UK & Irish Genealogy Glossary

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Ahnentafel: A genealogical numbering system for listing a person's direct ancestors in a fixed sequence. The subject is number 1, their father is 2, their mother is 3, and so on. This system is heavily used in traditional European family tree recording.
Archival Ink: Specially formulated pigment inks designed to resist fading and weathering over time. We exclusively use archival inks in all our giclée prints to ensure your family masterpiece lasts for generations.

Bespoke: Made to order or custom-made. In our studio, a bespoke chart refers to a piece of artwork meticulously designed from scratch to accommodate your unique family data, rather than dropping names into a rigid, pre-made template.

CSV (Comma-Separated Values): A simple text file format used to store tabular data, such as a spreadsheet of ancestors. It is one of the easiest ways to send us your family tree data if you are not using a traditional GEDCOM file.

Descendant: A person who originates from a specific ancestor. A descendant chart works forwards in time, starting with an older ancestor at the top (or center) and mapping down through their children, grandchildren, and so forth.

GEDCOM: An acronym for Genealogical Data Communication. It is the universal digital file format used to save and share family tree data. You can download this file from platforms like Ancestry to import directly into our studio.
Giclée: A high-quality fine art printing process that uses incredibly precise sprayers to apply millions of drops of archival ink onto premium paper. It is the gold standard for gallery-quality art reproduction.
Google Sheets: A free, web-based spreadsheet application. We can provide a simple template in this format so you can easily organize and type in your family names, dates, and locations before we design your chart.

JPG / JPEG: A standard digital image format. Instead of a physical giclée print, you can choose to receive your completed ancestral chart as a high-resolution JPG file. This provides a versatile digital copy that you can easily email to relatives, view on your devices, or take to a local print shop.

Lineage: A line of descent from a single, known ancestor. Lineage societies often require documented proof of this exact chain to grant membership.

MS Excel: Microsoft's popular spreadsheet software. Like Google Sheets or CSV, we provide ready-made Excel templates to help you structure and submit your ancestral data to our studio simply and accurately.

PDF (Portable Document Format): A universal file format that perfectly preserves the fonts, images, and layout of a document exactly as it was designed. We send high-resolution digital proofs of your family tree as a PDF for you to review before printing. Additionally, you can choose to receive your final, completed chart as a high-resolution PDF instead of a physical print, allowing you to easily share the file or print it yourself.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): A specialized image format used for illustrations and graphics that can be resized indefinitely without ever losing quality or becoming blurry. It is the perfect format for rendering crisp, infinitely scalable family tree lines and typography. Along with our JPG and PDF formats, you can select an SVG as your final digital product, giving you the ultimate flexibility to resize or professionally print the artwork at any scale.

Watermark: A faint design made in some paper during manufacture, visible when held against the light. We often incorporate custom digital "watermark" style backgrounds (such as tartans or crests) into our chart designs for subtle texture.