GENERATIONS


A generation is approximately 30 years but varies widely from family to family, depending on such things as frequency of birth, birth order, etc. The first child may have been born when his parents were less than 20 years old; but the last child may have been born when they were in their 40's, or later. But generally speaking, 30 years is a good rule of thumb, since all of it is relative. The farther back it goes, the less accurate it becomes. About ten generations are usually enough.

Number - Years - - -  Relationship - - - -ID
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 1 . . 1910-1940 . . You . . . . . . . . 1
 2 . . 1880-1910 . . Your Parents. . . . 2-3
 3 . . 1850-1880 . . Grandparents. . . . 4-7
 4 . . 1820-1850 . . Gt Grandparents . . 8-15
 5 . . 1790-1820 . . 2G Grandparents . . 16-31
 6 . . 1760-1790 . . 3G Grandparents . . 32-63
 7 . . 1730-1760 . . 4G Grandparents . . 64+
 8 . . 1700-1730 . . 5G Grandparents . . 128+
 9 . . 1670 1700 . . 6G Grandparents . . 256+
10 . . 1640-1670 . . 7G Grandparents . . 512+
11 . . 1610-1640 . . 8G Grandparents . . 1024+
12 . . 1580-1610 . . 9G Grandparents . . 2048+
13 . . 1550-1580 . . 10G Grandparents. . 4096+
14 . . 1520-1550 . . 11G Grandparents. . 8192+
15 . . 1490-1520 . . 12G Grandparents. . 16384+
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                  Approximately

This can help with the Pedigree Charts to get some idea as to when the people lived and what kin they were to you. For example, if you were born in 1938, your grandparents were probably born between 1850 and 1880.

(If you were born after 1940, subtract one generation.)