Create A Seven Generation Family Tree In Google Sheets

A seven-generation tree goes up to 64 great-great-great-great-grandparents.

Our layout in Google Sheets prints on two landscape pages that can be easily taped together.

If you’re too busy for the fourteen steps in this tutorial, jump down to the end to grab our “done for you” Google Sheets template bundle.

Table of Contents

What The 7-Generation Pedigree Tree Looks Like

The picture below shows what part of the top half of the tree looks like (I would turn off the grid lines when printing).

Other sizes

If you want a smaller tree that prints on less pages, try these:

But if you want larger trees, try one of these:

Step 1: Set Column Widths And Row Heights

Create a new worksheet.

To change the width of any column, follow these steps:

Select the entire column by clicking on the letter at the top.
Right-click and choose “Resize column” from the drop-down menu.
Enter the sizes below (this is in pixels).

Set these sizes:

Set columns A, D, G, J, M, P, and R (seven columns) to size 121.
Set columns B, C, E, F, H, I, K, L, N, and O to 8.
Set column Q to size 12.

Set this column height:

The spreadsheet needs at least 64 rows.

Because I want to use the least amounts of printed pages, I decrease the row heights from the default.

Select rows 1 to 70.
Right-click and choose “Resize row” from the drop-down menu.
Enter size 18.

Step 2: Start With The Father Name Box

We start with the first section of the tree by adding the father.

Follow these steps to create this first paternal name field.

Merge two cells

Select cells D18 and D19.
Expand the Format menu in the top ribbon and choose “Merge cells”.
Choose “Merge all”.

Add an outside border

Select the merged cells.
Expand the Borders menu in the top ribbon.
Choose the “Outer Borders” option.

Set the font type, size, alignment, and color

I like to use a narrow font type that first more letters into the cell. This allows longer names to display in full. My preference is “Archivo Narrow”.

Select the merged cells.
Expand the font list and choose “More fonts” (if you don’t see your preferred option).
Change the font type to “Archivo Narrow”.
Reduce the font size to 9.

Set the text alignment

I prefer names to be left-justified and vertically centered in the merged cells.

Cells are left-justified by default so all you need to set is the vertical alignment.

Select the merged cells.
Expand the vertical alignment dropdown.
Set to the middle option.

Format the coloring

I like to use a different color in the name field for male and female ancestors.

My preference is a light blue for males.

To change the color of the name field:

Select the merged cells of D18 and D19.
Set the background color to light blue.

Step 3: Copy For Male Ancestors From The 3^rd To 6^th Generations

We are going to use copy-and-paste as much as possible in this process.

I’ve already worked out where each ancestor should go. Just follow these placements.

Select and copy the two merged cells D18 and D19.

Select each cell below in turn and paste the selected range into the cell. This copies the two cells.

3^rd Generation

4^th Generation

5^th Generation

6^th Generation

We’ll deal with the final seventh generation later.

Step 4: Create The Paternal Grandmother’s Name Box

This is the first female box on the page.

Select and copy the two merged cells D18 and D19.

Paste into cell G26.

Change the background color to light orange.

Step 5: Copy For Maternal Ancestors In The 4^th To 6th Generations

Select and copy the merged cells G26 and G27.

Paste the range into the cells listed below. This copies the two merged cells.

4^th Generation

5^th Generation

6^th Generation

We’ll deal with the 7^th generation next.

Step 6: Create The 7^th Generation

This furthest generation has a different format from the others.

In order to fit the 64 people onto two landscape pages long, the layout only gives a single row to each person in this generation.

We’ll format the first male and female boxes. Then we can copy them down the column.

Set the color of cell R3 to light blue.
Put an outside border around R3.
Set the color of cell R4 to light orange.
Put an outside border around R4.

Now copy these two cells down as far as R34 is filled with a pink cell.

Now we’ll create the connector lines for this top half of the tree.

Step 7: Create Connector Lines From The Father To His Parents

Create a vertical line using borders:

Select cells F11 to F26.
Place a left border along these cells.

Create three horizontal lines using borders:

Select cell F11 only and place a top border on this cell.
Select cell F26 and place a bottom border on this cell.
Select cell E18 and place a bottom border on this cell.

Step 8: Connector Lines From The 3^rd to 4^th Generations

Create the first set of connector lines at this level:

Place a left border along cells I7 to I14.
Place a top border on cell I7.
Place a bottom border on cell I14.
Place a bottom border on cell H10.

Now we have a set of connector lines around one set of ancestors, we can copy the cells down to the other ancestors in this generation.

In other words, follow these steps:

Select and copy the range of cells from H7 and I7 down to H14 and I14.
Paste into cell H23.

Step 9: Connector Lines From 4^th To 5th Generations

Place a left border along cells L5 to L8.
Place a top border on cell L5.
Place a bottom border on cell L8.
Place a bottom border on cell K6.

Now copy these bordered cells to the other ancestors in this generation.

Copy the range of cells from K5 and L5 to K8 and L8.
Paste into cell K13.
Paste into cell K21.
Paste into cell K29.

Step 10: Create Connector Lines From The 5^th To 6^th Generation

Place a left border along cells O4 to O5.
Place a top border on cell O4.
Place a bottom border on cell O5.
Place a bottom border on cell N4.

Now copy these bordered cells to the other ancestors in this generation.

Copy the range of four cells from N4 and O4 to N5 and O5.
Paste into cell N8.
Paste into cell N12.
Paste into cell N16.
Paste into cell N20.
Paste into cell N24.
Paste into cell N28.
Paste into cell N32.

Step 11: Connector Lines From The 6^th To 7^th Generation

This connection is just a single horizontal line.

Put a bottom border on cell Q3.
Copy the two-cell range of Q3 and Q4.
Paste the cells all the way down to Q33.

Step 12: Copy The Paternal Section To Create The Maternal Section

Take these steps to create the maternal section below what we’ve already got.

Copy the range of cells from D3 to R3 to D34 to R34.
Paste this range into cell D37.
Change the fill color of the merged cells D52 and D53 to light orange.

Step 13: Create The Home Person

The last step is to add yourself.

Merge cells A34 and A35.
Set your preferred background color.
Add a border around the cells.
Set the vertical alignment to middle.

Add the connector lines to the parents:

Place a left border along cells C19 to C52.
Place a top border on cell C19.
Place a bottom border on cell C52.
Place a bottom border on cell B34.

Step 14: Print Settings

When you print your seven-generation Google sheet, use these settings:

Paper Size: A4
Page Orientation: Landscape
Show gridlines: unchecked

Done-For-You Bundle

If you want a short-cut, we have pre-made templates in Google Sheets. Everything is laid out perfectly, you just need to fill it in!

We have two versions in the spreadsheet package:

The classic template with names and dates.
The simpler template that shows names only.

Create A Seven Generation Family Tree In Google Sheets