6 Charts to Visualize Your Family Tree (Even Complex Trees!)

Updated 11/16/2024

Genealogy’s visual side is one of its best-kept secrets. Who doesn’t love seeing a family tree laid out to make sense of relationships, generations, and heritage? Today, I’m excited to share five different types of family tree charts that can help you organize—and showcase—your ancestors beautifully. From the simple to the complex, each one offers a unique lens for viewing and understanding your lineage.

1. The Pedigree Chart: A Family Tree Classic

When most people think of family trees, they’re picturing a pedigree chart. Popular on sites like MyHeritage, the pedigree chart features one person at the center, with paternal ancestors above and maternal ancestors below. You can even add ancestor photos to make it more personal! As you zoom out, you’ll see generations upon generations stretching back, sometimes as far as the research goes.

This layout is clean and simple, ideal for tracking direct ancestors. However, it’s best suited for a straightforward look at parent-child relationships rather than complex family structures.

2. The Side-by-Side Chart: A Unique Twist

MyHeritage also offers a side-by-side chart that some genealogists find handy. Instead of stacking generations vertically, this chart spreads them out in sections. You, your parents, and your children sit in the middle, with your parents’ siblings, cousins, and extended relatives extending outward.

While I personally don’t love this chart’s layout, it’s certainly unique. This format allows you to see siblings, cousins, and extended family all at once, making it helpful if you’re researching lateral family branches.

3. The Portrait Chart: Faces Tell the Story

Portrait charts add a touch of personality to your family tree by integrating ancestor photos into the layout. Available on FamilySearch, this chart lets you literally see your family’s faces as you move up each generation. Of course, photos are only available from the era of photography, so you’ll hit a blank space eventually. Some people choose to place tombstone photos or other symbols for ancestors without photographs.

This chart is fantastic if you’re a visual person who finds connection through faces. It brings life to names, making it easy to appreciate your ancestors’ unique identities.

4. The Descendancy Chart: Following a Legacy Forward

A descendancy chart shows how one ancestor’s descendants unfold over the generations. For example, I have an ancestor, Magdalena Hoppe, whose descendants are mapped out through multiple generations on this type of chart. Starting from Magdalena, you can scroll down to see her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on.

This chart is ideal for researchers looking to track a specific family line forward in time, often useful when mapping cousins or locating living relatives connected to a single ancestor.

Family Tree Fan Chart Scrapbook Layout — Scrapbook Fan Chart

5. The Fan Chart: The All-in-One Display

Ah, the fan chart—my personal favorite! Starting with a single person (say, Robert Paul) in the center, this chart radiates outward in layers, with each ring representing a new generation. FamilySearch’s fan chart goes above and beyond by color-coding the ancestors based on birthplaces, so you can easily see which lines connect to specific countries.

Even better, you can adjust the chart to highlight ancestors with stories, sources, or missing records, which helps you target areas in need of further research. For visualizing family origins and identifying research priorities at a glance, the fan chart is tough to beat.

6. The Bow Tie Chart: Perfect for Complex Families

For families with blended backgrounds—like adoptions or complex family relationships—the bow tie chart is your go-to. Think of it as a mirror: in the center is you (or the key ancestor), with the paternal line spreading out on one side and the maternal line on the other. If you’re adopted or have a blended family, you can arrange biological and adoptive lines side-by-side to view your full family story.

Family Tree Template = Bow Tie — Get This Chart from familytreetemplates.net - click the image

Bow tie charts are great for genealogists navigating complex family histories. They allow you to organize relationships without sacrificing a unified look. If you’re curious about creating intricate family charts, check out our video with Family Chartmasters for even more ideas on designing these complex visuals.

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So Many Family Tree Options!

There you have it: five different family tree charts that offer creative and functional ways to organize your family’s history. From the traditional pedigree chart to the flexible bow tie layout, each chart offers a unique view into your genealogy.

Whether you’re tackling a simple tree or a complex family story, there’s a chart that can help you tell that story visually. Give each a try to see which works best for you.

And if you’re ready to turn ancestor stories into something unforgettable, grab my book, A Recipe for Writing Family History. It’ll guide you through transforming your genealogy findings into compelling narratives.

Happy charting, and remember: family history is meant to be enjoyed. If you’re not having fun with it, you’re doing it wrong!