Sukutaulu

Sukutaulu is a Finnish term referring to a family tree or pedigree chart. It is a diagram that shows familial relationships across generations, typically focusing on ancestors, descendants, or both. Sukutaulut are used in genealogy to organize information about births, marriages, deaths, and other key life events, and to provide a visual overview of a lineage.

A sukutaulu usually presents individuals as nodes connected by lines that represent relationships. Common conventions include using squares to denote males and circles for females; horizontal marriage lines; and vertical lines that link parents to their children. Charts can be drawn in various layouts, including ancestor charts that widen with each preceding generation or descendant charts that expand downward from a starting individual. They may be horizontal or vertical, and can cover a few generations or many generations.

Types and scope vary. Some sukutaulut track a single line of descent (patrilineal or matrilineal), while others show both ancestors and descendants in a two-way or multi-branch diagram. In practice, they can include names, dates of birth and death, places of residence, and sources for each fact. Modern versions are often created with specialized genealogy software or online databases, and can be printed or shared digitally.

Construction and use require careful sourcing and attention to privacy, especially for living individuals. Sukutaulu work is a common method in Finnish genealogical research (sukututkimus) and is supported by archives, church records, and genealogical societies in Finland and beyond.