How to Make a 3 Generation Genogram ​

A three-generation genogram maps grandparents, parents, and children in a single diagram. It's the standard depth for most class assignments, clinical intakes, and family health assessments, and it's where patterns across generations first become visible. These steps take you through the full build from the 1st generation down to the 3rd generation.

Before You Start ​

Two generations show you relationships, but three generations show you patterns; what repeats, what skips, what started before the person you're focusing on was born. If your assignment or purpose only requires two generations, Simple Genogram Example covers that.

How to Make a 3 Generation Genogram: Step by Step ​

These are six steps to make a three-generation genogram.

Step 1: Gather information for all three generations ​

Three generations means three sets of people to collect information for, and the grandparent generation is usually the hardest. Dates are less certain, health histories are less documented, and some information only exists in someone's memory.

Collect for each person: name, gender, age or birth year, relationship to others, cause of death for deceased members, and any health conditions or significant life events relevant to your purpose.

For this walkthrough, we'll use the Nolan-White family, and here’s information on them:

Two things are already visible in this table before drawing anything: a cardiovascular condition on Frank's side and a metabolic condition on Joan's.

That’s the story the diagram will tell, but only once all three levels are in place.

Once you have the information, open the EasyGenogram tool and use the "Multi generations" template to set up the basic three-level structure before adding details.

Step 2: Build the first generation ​

Place Frank and Joan at the top of the canvas.

Frank (square, X - deceased) on the left, Joan (circle) on the right.

Solid horizontal marriage line connecting them.

1st Generation Genogram

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This is what a genogram looks like with just one generation.

It shows two people and their relationship. In this case, Frank and Joan were married, then Frank passed away.

But it doesn't yet tell you anything about what happened to them or whether any of it continued.

Step 3: Add the second generation ​

Drop a vertical line from the midpoint of Frank and Joan's marriage line down to a horizontal sibling bar.

Place Daniel on the left, then Claire on the right.

Mark Daniel as the primary person.

Next, add their partners on the same horizontal level:

Rachel connects to Daniel's right with a solid marriage line.

Owen connects to Claire's left with a solid marriage line. (Couple pair: Male on the left, Female on the right).

2nd Generation Genogram

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PNG↓PDF↓

Now the diagram shows two generations.

You can see that Daniel and Claire are Frank and Joan’s children, and the partners of these children are Rachel and Owen. You can also see the family’s structure gradually coming to life.

Step 4: Add the third generation ​

Place children below each couple's marriage line on a shared sibling bar, connected by vertical lines.

Birth order runs left to right, oldest on the left.

For the Nolan-Whites:

• Daniel and Rachel: Sam on the left, Ella on the right.
• Claire and Owen: Max, below their marriage line.

3rd Generation Genogram

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PNG↓PDF↓

The diagram now shows three generations.

Look at where the children sit: directly beneath Daniel, Rachel, Owen and Claire, who all sit directly beneath Frank and Joan.

This third generation hasn’t surfaced anything yet, but the family members are now all visible in a way that a two-generation genogram couldn't show.

Step 5: Add relationship lines and relevant notes ​

Draw emotional relationship lines after the structure is complete so they route cleanly around existing connections.

Add ages, health conditions and any other relevant notes directly on or near each person's symbol.

For the Nolan-Whites:

• Frank: heart condition, deceased at 74.
• Joan: type 2 diabetes, age 71.
• Ages on all remaining family members.
• Emotional relationship lines between Joan and her children.

3rd Generation Genogram Showing Health Conditions & Emotional Relationships

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PNG↓PDF↓

From this diagram, you can now see a full family picture showing:

• History of heart condition.
• History of diabetes.
• Cutoff relationship between a mother and her son (Joan and Daniel).
• Very close emotional relationship between a mother and her daughter (Joan and Claire).

You can now begin to see patterns where they are likely to appear, and predict as such.

Step 6: Review and export ​

Before you export, run through this checklist to avoid the common mistakes in making a genogram:

• Spacing across all three generations is even and nothing is crowded.
• The primary person has a double outline.
• Children connect to the sibling bar and the parents’ marriage line, not directly to a parent's shape.
• Each generation sits on the same horizontal level.
• Health fields for the relevant people are filled in.
• Biological child connection lines are vertical, not angled.

On what to include:

• For a class assignment, names, ages, structural lines, basic health conditions for the grandparent generation, and a legend are enough; add emotional lines only if the assignment requires them.
• For clinical use, add emotional lines, full health history, and cause of death for all deceased members. If information is missing, mark it with a question mark symbol or leave the field blank.

Then look at the completed diagram and ask what the third generation added.

For the Nolan-Whites:

• Frank and Joan now have three grandchildren sitting beneath them; Sam, Ella, and Max, none of whom have any conditions noted yet.
• However, the diagram makes that lineage visible in a way a written health history doesn't.
• Whether any of it surfaces in their generation is a separate question. The point is that now, there's a record to return to.

That's the difference between two generations and three. Two shows you the present structure, while three gives you something to read over time.

For completed three-generation examples with annotations, see 3-generation genogram examples.

After checking through the above necessities, tap PNG or PDF in the top bar to export the genogram.

Related ​

How to Make a Genogram (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Make a Genogram Online

How to Draw a Genogram (by Hand)