Make an ancestor chart, generation by generation.
An ancestor chart, also called a pedigree chart, starts with one person and traces their direct ancestors back through time. Build yours in Kinleaf and export it as a printable PDF.
- Starts with you
- Print-ready PDF
- Private by default
Pedigree view
Direct ancestors · 3 generations
A pedigree view, narrowing to your direct line as it reaches back.
How a pedigree chart is built
Yourself, then parents, grandparents, great-grandparents.
Each generation back roughly doubles: two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents.
Start with yourself
01An ancestor chart begins with one person: you. You sit at the root, and every generation branches back from there.
Add your parents
02Add your mother and father as the first generation back. Two parents, the start of every line you'll follow.
Add your grandparents
03Four grandparents form the next generation. The chart widens neatly as you move backward in time.
Add your great-grandparents
04Eight great-grandparents complete a four-generation pedigree: a classic ancestor chart ready to print.
Reaching back
One direct line, generation by generation
You
Where every pedigree begins
Parents
The first generation back
Grandparents
Four direct ancestors
Great-grandparents
Eight, a full four generations
Ancestor Chart
PedigreeExport your ancestor chart as PDF
A pedigree chart worth printing and keeping.
Turn your direct line into a clean, print-ready PDF or high-resolution image, offering legible names, tidy generations, and an archival look that suits a frame on the wall.
Ancestor chart vs. descendant chart.
They point in opposite directions through time. Pick the one that matches the story you want to tell.
Ancestor chart
Looks backward in time. It starts with one person and follows their direct ancestors: parents, grandparents, and beyond. This is best for tracing where you came from.
Descendant chart
Looks forward in time. It starts with one ancestor and follows everyone who came after: children, grandchildren, and the wider family. Best for reunions and large families.
Questions
Ancestor charts, answered.
01What is an ancestor chart?
An ancestor chart, also called a pedigree chart, shows one person and traces their direct ancestors backward: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. It only includes direct lines, not siblings, aunts, or cousins.
02How is it different from a regular family tree?
A family tree usually shows everyone (siblings, partners, children, and extended relatives). An ancestor chart is focused: it follows only your direct bloodline back through the generations, which makes it ideal for studying a single lineage.
03How many generations can I add?
As many as you can document. Most ancestor charts cover four or five generations, but you can keep adding earlier ancestors and Kinleaf will lay them out for you.
04Can I export my ancestor chart?
Yes. Export your pedigree chart as a print-ready PDF or high-resolution image, or download a GEDCOM or JSON backup. Your data is always yours to keep.
Your family story deserves a home that lasts.
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