How To Complete 4-Generation Family Trees?

Four-generation family trees will take your family tree as far as your great-grandparents. To complete a four-generation family tree you’ll most likely have to do a bit of research, but it will be a good start in getting acclimatized to genealogical practices. The most important aspect of filling out you four generation family tree is inputting data accurately. This data will include names, dates, and places of births and deaths. It might seem obvious, but the tiniest error such as a spelling mistake or entering a wrong date could make it very difficult to extend your four-generation chart to include future generations.

FAMILY TREES: Free designer quality 4-generation family trees

A good way to avoid this is to make a list of all of the ancestors who will be entered on your four-generation family tree. Starting with yourself, write your full name, date and time of birth, place of birth and any nicknames you might have. Do the same for every member of your family who will be included in those four generations, but do so in the particular order I’ve shown below. I’ll explain the importance of following the exact numbering system after.

1. Yourself
2. Your Father
3. Your Mother
4. Your Father’s Father
5. Your Father’s Mother
6. Your Mother’s Father
7. Your Mother’s Mother
8. Your Father’s Father’s Father
9. Your Father’s Father’s Mother
10. Your Father’s Mother’s Father
11. Your Father’s Mother’s Mother
12. Your Mother’s Father’s Father
13. Your Mother’s Father’s Mother
14. Your Mother’s Mother’s Father
15. Your Mother’s Mother’s Mother

Now alongside each name write in the relevant information. Remember full names and any nicknames or aliases to be included. Dates and places of birth must be concise and accurate. For locations include the full address. Include the village or town or suburb name, the city, the county or parish and the country. The more information you have the better.

Now before you fill in your four-generation family tree I want you to number the boxes or spaces in which you’ll enter each name. This numbering system is known as the Ahnentafel System. It’s a German method devised to simplify the task of organizing the members of your family tree and entering them in the appropriate space.

Your name, being first on your list will go in the first box. Your father being number 2 will be in the second, your mother as number 3 third, and so on. The downloadable four generation family trees on our website are already numbered, so practice using one of them first. Once you get the hang of it you’ll see how simple filling in a four generation family tree template really is.