Family tree templates

Use our family tree templates to chart your family relationships. Creating a visual can help you understand the wider family structure and appreciate the generations that came before you.

On this page

How to fill in a family tree

  1. At the top right of the family tree, there is a box for your name and when you were born.
  2. Next, start your tree with your name the bottom.
  3. The second row above has two boxes for your parents' names.
  4. The third row is for your grandparents.
  5. Keep adding names as you go back each generation.

Want to go back further?

Use another copy of the tree and add the name of one of your ancestors in the box at the bottom of the tree. Keep going back to earlier generations.

Printing tip

The bigger, the better. These templates work best when printed on ledger size paper (432x279 millimeters or 11x17 inches)

Family tree for five generations

Download the print version
(PDF document, 5.4 MB, 2 pages)

Family tree for five generations print out
Family tree for five generations - Text version

Page one - Family tree

A stamp with the words “Create Your Family Tree Explore Genealogy” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Boarding pass. Discover your family, discover your genealogy!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by six rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 31 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.

Page two - Tips and game

Image of notebook with stamp “Mail transfer postal stamp”, stamps, passport, pencil, coins, phone

Tips and tricks

  • Start with yourself, and work back in time. Record your own details first. Then those of your parents and siblings.
  • Next, write down the details of your grandparents and all their children. Continue to work back, one generation at a time, based on the facts you have found.
  • Talk to your family members. Be like a special investigator. Gather names, places, events and important dates. Encourage your family to tell their stories. Record what you hear. Every new bit of information might be a clue to your family story!
  • Families come in all shapes and sizes. Be creative! Give this tree as many branches as you need, as unique as your own family.

Insert or draw your family picture here!

About genealogy

Family history, or genealogy, is a wonderful way to better understand where we come from. Recording your family history may help you learn more about yourself. For some, this is an enjoyable hobby. For others, it is a passion!

You may use many tools for your research. Talk to your relatives. See government and church records. Look at newspapers and city directories.

You can learn more on our website: library-archives.canada.ca/eng

Word search

Search up, down, forward, backward, and on the diagonal to find the hidden words.

The list of hidden words includes:

  • ancestor
  • country
  • culture
  • descendant
  • diversity
  • familytree
  • genealogy
  • generation
  • grandparent
  • hereditary
  • history
  • immigrant
  • relative
  • sibling
  • surname

Family tree for six generations

Download the print version
(PDF document, 5.4 MB, 2 pages)

Family tree for six generations print out
Family tree for six generations - Text version

Page one - Family tree

A stamp with the words “Create Your Family Tree Explore Genealogy” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Boarding pass. Discover your family, discover your genealogy!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by seven rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 63 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents. The seventh row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.

Page two - Tips and game

Image of notebook with stamp “Mail transfer postal stamp”, stamps, passport, pencil, coins, phone

Tips and tricks

  • Start with yourself, and work back in time. Record your own details first. Then those of your parents and siblings.
  • Next, write down the details of your grandparents and all their children. Continue to work back, one generation at a time, based on the facts you have found.
  • Talk to your family members. Be like a special investigator. Gather names, places, events and important dates. Encourage your family to tell their stories. Record what you hear. Every new bit of information might be a clue to your family story!
  • Families come in all shapes and sizes. Be creative! Give this tree as many branches as you need, as unique as your own family.

Insert or draw your family picture here!

About genealogy

Family history, or genealogy, is a wonderful way to better understand where we come from. Recording your family history may help you learn more about yourself. For some, this is an enjoyable hobby. For others, it is a passion!

You may use many tools for your research. Talk to your relatives. See government and church records. Look at newspapers and city directories.

You can learn more on our website: library-archives.canada.ca/eng

Word search

Search up, down, forward, backward, and on the diagonal to find the hidden words.

The list of hidden words includes:

  • ancestor
  • country
  • culture
  • descendant
  • diversity
  • familytree
  • genealogy
  • generation
  • grandparent
  • hereditary
  • history
  • immigrant
  • relative
  • sibling
  • surname

Family tree for five generations (bilingual poster)

Download the print version
(PDF document, 6.7 MB, 2 pages)

This is a bilingual printout which does not include the tips, notes or crossword.

Family tree for five generations bilingual print out
Family tree for five generations (bilingual) - Text version

Page one - Family tree (French)

A stamp with the words “Fais ton arbre généalogique. Étudie ta famille!” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Carte d’embarquement. Découvre ta famille, découvre la généalogie!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by six rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 31 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.

Page two - Family tree (English)

A stamp with the words “Create Your Family Tree Explore Genealogy” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Boarding pass. Discover your family, discover your genealogy!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by six rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 31 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has eight boxes for your great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.

Family tree for six generations (bilingual poster)

Download the print version
(PDF document, 6.7 MB, 2 pages)

This is a bilingual printout which does not include the tips, notes or crossword.

Family tree for six generations bilingual print out
Family tree for six generations (bilingual) - Text version

Page one - Family tree (French)

A stamp with the words “Fais ton arbre généalogique. Étudie ta famille!” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Carte d’embarquement. Découvre ta famille, découvre la généalogie!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by seven rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 63 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents. The seventh row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.

Page two - Family tree (English)

A stamp with the words “Create Your Family Tree Explore Genealogy” is in top left corner. A rectangular box is in top right corner with the words “Boarding pass. Discover your family, discover your genealogy!” with a drawing of a plane and the Library and Archives Canada logo. There is a box to write your name and date of birth.

A family tree represented by seven rows of empty boxes for going back six generations. There are 63 boxes and each row represents a generation. From bottom to top: first row has a box for your name. second row has two boxes for your parents. Third row has four boxes for your grandparents. Fourth row has eight boxes for your great-grandparents. The fifth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-grandparents. The sixth row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents. The seventh row has sixteen boxes for your great-great-great-grandparents.

Bottom of page has logos for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. Library and Archives Canada signature. Canada watermark.