I took this right off the website http://www.obliquity.com/family/misc/cousin.html. The question came up about how my children are related to their mom’s cousin. (First cousin, once removed, I say.) But don’t take my word for it. I Googled “explain cousins” and this. Total randomness and, potentially, hours of fun. Entertaining, useful, and timely–the best that blogging has to offer.
Cousins Explained
Have you ever gotten your first cousins twice removed confused with
your second cousins once removed? Well, you’re not the only one.
This chart attempts to explain the relationships that exist between
cousins. It may be extended in either direction for as many generations
as is necessary.
parents | child | g-child | gg-child | ggg-child | gggg-child |
child | brother/ sister | nephew/ niece | g-nephew/ g-niece | gg-nephew/ gg-niece | ggg-nephew/ ggg-niece |
g-child | uncle/ aunt | first cousin | first cousin once removed | first cousin twice removed | first cousin thrice removed |
gg-child | g-uncle/ g-aunt | first cousin once removed | second cousin | second cousin once removed | second cousin twice removed |
ggg-child | gg-uncle/ gg-aunt | first cousin twice removed | second cousin once removed | third cousin | third cousin once removed |
gggg-child | ggg-uncle/ ggg-aunt | first cousin thrice removed | second cousin twice removed | third cousin once removed | fourth cousin |
The parents represent the common ancestors you have with your
relative. Count across the top row until you reach your generation.
Now count down this column until you reach your relative’s generation.
This gives you your relationship to your
relative. If you have only one common ancestor with your relative
(perhaps this ancestor had multiple marriages), then the same chart applies
but the relationships are half blood instead of full blood.
In general, the person in the first row is the ***** of the person in
the first column where ***** stands for the appropriate table entry, eg.
sister, uncle, second cousin, etc.
Example
Suppose I want to find out my relationship to the son of my grandmother’s
brother. Then the common ancestors that we share are my great-grandparents
which are his grandparents. (I am assuming a full blood relationship).
Therefore, reading from the chart we find that
parents | child | g-child | ME |
child | brother/ sister | nephew/ niece | g-nephew/ g-niece |
RELATIVE | uncle/ aunt | first cousin | FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED |
I am the first cousin once removed of this relative!
I despair of ever really learning (and remembering) these distinctions. My dad, who for many years taught anthropolgy, has very firm grasp of it all, naturally, but I’ve never managed to piece it all together in my head.
I, on the other hand, know the lyrics to thousands of pop songs my dad has never even heard of. So, there is balance.