Create a Family Tree
Add people and pick their parents – the family tree arranges the generations itself, places couples side by side and connects children to their parents. Everything stays in your browser.
How it is calculated
How to create a family tree
- Start with the oldest known ancestors: enter first name, last name and optionally dates, then press “Add”.
- For every further person choose up to two parents. People who share a child are drawn as a couple automatically; other partnerships can be added with “Partner of”.
- The tree arranges the generations itself: children sit at least one row below their parents, couples side by side.
- Save as PNG or SVG or print. Names and dates can be edited in the list below at any time.
To start, an example with roles (grandmother, mother, me …) is filled in – overwrite the names or start over.
GEDCOM – exchange with genealogy software
GEDCOM is an exchange format for family trees that many genealogy programs read; the current version 7.0 is published by FamilySearch. This tool deliberately exports and imports a clear core only: individuals (name, sex, birth, death) and families (partners, children), UTF-8 encoded, approximate dates as “ABT”. Places, sources, notes, photos and other events are not included – if you import a large file from another program, those details are lost here. On import, the HUSB/WIFE roles are not read as sex or gender, as the specification requires.
Privacy
Family trees contain names and dates of living people. Everything therefore stays in your browser’s storage (localStorage); nothing is uploaded or put into the address bar. To use another device, save the tree as a file.
Limits
The automatic layout works well for families of up to a few dozen people; very large trees with many cross-links may have crossing lines. In that case, split them into several smaller trees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a family tree for free?
Add people and choose their parents – the tree appears instantly in your browser. Save it as PNG or SVG or print it, no sign-up needed.
Can I exchange the tree with genealogy software?
Yes, via GEDCOM. The tool reads and writes names, sex, birth and death dates and families. Places, sources and photos are not transferred.
How do I enter an approximate year of birth?
With a tilde: “~1890” means “around 1890”. The tree then shows “c. 1890” and the GEDCOM export “ABT 1890”.
How many generations fit in the tree?
As many as you like, up to 400 people. The image gets taller with each generation; about four to five generations fit well on one printed page.
Is my family data safe?
It stays only in your browser on this device and is never uploaded. “Start over” deletes everything.
Sources and legal basis
- FamilySearch – The FamilySearch GEDCOM Specification, Version 7.0
- W3C – Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2
- MDN Web Docs – HTMLCanvasElement.toBlob() (PNG-Export)
- MDN Web Docs – Window: localStorage
As of:
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