If you've ever tried to print a five-generation family tree as a normal box-and-line diagram, you know the problem: it sprawls sideways forever. By the fifth generation you have thirty-two ancestors fighting for space in a single row, and the whole thing needs a banner printer. The fan chart solves this with a simple, beautiful idea — wrap the generations around a circle instead of a line.
How a fan chart works
A fan chart is an ancestor chart, which means it shows only your direct line — parents, grandparents, great-grandparents — not siblings, cousins or descendants. You sit at the center. The first ring out holds your two parents; the next holds your four grandparents; the next, your eight great-grandparents, and so on. Each ring doubles the number of people and, crucially, has more room to hold them. That geometry is why a fan chart can show six generations where a rectangular tree would need a wall.
By long-standing convention the paternal line fans out across one half and the maternal line across the other, so you can read each side of your family at a glance. Kindred tints the two halves subtly to make that split easy to see.
Why genealogists love it
- Density without clutter. Six generations on one page, still readable.
- It frames beautifully. The radial symmetry and banded color make a fan chart a genuine piece of wall art — which is exactly why it's our signature layout.
- It reveals the shape of your research. Empty wedges jump out immediately, showing you precisely which branches need more work.
When to choose a fan over a pedigree
Reach for a pedigree chart when you have three or four generations and want a formal, familiar, left-to-right document. Reach for a fan chart when you have five or more generations, or when you want something worth hanging on the wall. The good news: in Kindred you don't commit to either. Enter your family once and switch freely between a fan chart and a pedigree chart, because both are drawn from the same underlying tree.
Make your own fan chart
Add your ancestors in the free editor, or import a GEDCOM from any genealogy app and your whole line appears instantly. Choose a theme, set how many generations to fan out, and watch the rings lay themselves out. Previewing is free and needs no account; a one-time $29 export unlock gives you a print-quality, watermark-free fan chart in poster sizes, plus premium themes and a GEDCOM export.
Spin up your own circular family tree and see how far back your fan reaches.