the timeline may gently suggest that something has gone off the rails.

How to Make a Genealogy Timeline for Family History Research
10 Things to Make Your Genealogy Research Easier

Collage of different genealogy chart types including pedigree chart, descendant chart, fan chart, hourglass chart, and timeline.
Family tree charts can show different kinds of relationships, from direct ancestors to descendants, timelines, and family groups.

9. Genogram

A genogram is a more detailed family diagram that can show relationships, patterns, and family structure beyond names and dates.

Genograms are often used outside traditional genealogy too, including in fields that study family systems.

For genealogy purposes, a genogram may help you think about:

  • relationships
  • marriages
  • divorces
  • adoptions
  • blended families
  • household patterns
  • repeated family structures
  • social relationships
  • migration or separation patterns

Because genograms can include personal or sensitive information, please use caution.

Not every family pattern needs to be placed in a public chart.

Some things belong in private research and interview notes, not necessarily a reunion handout.

Best for:

  • private analysis
  • complex family structures
  • blended families
  • adoption or guardianship research
  • understanding household relationships
  • studying family patterns carefully

Information usually included:

  • names
  • relationships
  • marriages
  • divorces
  • children
  • household connections
  • sometimes relationship notes or symbols

A genogram can be useful, but I would not recommend starting here if you are brand new.

Start with a basic family tree or family group sheet first.

Then use a genogram if your research question needs that kind of structure.

Translation:

Do not open the advanced genealogy drawer unless you are emotionally prepared for what falls out.

10. Ahnentafel List

An ahnentafel is not really a chart in the decorative sense.

This is not a family reunion, show-off-your-research chart.

But it is extremely useful.

It is a numbered ancestor list.

An ahnentafel starts with one person as number 1. That person’s father is number 2, mother is number 3, paternal grandfather is number 4, and so on.

It creates a structured numbering system for direct ancestors.

Best for:

  • organizing direct ancestors
  • writing family histories
  • lineage research
  • tracking generations
  • avoiding confusion in written reports
  • creating ancestor lists

Information usually included:

  • ancestor number
  • full name
  • birth details
  • marriage details
  • death details
  • spouse
  • notes or sources

Ahnentafel lists are helpful when charts get too big or when you are writing about your family history instead of displaying it visually.

They may not be as pretty as a fan chart, but they are very practical.

And sometimes practical wins.

What Information Goes in Each Family Tree Chart?

The information depends on the purpose of the chart.

A simple family chart may only include:

  • names
  • birth years
  • death years

A research-focused chart may include:

  • full birth dates and places
  • marriage dates and places
  • death dates and places
  • burial places
  • sources
  • notes
  • record references

A display chart may include:

  • photos
  • names
  • years
  • locations
  • short captions
  • decorative elements

A timeline may include:

  • dates
  • ages
  • events
  • places
  • sources
  • historical context

The trick is not adding everything.

The trick is adding what the chart needs to do its job.

A chart for family reunion guests does not need every source citation visible.

A chart for your own research needs more detail, sources, and notes.

A chart for your wall may need to be beautiful and readable.

A chart for solving a same-name ancestor problem may need to be plain, structured, and slightly suspicious of everyone.

Different purpose, Different chart.

How to Know Which Family Tree Chart to Use

Here is a simple way to choose.

Use a pedigree chart if:

You want to trace direct ancestors backward.

Answers the question:

Who were this person’s parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents?

Use a descendant chart if:

You want to show everyone who came from one ancestor or couple.

Answers the question:

Who descended from this person or family?

Use a family group sheet if:

You want to understand one household.

Answers the question:

Who belonged to this family unit, and what do I know about each person?

Use a fan chart if:

You want a pretty overview of several generations.

Answers the question:

What does this ancestry look like at a glance?

Use an hourglass chart if:

You want to center one person and show both ancestors and descendants.

Answers the question:

Where does this person fit between past and future generations?

Use a timeline if:

You want to understand someone’s life in order.

Answers the question:

What happened when, and does it make sense?

Use a genogram if:

You want to privately analyze complex relationships or family patterns.

Answers the question:

What relationships or patterns do I need to understand more clearly?

Use an ahnentafel list if:

You want a numbered written structure for direct ancestors.

Answers the question:

How can I organize ancestors clearly in a written format?

Decision guide helping choose between pedigree chart, descendant chart, family group sheet, fan chart, hourglass chart, and timeline.
The best family tree chart depends on whether you want to show ancestors, descendants, one family group, or a timeline of events.

Creating Your Family Tree Chart

Once you know what chart you need, start simple.

Choose:

  1. The purpose of the chart.
  2. The starting person or couple.
  3. How many generations to include.
  4. What information to show.
  5. Whether the chart is for research, sharing, or display.
  6. Whether it needs sources or just summary details.
  7. Whether you want digital, printable, or wall-size format.

You can create family tree charts using:

  • printable templates
  • genealogy software
  • online tree platforms
  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Google Docs or Word
  • Canva or design tools
  • hand-drawn layouts

If you are using genealogy software like Family Tree Maker, you may already have several chart options available.

5 Ways to View Your Family Tree in Family Tree Maker
How to Customize Your Family Tree Maker Family Chart

If you are creating a simple chart from scratch, do not overthink the design at first.

Start with the relationships.

Then add details.

Then make it pretty.

Not the other way around.

Pretty wrong information is still wrong information. Unfortunately.

Benefits of Using Different Family Tree Charts

Different charts help you see different things.

A pedigree chart helps you see missing direct ancestors.

A family group sheet helps you see one household clearly.

A descendant chart helps you understand cousin branches.

A timeline helps you spot gaps and conflicts.

