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10+ Family Tree Templates
Japan is famed for its rich and fascinating history which is probably responsible for the equally rich culture it takes pride in, to this day. The ancestry of the Imperial family dates back to the country’s mythological origins with a connection to people from well-kept historical records which begins around the first millennium A.D. However, the longest recorded family tree in the world is that of Chinese philosopher extraordinaire Confucius, spanning more than 80 generations with more than two million members.
Elements of A Great Family Tree
You may not be a descendant of Japan’s feudal bloodline or a great-great-grandson of someone who played a crucial part in the Civil War, but don’t let that stop you from creating your own family tree. Having a basic family tree is a great way to trace your family history and it’s also the most common form of keeping a record of your ancestry. Here are the elements you should include:
1. Generation: Embarking on a project to trace your roots would often equate to realizing just how far back you can actually go. This also decides the number of generations you’ll be able to present in your chart. Oftentimes, a sample family tree is represented with a tree chart showing your oldest-known ancestors at the top and the more current generations below them.
2. Names: Listing down the names of your ancestors can get really challenging because you may have to search through old records and ask a lot of older members of the family just to get people’s names right. This is especially tricky when you try to verify the names of those who lived about a century or so ago and even the local records may not be helpful sometimes. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the effort though, so make sure to check every reliable source you can.
3. Relations: Members of the family will naturally want to go through your family tree chart. They would also want to know how each member is connected to another such as who is sisters with who, which uncle married this aunt and so on. You, therefore, have to clearly outline and pinpoint the different ties among the members and make sure that you got their relations right.
10+ Family Tree Templates
Free Blended Family Tree Template
Basic Family Tree Template
Children’s Family Tree Example
Free Family Tree Template for Kid’s
Modern Family Tree Sample
Cousin Family Tree Template for Kids
Extended Family Tree for Kids
Family Tree of Three Generations
Printable Large Family Tree Template
Seven Generation Family Tree Template
Steps to Create an Excellent Family Tree
Creating a family tree is a great way to map out your ancestry. Things are likely to change as the years go, so the family tree would be more valuable to members for reasons beyond just being a flow chart with faded names and daguerreotypes with so much resemblance to what you see in the mirror every day. Here are three steps you can follow in making your family tree:
1. Write down the people you want to include in the diagram: A family tree should start with you, with members branching out from that line. Begin by writing down your direct family members’ names. From there, move to your parents’ generation and always make sure that you haven’t left anything out. Accuracy is very important if you want your blank family tree to be a key piece of your family history and records.
2. Do your research: You probably already know that the challenge might start when you put names for people who lived generations before you. In between making sure you get all the information you need for every known member of your family and being accurate with names, birth dates and relations or connections, it can get really exhausting. Remember to breathe and rest but continue finding more information be it with older family members, relatives or the local archives.
3. Study your genealogy: Some of us grew up with stories worthy of Arthurian legends, about our ancestors which was passed on for generations. These stories may not have defined who we are but they helped shape us to some extent. There are wins and losses our families continue to mourn or celebrate even after not knowing what they were about, but because they happened somewhere along the bloodline, they matter. You have to be familiar with your lineage and at the same time, be prepared for the possibility that part, or even most of it, could disappoint you.
Tips in Creating A Family Tree
Organizing your data to make a great family tree that will serve as a reference to the rest of the members of your family, doesn’t have to be overwhelming and complicated. Follow these tips on how you can create and update your family tree:
- Decide how fa back you want to go: Let’s face it. Embarking on a serious project of tracing your ancestry is a challenging but worthy journey, and for some, it also makes for a rewarding experience, so feel free to trace as far back as your time and resources can allow.
- Focus your research effort: You might want to have a large family tree and sometimes, you really have little choice but it pays to be selective in researching your bloodline if you want to cope with it. One popular and effective approach is to focus on one branch of the chart and follow the path from there. Another is to tread sideways and document every known branch of the family tree with members that are still alive today.
Types of Family Trees
There are different types of family tree charts researchers and genealogists use when they want to trace certain bloodlines but you don’t have to be as ambitious. Here are the two most common types of family tree charts you can use:
- Ancestor Chart/Family Tree: This chart shows someone’s ancestors from the bottom of the page tracing to the top where parents and grandparents on both sides should be.
- Extended Family Tree: If you decide to use this as your family tree, know that it would take more work since it would require you to put three or more generations.
Family Tree Sizes
There is no standard size for a family tree but if you want to have copies printed, it’s best to go with A4 & US Sizes or any of these: 16 x 20?, 18 x 24?, or 24 x 36?.
Family Tree FAQs
What is the difference between race, ethnicity, and ancestry?
The race goes beyond inherent traits and characteristics and ethnicity refers to a cultural origin. Ancestry, on the other hand, is a line of descent.
How important is a family tree to children?
A family tree is a fun and educational way for kids to learn more about the history and how it is connected with their own family’s past because it helps them connect personally to the information they learn.
As with the key moments in American history from the founding fathers to the early days of Manifest Destiny to the Great Depression, knowing what happened in the past puts our ancestors in a historical context, and rightfully so. The Free World’s lineage is a remarkable story, one that has both shaped diversity and America’s identity along with it, and threatened it time and time again.
Do you want to know a secret? Every American family’s story is tied to yours.
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