How To Use a 5 Generation Pedigree Chart
Filling in a 5-generation pedigree chart involves tracking your ancestry back through five generations, typically including yourself, your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use and fill in a 5-generation pedigree chart:
Obtain a Pedigree Chart Template: You can find these online or create one yourself. A 5-generation chart will have five levels, with spaces for names, birthdates, and other relevant information.
1. Start with Yourself:
- Write your name in the first box at the bottom or center of the chart. Include your birth date and any other pertinent details.
2. Add Your Parents:
- Write your father’s name in the box above yours on one side. Include his birth date, place of birth, and any other details.
- Write your mother’s name in the box next to your father’s. Include her birth date, place of birth, and other details.
3. Add Your Grandparents:
- For each of your parents, add their parents’ names in the boxes above them.
- Include birth dates, places of birth, marriage dates, and other relevant information.
4. Add Your Great-Grandparents:
- For each of your grandparents, add their parents’ names.
- Fill in birth dates, places of birth, marriage dates, and other details.
5. Add Your Great-Great-Grandparents:
- For each of your great-grandparents, add their parents’ names.
- Complete the chart with birth dates, places of birth, marriage dates, and other pertinent information.
Research and Verify Information:
- Use family records, birth certificates, marriage certificates, census records, and other documents to gather accurate information.
- Talk to relatives who might have additional details or stories.
Keep It Organized:
- Ensure that each generation is clearly separated and labeled.
- Use consistent formatting for names, dates, and places to make the chart easy to read.
Update Regularly:
- As you discover new information or verify existing details, update your pedigree chart.
Share with Family:
- Share your completed pedigree chart with family members to preserve family history and encourage collaboration in gathering more information.
By carefully filling in each section and verifying your information, you’ll create a comprehensive and valuable family history record.
A Quick Guide
1. Generation I: Yourself – Male symbol: Square – Female symbol: Circle – Start with yourself as the “proband” or “reference person.” – Write your name, date of birth, and sex in the appropriate box.
2. Generation II: Parents – Draw lines connecting you to your parents. – Write their names, dates of birth, and sexes in the boxes representing them.
3. Generation III: Grandparents – Draw lines connecting your parents to their parents (your grandparents). – Write their names, dates of birth, and sexes in the boxes representing them. – If any of your grandparents are deceased, indicate this with a diagonal line through their box.
4. Generation IV: Great-Grandparents – Draw lines connecting your grandparents to their parents (your great-grandparents). – Write their names, dates of birth, and sexes in the boxes representing them. – If any of your great-grandparents are deceased, indicate this with a diagonal line through their box.
5. Generation V: Great-Great-Grandparents – Draw lines connecting your great-grandparents to their parents (your great-great-grandparents). – Write their names, dates of birth, and sexes in the boxes representing them. – If any of your great-great-grandparents are deceased, indicate this with a diagonal line through their box.
Additional Information: If you know the birth or death locations of any of your ancestors, you can include this information within their boxes.
You can also indicate any known medical conditions or genetic disorders that run in your family.
Pedigree charts can be used for a variety of purposes, including genetic analysis, family history research, and medical diagnosis.
FREE 5 Generation Pedigree Chart – Sample
Discovering Your Past 