{
This example shows how to obtain the ancestry of a component
using the ClassType and ClassParent properties. It uses a
button and a list box on a form. When the user clicks the
button, the name of the button’s class and the names of its
parent classes are added to the list box.
} 
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  ClassRef: TClass;
begin
  ListBox1.Clear;
  ClassRef := Sender.ClassType;
  while ClassRef <> nil do
  begin
    ListBox1.Items.Add(ClassRef.ClassName);
    ClassRef := ClassRef.ClassParent;
  end;
end;
{
The list box contains the following strings after the user clicks the button:
    TButton
    TButtonControl
    TWinControl or TWinControl
    TControl
    TComponent
    TPersistent
    TObject 
}