Family tree template: free printable pedigree chart and research log

The short answer: a family tree template gives you a simple structure for recording your ancestors: one box per person, with room for names, dates and places. This free printable has 4 pages.

• Page 1: a 4-generation pedigree chart with 15 boxes
• Page 2: a family group sheet; page 3: a research log
• Page 4: a simple tree for kids
• Start with yourself, then add parents and grandparents, noting a source for each fact
• Next step: Get the free family tree template (we email it to you); want more? The Family Recipe Binder is $6.99.

A family tree template gives you a simple structure for recording your ancestors: one box per person, with room for names, dates and places. Our free family tree template below is a 4-page printable PDF with a 4-generation pedigree chart, a family group sheet, a genealogy research log and a simple tree for kids. This guide shows you how to fill it in, where to look for records and how to keep the research organized.

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What's in the free family tree template

Print one pedigree chart to start, and print a new family group sheet for each couple you research.

How to fill out a family tree template, step by step

1. Start with yourself. Write your full name, birth date and birthplace in box 1 of the pedigree chart.
2. Add your parents. Your father goes in box 2 and your mother in box 3. Use women's maiden names so you can trace their families.
3. Add your grandparents. Boxes 4 and 5 are your father's parents; boxes 6 and 7 are your mother's parents.
4. Add your great-grandparents. Boxes 8 to 15 hold the eight great-grandparents. Leave a box blank if you do not know the name yet.
5. Use a consistent date format. Many genealogists write dates as day, month, year (for example, 4 Jul 1921) to avoid confusion.
6. Write places from small to large. Use town, county, state and country, such as "Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA."
7. Note your source for each fact. On the family group sheet, the source column is where you record a certificate, census year or relative's memory.
8. Extend the chart. When you reach box 8 to 15 on one line, start a new pedigree chart with that ancestor as number 1.

The pedigree chart numbering system

The numbers on a pedigree chart follow a simple rule that makes it easy to find anyone:

Every man except you has an even number and every woman has an odd number. If you know someone's number, you can always find their parents.

Start at home: what to gather first

Before you search any database, collect what your family already has. Most trees start with papers in a drawer:

• Birth, marriage and death certificates
• Obituaries and funeral programs
• Family Bibles, which often list births, marriages and deaths
• Letters, diaries and postcards
• Photos with names or dates written on the back
• Military discharge papers and medals
• Naturalization certificates and old passports
• Wedding invitations and baby announcements

Then interview older relatives. Ask where they grew up, their parents' and grandparents' full names, where the family came from, and what they remember about holidays and traditions. Record answers on the research log, and write down who told you each fact. Many families keep these stories and favorite recipes together in a Family Recipe Binder ($6.99), which has a Holidays section and a Family Favorites section for the dishes that come with a story.

Where to find genealogy records

The National Archives' Start Your Genealogy Research page lists the records genealogists use most often: census, military, immigration (ship passenger lists), naturalization and land records. Here is what each can tell you:

How to use census records

The National Archives census page explains that the first federal population census was taken in 1790 and has been taken every ten years since. Because of a 72-year restriction on access, the most recent year available is 1950, which was released on April 1, 2022. The National Archives has the census schedules from 1790 to 1950, and most have been digitized by its partners.

Family researchers find it most helpful to begin with the most recent census and work backward. Find your grandparents as children in the 1950 or 1940 census, note their parents' names and ages, and then look for those parents ten years earlier. Each census you find gives you clues for the next one.

Keep a research log

A research log saves hours. Page 3 of the template has two parts:

• A records checklist with 12 common record types, from birth certificates to interviews with relatives. Check off each one as you collect it.
• A search log with columns for the date, ancestor, where you looked, what you found and your next step.

Write down searches that found nothing, too. Knowing you already checked a source keeps you from repeating it, and a dead end in one record often suggests where to look next. The National Archives also suggests learning how other researchers solved similar problems when you hit a wall.

Common family tree mistakes to avoid

Even careful researchers run into the same problems. Watch for these as you fill in your family tree template:

• Assuming the same name means the same person. Common names repeat across towns and generations. Confirm with a second detail, such as a spouse's name, birthplace or age.
• Trusting one source for everything. Ages on census records drift, and spellings change from one record to the next. Look for two records that agree before you write a fact in pen.
• Skipping the women. Record maiden names whenever you can. A mother's maiden name opens up a whole new branch of the tree.
• Copying other people's trees without checking. Online trees can be a useful lead, but treat them as hints until you find the record behind each fact.
• Not writing down the source. A year later, you will not remember where a date came from. The source column on the family group sheet exists for this reason.
• Throwing away dead ends. Note what you searched and found nothing in. That information is just as valuable as a match.

How to organize a growing family tree

Once you have more than one page, a little structure keeps the research usable:

Review the tree before family gatherings. Bring printed copies and a pen, because relatives often remember a name or date when they see the chart in front of them.

Family tree template ideas for gifts and kids

A filled-in family tree makes a meaningful gift, especially for holidays and reunions:

• Framed tree for grandparents. Fill in the simple version on page 4 and add small photos.
• Reunion activity. Print several pedigree charts and let each branch of the family fill in its section.
• School project. Kids can complete the three-generation tree and interview a grandparent.
• Holiday keepsake. Pair the tree with handwritten family recipes so the stories and the food stay together.
• Baby book page. Add a family tree page to a baby book so the new baby has a record of who came before.

Keep family records together

A family tree is one part of a family's records. If you are already collecting certificates and names, it is a good time to note where important documents are kept. The If Something Happens to Me Binder ($11.99) includes pages for personal information, key contacts, where to find documents and your wishes, so the records you gather are easy for your family to find later.

Download the free family tree template

Use the download box on this page to get the free 4-page PDF. Print the pedigree chart first, fill in what you know, and add a family group sheet for each couple as your research grows.