A fan chart helps you see generations at a glance.

An hourglass chart helps you tell one person’s larger family story.

This is why it can be helpful to use more than one chart.

Not all at once.

Please do not create twelve charts because this one blog post encouraged you.

But over time, different chart types can support different parts of your research.

One chart may help you organize.

Another may help you analyze.

Another may help you share.

That does not mean you are being extra.

It means your genealogy has layers.

Like lasagna. Or a very confusing census household.

Now I’m hangry remembering that census for Elizabeth I need to clarify.

Common Family Tree Chart Challenges

Family tree charts are useful, but they can also create problems if you are not careful.

Too Much Information

If a chart is too crowded, it becomes hard to read.

Remove extra details or choose a larger format.

A wall chart can hold more than a letter-size printable.

A research chart can be messier than a display chart.

Use the format that fits the information.

Don’t try to force the information to fit the format.

Don’t ask how I know it won’t win.

Missing Information

Blank spaces can feel frustrating, but they are useful.

They show what needs research.

A missing parent, unknown maiden name, or blank birthplace is not a failure.

It is a clue.

A slightly judgmental clue, perhaps.

But still a clue.

Unproven Connections

Charts can make relationships look certain even when they are not.

Be careful with uncertain ancestors.

Use labels like:

  • possible
  • probable
  • unverified
  • needs research
  • theory

This is especially important if you are sharing the chart with family.

Once a wrong connection gets shared, it can travel faster than gossip at a reunion.

Same-Name Ancestors

Repeated names can make charts confusing.

If you have multiple people with the same name, include dates, spouses, locations, or identifiers to keep them separate.

John Smith vs John Smith is not enough.

John Smith, born 1842 in Ohio, married to Mary Brown vs John Smith, born 1832 in Virginia, married to Lizzie Jones?

Much better.

The Antics Behind Multiple Generations WITH THE SAME NAMES.

Printing Problems

Large charts may not fit standard paper.

Before printing, check:

  • page size
  • margins
  • font size
  • orientation
  • number of generations
  • whether it prints on one page or multiple pages

If the font is too small for humans, adjust the chart.

Your relatives should not need a magnifying glass and emotional resilience to read your family tree.

Example: Choosing the Right Chart

A couple years ago, I created a family tree chart for my Great-Grandmother’s 100th birthday and family reunion.

So, naturally, I thought:

“I’ll just make a family tree chart.”

I know, I was adorable.

Because once I started looking at the options, I realized there were several ways I could show the family.

I could make a pedigree chart to show my great-grandmother’s direct ancestors.

Or a fan chart because they are pretty and make genealogy feel much more organized than it usually is.

Or a timeline of her life, which would have been meaningful for a 100th birthday celebration.

But none of those were quite right for the event.

She was the oldest living family member there and very much the matriarch of the family. The point of the chart was not only to show where she came from. It was to help everyone at the reunion see how they connected to her and to each other.

So I ended up creating a descendant chart starting with her parents.

That way, I could include my great-grandmother, her siblings, her nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren — many of whom were also part of the reunion.

Was it a small chart?

HA! Absolutely Not!

I had to print it on sixteen sheets of 8.5” x 11” paper because I did not have a way to print one giant wall chart.

So there I was, lining up page after page on the wall like some kind of family history puzzle mural, hoping the branches connected correctly and that no one’s line wandered off into the decorative table.

But once it was up?

It was a huge hit!

People could walk up to the wall, find themselves, find their parents, find their cousins, and see exactly how they connected back to my great-grandmother.

And my mom had the best idea: put a pen nearby so people could make corrections or add anyone I had missed.

Which was brilliant.

Because no matter how carefully you build a family chart, someone at the reunion will know something you do not.

Someone will remember a middle name.

Someone will notice a missing child.

Someone will point at the chart and say, “Wait, shouldn’t so-and-so be over here?”

All happened by the way.

And honestly, that is part of the magic.

The chart was not perfect.

But it created conversation.

It helped people see the family structure.

It gave relatives a reason to gather around, point, laugh, correct, remember, and connect.

And that is why the chart type matters.

For that event, a descendant chart made sense because the goal was to show the living family and extended branches connected to my great-grandmother.

If I had been researching whether two men named William Johnson were actually the same person, I would not have needed a decorative reunion chart.

I would have needed a timeline.

Or a comparison chart. Or a research log.

Definitely sources.

Perhaps tea. Undoubtedly snacks.

The chart should match the job.

That’s the whole point.

Family reunion genealogy display with descendant chart, fan chart, ancestor timeline, old photos, and family history notes.
For sharing family history, you can use different chart styles together: one for relationships, one for visual impact, and one for story. (full disclosure this is not from my reunion)

Final Thoughts

There is no single perfect family tree chart.

Annoying, but freeing.

The best chart depends on what you are trying to show.

A pedigree chart helps trace ancestors.

A descendant chart helps map cousin branches.

A fan chart gives a beautiful overview.

A family group sheet keeps one household organized.

A timeline reveals movement, gaps, and suspicious genealogy nonsense.

An hourglass chart centers one person between ancestors and descendants.

A genogram can help analyze complex relationships.

An ahnentafel list keeps direct ancestors organized in writing.

You do not need them all today. Or this week.  Maybe even this year.

Start with the chart that answers your current question.

Then add other chart types when they actually help.

Because family tree charts are not just decorations.

They are tools.

They help us see connections, find gaps, tell stories, and occasionally realize that our “quick little family tree project” has become a multi-chart situation.

Which is fine. Completely normal.

Welcome to genealogy.

Related Rabbit Holes

Sources & Further Reading

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