Create your family tree

Each family can be represented with a tree structure that shows the family relationships. Family trees are used in genealogy, social work and medicine and are called genograms. A family tree is able to show the relationship of a family members and the connections between individuals over time.
There are different formats in order to represent  genealogical data (for example pedigree or ancestor chart). The most common way in a tree representation is to put the oldest generations at the top and the newer generations at the bottom. In other representations, usually ancestry charts, an individual appears on the left and her ancestors appear to the right. In descendancy chart, an individual appears on the top and all his descendant at the bottom. 

A family tree can have a specific theme so you can create different trees with different themes.
For example a tree can include  all members of a particular surname another all the  descendants of a single figure.

The first tree probably was the Tree of Jesse that illustrated the Genealogy of Christ. The longest family tree that we know is the tree  of the Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius (551–479 BC) where are represented more than 80 generations, and includes more than 2 million members.

You can also try to create your own family tree. First of all you should record what you already know about your family members. The best way to acquire information is to ask your relatives. Then you will have to do further research and consult original records in many place around the UK. The different type of sources you can controll are:

• births – deaths
• immigration
• adoption
• census
• marriages
• maps
• religious
• military
• emigration
• wills

then you will have to organise your documents properly in order to create your family tree. Now that you have all the information you can create your family tree and store information manually or using a computer software!