Family Tree Charts -The Best Way to Record Your Family Lineage

Using family tree charts is the easiest way to trace your family lineage. There are many types and styles of these, but they all have one thing in common: they are blank. In other words, it's up to you to do the research and fill in the blank spaces. In the past, it was very difficult for an amateur genealogist to find the records he needed, but the Internet has changed all that. You still have to do your detective work, but if you know where to look, you can find the information you need.

Descendant Family Tree Charts
If you know your family lineage is traceable back to a Scottish clan, British nobility or any other prominent bloodline, you are miles ahead of most, whose lineage is more obscure. If that is the case, you are probably more interested in creating the links from a historically famous personality to you and your family. In a case like this, you will start by using a descendant chart from the many family tree templates you can find online.

A descendant chart begins with an individual in the past and traces his or her descendents to the present time. If the person was born prior to the 19th century, you will have to rely on historical records to trace much of their family line. In earlier times, people often had large families. Out of eight children, maybe six survived and had children of their own. Of those six, 3 of them were male. Which one are you related to?

One way to find out is through a process of elimination. When you reach a dead end with one, try another. Another way is to trace one son's descendants as far as you can and then contact a living relative of his and see if they can help you. The descendants of large, prominent historical figures often have family tree charts of their own or if not, they will have titbits of valuable information they no doubt will be more than happy to share with you.

Ascendant Family Tree Charts
Still another way to conduct your search is to use ascendant family tree templates. Choose one that goes back enough generations to fill in the details about the figure you believe are related to. Fill in his details as best you can and then start your ascendant search from yourself and your immediate family. You can even work in both directions until you have finally filled in the missing links.

In England and Wales, birth, marriage and death certificates have been compulsory since 1874. These certificates were introduced back in 1837, but were not compulsory. However, they were widely obtained, so there is a good chance that you will be able to find one or more of these public records online. If you are lucky and find a birth certificate of a distant relation who was born in, say, 1840, you will also have the names and birthdates of his or her parents and the mother's maiden name.

Tracing your family lineage is not going to be easy, but it will be a very rewarding experience. As you proceed, you will find yourself reliving history and making amazing discoveries. Family tree charts will be invaluable to you, because they keep everything you have learned in order. Without them, you would get lost in the maze of your family history. With a good template and good online source material to help you, you will successfully find your way.