Genealogy Chat

Could someone please tell me the following: Would my 1st cousin's children be my '1st cousins once removed'? Would my 1st cousin be my son's '2nd cousin' and would their children be his '3rd cousins'? I'm sure I can think of more to ask but I won't confuse the issue!! Thanks Aileen

You have it right Aileen Bob

Aileen. Different people use the terms '2nd cousins' and '3rd cousins' in different ways, but there is a tecnically correct way of using them. If you are on the same generation as someone, then there will be no times removed - just a simple 1st, 2nd etc cousin. Your 1st cousin shares your grandparents - but not parents - obviously Your 2nd cousin shares your great grandparents - but not your grandparents Your 3rd cousin shares your great great grandparents - but not your great grandparents etc The degree of 'times removed' comes from how many generations away you are. A child of your 1st cousin is your 1st cousin once removed. A grandhild of your 3rd cousin is your 3rd cousin twice removed. Hope this helps.

Thank you Robert and Andrew, I always used to call my cousin's children my 2nd cousins until I started my family tree and then thought I ought to know the terminology! So my father's cousin would be my 2nd cousin, is that right??? Gosh it's so confusing!!! :o(( Aileen

Aileen. Your fathers cousin would be your 1st cousin once removed, because you are one generation removed from your father. In the same way, your 1st cousin's children will be your 1st cousins once removed. Also, your 1st cousin,s grandchildren would be your 1st cousins twice removed. Andrew

Aileen, Here's a relationship diagram: http://members.tripod(.)com/Phil_N_S/Rc.htm Crista

Thanks for that, I understand that bit now and will print out this page for future reference!! Andrew, Who would be a 2nd or 3rd cousin then ? Sorry to appear so thick but this is like algebra and I was totally hopeless at that!! Thanx Aileen

My family tree program shows relationships. If you select one person then move the mouse over another it shows the relationship. Don't know if others do this. Bob

Hello Crista, the lady who sorted out my family for me!! I shall look at that site. And Bob, I'll look at that one too, thanx Aileen

Aileen. Don't worry, I know it seems confusing at first. Your 2nd cousin would be the grandchild of a sibling of your grandparents. Hence they would be on the same generation as you. Your 3rd cousin would be the great grandchild of a sibling of your great grandparents. Andrew.

Andrew, I would need an autocue to be able to recite all this back to someone! Many thanks for you time and effort...much appreciated! Aileen

I was never able to understand cousinships, particularly the Removed bits, until I was claimed through GC by two second cousins once removed. My grandfather Charles Alfred and their great grandfather Walter Arthur were brothers, so our common ancestor was my great grandfather (and their great great grandfather) Charles. If we had been of the same generation, we would have been second cousins. As they were one generation younger than me, that made us second cousins once removed. Jan

Thanks for your reply Jan. It's actually now beginning to sink in! One last thing I've thought of, would an aunt of my parents therefore be my great aunt???? I promise not to ask another question! Aileen

Hi Aileen, I am one of Jan's second cousins once removed. Fi

Hi Fi, Wow that's great! Have you met her in person? I found a relation on this site too but I'm not quite sure how to explain the relationship in correct terms. I'll check it out and let you know Aileenx

Yes, an aunt of your parents' would be your Great Aunt. If you go to http://www(.)genealogy(.)about(.)com/library/nrelationshipchart(.)htm , that makes it very easy to work out who is what to whom. I have just realised that two of my cousins are in fact second cousins, because their mother and my mother were first cousins, so the relation I shared in common with them was our grandmother. Because we are of the same generation, there is no "Remove" involved. Jan