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In depth
An ahnentafel (German for 'ancestor table') is a numbered list of ancestors in a pedigree, using a specific numbering system: the subject is 1, their father is 2, mother is 3, paternal grandfather is 4, paternal grandmother is 5, maternal grandfather is 6, maternal grandmother is 7, and so on.
The ahnentafel system allows compact representation of multi-generational lineages. For any number n, the father is 2n and the mother is 2n+1. This makes it easy to identify the relationship between any two ancestors in the table.
Ahnentafels are used in genealogy and CBD cases to present the citizenship chain in a structured, numbered format that consulates and courts can easily verify.
Related terms
A pedigree is a documented line of descent, the formal genealogical record used to prove the citizenship chain in CBD cases.
A family tree is a diagram showing family relationships across generations, the visual representation of the citizenship chain in CBD cases.
Genealogy is the study of family history and descent, the foundational research discipline for CBD cases.
GEDCOM (Genealogical Data Communication) is a standard file format for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software and databases.
FamilySearch is the world's largest free genealogy database, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with billions of records from around the world.
Ancestry (Ancestry.com) is the world's largest commercial genealogy database, with billions of records and DNA testing services.