In this article, we’ll explain how to make a family tree in Excel.
How to Make a Family Tree Chart in Excel
There are two easy ways to make a family tree chart in Excel. You can use a pre-made family tree maker template from Microsoft, or create your own family tree from scratch. There are also dozens of additional free family tree templates available online to meet your needs.
1. Use the Family Tree Generator Template
The easiest way to make a simple family tree diagram is by using Microsoft’s built-in family tree templates. The simplest of these is the Family Tree Generator. To use this template:
2. Use a More Powerful Template
Free PowerPoint Templates provides a template that lets you create a six or seven-generation family tree, meaning you can add great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents. This is much more powerful than Microsoft’s template and allows you to add additional information to create an in-depth genealogy chart. To use this template:
3. Make a Free-Form Family Tree
If you want to create your own free-form family tree, it’s fairly easy. It might not look as nice as the family tree examples shown above, but it’ll be sufficient — especially if you just need a starting point for some basic genealogical research and you don’t need added functionalities.
Share Family Stories for Free
Don’t forget, if you don’t have access to Microsoft Excel, you can use the web version of the app (or Google Sheets) for free to create an online family tree. This is even easier to share with your family and will help you easily visualize and share your family history.