Basics
Ancestor Chart
The Ancestor Chart, like the Family Group Record, is one of the charts most commonly used by genealogists. Also called the pedigree chart, the Ancestor Chart is a multi-generational chart that presents information about three, four, five or even six generations.
The Ancestor Chart only shows your direct ancestors - that is, your parents, your parents' parents (grandparents), your parents' parents' parents (great-grandparents) and so on back through the generations. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brother and sisters, nieces and nephews are not included (see Family Group Record for information about charting these family members).
Click on the image at the left for an example of a four-generation Ancestor Chart for Frederick Cumyow, (eldest son of Won Alexander Cumyow, the first baby of Chinese origin born in Canada). You may notice that there are many empty spaces on Frederick Cumyow's Ancestor Chart. In fact, there is no information at all about the 4th generation - Frederick Cumyow's great-grandparents. Genealogy is about collecting the information to fill those gaps.
There are many versions of Ancestor Charts. The one used for Frederick Cumyow includes space for each individual's name, and his or her date of birth, marriage and death. Other versions of Ancestor Charts have room for additional details, such as place of birth, marriage and death, and details of burial.
| Print this blank Ancestor Chart [PDF] and use it to begin recording your direct ancestry. Start with yourself as the PRIMARY INDIVIDUAL. |
If you have information about more than four generations, enter the next generation on another chart. Use numbers to link charts together. Spaces for recording linking numbers are usually provided on blank Ancestor Charts, including the one on this site.
Recommended formats
The following are recommended formats for entering name, date, and place information on Ancestor Charts:
Name (Chinese)
LI Da Huang
[Surname in capital letters - Given name(s) - Chinese name in parentheses] Name (English)
Kenneth MAH
[Given name(s) - Surname in capital letters] Include both Chinese and English names, if known.
Date
22 November 1903 Place
New Westminster, B.C. (province only, if in Canada) Ju Hong, Hay Ping, China (include country name if outside Canada)
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 8838
