A bloodline is the line of ancestors and descendants in a family, passed down from parents to children to grandchildren and beyond. When people talk about bloodline, they're referring to the biological connection that links generations together through birth.

In history, bloodlines mattered enormously for royal families and aristocracy. A king's bloodline determined who would inherit the throne. European monarchs kept detailed records of their bloodlines to prove their right to rule, and they often married other royals to keep their bloodlines “pure” or to unite kingdoms. The same concern appeared in many cultures: Japanese emperors, Chinese dynasties, and Egyptian pharaohs all emphasized bloodline.

Some people still care deeply about bloodlines. A horse breeder tracks bloodlines to produce faster racehorses. A dog breeder might talk about a puppy's champion bloodline. Families sometimes speak proudly of having a bloodline that includes a famous inventor, a war hero, or someone who accomplished something remarkable.

Your bloodline might give you a starting point, but your own actions and choices shape who you become, and every family belongs.