Family trees are conventional ways to understand a family history. It is a great tool to know more about your family members and their elders. Family trees for celebrities, athletes and politicians are common and found on the internet.

Family trees are also used in the medical field to know if there is a disease in the family or not. They are quite helpful in that regard. If you are interested in making your family tree, it is doable. All you need to do is do a little research and start drawing your family tree.

In this article, we will learn more about family trees and learn how to create these family trees. Different methods are used to generate these family trees and we are going to find out some easy-to-use methods that help us in getting our work done quickly.

In this article
  1. What is a Family tree?
  2. Benefits of a Family Tree
  3. How to Make a Family Tree in General
  4. How to make a Family tree in EdrawMax?
  5. Best Practices for Using Family Trees
  6. Final Words

What is a Family tree?

A family tree is used to present the members of a family. It is mostly used to see the descendants and current members of a family. It is also called genealogy or pedigree chart and is represented in the shape of a tree. A family tree might include images, date of birth, and relationships among these members.

Most people like to have these family trees to show their children how they are related to each member of the family tree. They are super useful and provide a brief history of a family. There are several family trees available on the internet. Most of them are famous personalities and politicians.

Benefits of a Family Tree

There are a lot of benefits to having a family tree. A few of them are given below.

  • It helps you preserve your family's history and tells you the stories of your ancestors.
  • It helps you link the past, present, and future and fosters a sense of identity and belonging.
  • It is valuable to have a family tree to educate your family and let them know the relationships among them.
  • Many family tree diagrams are used to check the medical history of a family.
  • Family trees are also used to promote cultural and family heritage.
  • Family trees also help you remember moments with your family. It is a kind of joy to have a family tree.

How to Make a Family Tree in General

Making a family tree on paper is a bit tedious. However, with the advancements in technology, the work gets easier. You can draw a family tree for you with the help of digital tools. The tools make your work easier and help you compile things quickly. Here is how you can make a family tree.

Step 1

Open a canvas on which you're going to draw your family tree diagram. Drag components like image containers, circles, or boxes where you are going to place your images.

open a canvas to start with
Step 2

Upload images for each block or container and make them pretty clear so that they are visible enough for everyone.

upload images of the family members in containers
Step 3

Add names and other details if you have with the images, you have just uploaded.

add details for each person in the diagram
Step 4

Connect these images with arrows and lines so that you know how they are related to each other.

add relationships among the images

How to make a Family tree in EdrawMax?

Making a tree on a regular diagramming tool is easy but it gets even easier when you have all the tools related to a specific type of diagram.

EdrawMax is a unique tool that offers all the tools to start with. All you need to do is to maneuver things here and there. Let's check out how to make a family tree with the help of EdrawMax.

star icon Try EdrawMax App (iOS & Android)

Scan Now

secure download
qr code
Available on:
star icon 500+ Reviews

Step 1

Open EdrawMax and click New + Family Tree.

open edrawmax and select the family tree
Step 2

Drag compartments on the canvas on which you are going to place your images and other details. Arrange them in a manner so that they are well aligned.

add elements and containers on the canvas
Step 3

Upload images to these compartments one by one and write the details related to one person on the canvas.

upload images in the containers
Step 4

Add relationships among the containers or images you have just posted. These relationships are vital to know how people in the tree are related to each other.

add relationships
Step 5

Write details for each person like date of birth and profession etc.

add any relevant information
Step 6

Choose a background or add colors to the background to make your design look better.

choose a background
Step 7

Now, export your design in Word, Excel, or ppt file. You are allowed to save your design in different formats.

export your design

Best Practices for Using Family Trees

Using family trees effectively requires following several best practices to ensure accuracy, comprehensiveness, and utility:

  • Start with what you know: Begin by documenting immediate family members and work your way backward. Gather information from relatives, family records, and personal recollections.
  • Verify sources: Cross-check information from multiple reliable sources such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and census records. Avoid relying solely on anecdotal evidence.
  • Organize information: Use genealogy software or online platforms to systematically record data. These tools can help in managing large amounts of information and creating visual representations of the family tree.
  • Document sources: Always note where each piece of information came from. This practice helps in validating the data and provides a trail for future researchers to follow.
  • Stay updated: Continuously update the family tree as new information becomes available. This includes adding new family members and correcting any previously discovered inaccuracies.
  • Respect privacy: Be mindful of privacy concerns, especially when sharing the family tree online. Obtain consent before including living individuals' information and consider using privacy settings to protect sensitive data.
  • Engage family members: Involve other family members in the research process. They may have valuable insights and additional information that can enhance the family tree.
  • Include stories and context: Beyond names and dates, try to include stories, photographs, and historical context. This adds depth and personalizes the family tree, making it more meaningful.
  • Back up your data: Regularly back up your research to avoid losing valuable information due to technical issues or other unforeseen events.
  • Stay ethical: Approach sensitive information with care and avoid publicizing potentially damaging family secrets without considering the impact on living relatives.

By adhering to these best practices, you can create a reliable, informative, and respectful family tree that serves as a valuable resource for current and future generations.

Final Words

So, here is what you need to know about family trees. In this guide, we have also discussed methods to make quality family tree diagrams through some convenient methods. These methods are easy to use and help create fascinating designs.

However, as an expert, I would love to suggest some research on your family to start designing your family tree and bring all the members to discuss if the information being used is correct. When it comes to the tool EdrawMax would do the rest. It will guarantee quality designs and make them look good.

edrawmax logoEdrawMax Desktop
Simple alternative to Visio
210+ types of diagrams
10K+ free templates & 26k+ symbols
10+ AI diagram generators
10+ export formats
edrawmax logoEdraw.AI
Online visual collaboration app
40+ AI tools for diagramming & mind mapping
Enterprise-level data security
Team management and collaboration

Edraw Team
Edraw Team Jan 20, 25
Share article:
advertise