How to make a family tree — step by step

Want to create a family tree but don't know where to start? You're not alone. The good news: all you need to begin is curiosity, paper and a few conversations with your family. This guide walks you through the whole journey — from the first notes to a printed family tree on your wall.

1. Start with yourself and your family

The basic rule of genealogy: work from the known to the unknown. Start with yourself, write down your parents and grandparents — and then interview the oldest members of your family. Ask about names, dates and places of birth, marriage and death, about professions and family stories. The memories of the oldest generation are priceless and irreplaceable.

Go through family documents too: birth and marriage certificates, obituaries, old photographs and family papers. Every date and place will help you later in the archives.

2. Continue in registers and archives

Once you have exhausted family sources, it is time for church and civil registers — books of births, marriages and deaths. Many countries have digitized them and made them available online. Expect old handwriting and Latin in the older entries — patience pays off.

Before you dive deep, read our article about the most common mistakes in creating a family tree.

3. Organize your data

For a small family tree, notes or a spreadsheet will do. For deeper research, use a genealogy program (e.g. MyHeritage, Ancestry or the free Gramps). All of them can export your data to the GEDCOM format — a universal file that Geneagram understands too. See our guide on GEDCOM import.

4. Turn your research into a beautiful chart

Now the fun part. Your research deserves more than a spreadsheet — like a beautiful poster on the wall. In Geneagram you choose from family tree templates for 5 to 16 generations: classic trees, fan charts, direct lines and illustrated artworks such as the Holy Grail with selectable profession illustrations.

Fill in your ancestors manually or import a GEDCOM file, customize fonts and colors — and download a print-ready PDF. You can try the editor for free without registration, and one template is completely free.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to make a family tree?

It depends on the depth. A five-generation tree from family sources can be done in a weekend. Researching 8 or more generations in the archives is a hobby for months or years — all the more reason to have the result beautifully drawn.

Do I need any software?

No. You fill in your family tree right in the browser. If you already have data in a genealogy program, upload it via GEDCOM.

How much does it cost?

The editor and the sample template are free. For the other templates you pay once with credits — no subscription. See the pricing.