Generation Archives made this chart. It's free to download, print and share for personal use, with no signup and no email address.
Free printable pedigree chart (four generations, PDF)
A pedigree chart shows one person's direct ancestors: parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, fifteen people on one page. It's the classic first form in family history, and a quick way to see what you know and what you still need to find.
Download: US Letter PDF ยท A4 PDF
Try the demo Sample tree Create a free account
How to fill it in
- Box 1 is the starting person, often you. Write the chart number and your name at the top.
- Each person's father is twice their number, and their mother is twice plus one. So 2 and 3 are the parents of 1, 4 to 7 are the grandparents, and 8 to 15 are the great-grandparents.
- Write what you know: names, and dates and places of birth, marriage and death. Leave unknown lines blank rather than guessing. The blanks are your research list.
- Continue on a new chart. When you reach a great-grandparent, start a new chart with them as number 1, and write that chart's number in the "Cont. on chart" line.
- Print at 100%, not "fit to page", so the writing space isn't shrunk.
When a paper chart isn't enough
A pedigree chart only shows direct ancestors, two parents per person. Real families often have more: step-parents, adoptive parents, multiple marriages, and the siblings and cousins a pedigree leaves out. For one couple and their children, use the family group sheet.
If you'd rather not keep it on paper, you can build the same tree online in Generation Archives, which is free to use (media uploads beyond the free starter credit are paid). You can add any number of parents per person, tag people in photos, drag the tree into any shape you like, and export it as a PDF, PNG or JPEG image of the tree (or as GEDCOM 5.5.1, GEDCOM 7.0 or GEDZIP data) to print. Trees are private by default, visible only to you and the relatives you invite.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pedigree chart?
A pedigree chart is a family tree form that lists one person's direct ancestors, usually four or five generations on a page, with numbered boxes for each person.
Is this pedigree chart free?
Yes. Download and print it as often as you like, with no account needed.
What do the numbers on a pedigree chart mean?
Each person has a number. A father is twice his child's number and a mother is twice plus one, so every ancestor gets a unique number that tells you where they sit in the tree.
Can I fill in a pedigree chart online instead?
Yes. Generation Archives is a free online family tree. You can build your tree in the browser, keep it private to invited relatives, and export a PDF, PNG or JPEG image of the tree. The app is free to use; media uploads beyond the free starter credit are paid.
Try the demo Sample tree Create a free account