Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega explains the importance of pedigree charts to your genealogy and provides links to free templates. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”

One of the first things you should do when starting a family history research project is to fill in a pedigree chart. Whether this is done in a family tree software program, an online tree, or paper forms, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you add as much information as you currently know so that you have a starting point for your research. A pedigree chart helps you to be organized and view relationships. Eventually it can also serve as a decorative chart for family members interested in your research.

This pedigree chart is free from the National Archives:

Before we discuss the proper way to begin a pedigree chart, let’s first define what a pedigree chart is.

According to Miriam-Webster, a pedigree is a “register recording a line of ancestors” or an “ancestral line.” *

In genealogy, pedigree charts show direct line ancestors back from the root person to 4, 5, or 6 generations. If you are printing from a genealogy software program or an online tree, you can choose how many generations to show. Typically, this chart is a “working” chart meaning that it changes and evolves as you research.

What Is NOT on a Pedigree Chart?

As mentioned previously, a pedigree chart traces a person’s ancestors. That means it does not include siblings or aunts and uncles. We are focusing solely on direct-line ancestors: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.

On your first pedigree chart, you will be the root person (or #1) on the chart; you will then add your parents, grandparents, and their parents. Pedigree charts do have a space for the root person’s spouse, but you are not tracing that spouse’s ancestors nor are you adding any children the root person has/had.

Correct Ways to Fill Out a Chart

There are correct ways to fill out a pedigree chart. For example:

• The paternal line and maternal line have a place. Notice that the paternal line is at the top and the maternal line is on the bottom.
• Always use a woman’s maiden name. You are using this information to research each person’s parents, so their birth name is needed. If you don’t know her maiden name, leave it blank. Remember, this is a working document, and it will change as you learn new information.
• When entering dates enter day, month, year. In genealogy we always enter dates as day, month, year. Why? Because if you write something like 11/12/1912 or even 11/12/12, it’s impossible to know what you mean. Is that example 11 December or November 12th? If you always write dates as “13 May 1920,” writing the day first, then the month name, and then the year, it’s clear to you and others what you mean.
• When entering places, use the smallest to largest. For example, Oakland, Alameda County, California, United States. In other words, city, county, state, country. It’s ok if you aren’t sure. Add as much as you know to begin with. If you don’t know the location, leave it blank.
• Use the place name as it was known in that time period. If your ancestor was born in 1850, use the location name for what it was called during that time period. Why? Because you will be researching records and if you don’t use the place name as it was when the person was alive, you will waste a lot of time looking in the wrong place. If you don’t know what it was called at that time, refer to the FamilySearch Research Wiki.
• Don’t use abbreviations (an exception to this rule is explained below). You can cause a lot of confusion by using abbreviations like MNU (Maiden Name Unknown) or LNU (Last Name Unknown) for a surname. It’s better to just leave the maiden name blank than have people think her maiden name is Mnu (don’t laugh, that has happened).

Here’s another example of a pedigree chart. The template is available for free from FamilySearch:

It’s a Working Document

What do I mean that a pedigree chart is a working document? I mean it’s changing as you find more information. So, when you start, don’t worry that you aren’t able to fill in many facts, that will change as you continue your research. You should go from what you know, to what other people may know (other family members) to what you learn and can cite in records (such as vital records and the census).

Because this is a “working” document, it’s ok to add your hypothesis to it. For example:

• If you don’t know a date but you know if occurred before a certain date (for example, you know the burial date but not the death date) then write Bef 12 December 1900 or just Bef 1900. Bef is an abbreviation for Before.
• If you know that the date occurred after a specific year or date, then use Aft or After and then a date or year.
• If you’re not sure of a year but you think it’s around a specific year, use “Abt” as in “Abt 1900.” Remember these dates will change as you find evidence of the correct date. Right now, by using Bef, Aft, or Abt you are hypothesizing so that you can focus on your research.

As I mentioned above, typically you don’t want to use abbreviations. The above examples are the only time you would use them. Stay away from even location abbreviations because they can cause confusion. For example, if you enter S.B. County, California, what does that mean? San Bernardino County? Santa Barbara County? Writing out the location, as much as you know, helps avoid confusion.

Get a Pedigree Chart and Start

If you prefer to put pencil to paper, there are several websites with free pedigree charts available to download. These include FamilySearch, the National Archives, and the National Genealogical Society. If you prefer to organize your research online, an online family tree can be filled out and then printed as a pedigree chart.

However you decide to start or continue your research, a pedigree chart can help you focus and set goals for learning more about your ancestors.

* “Pedigree,” Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedigree).

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Note on the header image: old photos and correspondence. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html