Pedigree (noun)

1. A line of ancestors or a record of a person's ancestry.
2. The history of a person or animal's family, esp. of its purebred status.

Origin:

Late 16th century: from old french pied de grue "crane"s foot", used to indicate a genealogical tree, from the supposed resemblance of a series of descending lines to the bird"s foot.

Examples:

1. The puppy came with a pedigree that traced its ancestry back several generations.
2. The horse was checked for pedigree before being purchased.
3. The dog had an impressive pedigree, with champions in its line.
4. The cat's pedigree was verified by the breeder.
5. The pedigree of the animal was traced back to the earliest known records.