Genealogy Chat

What does the 'once removed bit mean'?

One generation up or down from each other http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/iss/gr/chart.htm easy chart

I thought that was what the 2nd cousin was - a generation gap! So whats the 2nd bit mean then?

Hi Deryn I expect some one else can explain better than me but I'll try! For example your mother's 1st cousin would be your 1st cousin once removed. You're one generation removed from them Your mother's cousins child and you would be second cousins. Clear as mud! Heather

Are you happy with what a first cousin is?? They will share a set of grandparents and they will have a parent who is a brother or sister of the other one's parent. Second cousins will be the children of the two first cousins, so they will share some great-grandparents and they will have a grandparent each who are siblings. ''removed'' is where the two people are not on the same generation.....so the parent of one might be brother or sister to the grandparent of the other, etc Merry

Sorry to but in on this thread, but as you say clear as mud. Merry, Will you sort this for me then, because I cant get my head round it and I have the chart. My Grandads brothers sons daughter. Thanks Ann

Hi Ann 'My Grandads brothers sons daughter' Second cousin to you I believe! Heather

Good Plan. My mom and her sister - their children are first cousins. The first cousins have children - they are 2nd cousins to each other. Now tell me using the next generation if we have to who is removed from who? Please.......

Yes you're getting it Deryn! The second cousins children would be 3rd cousins to each other. 2nd cousins once removed to their cousins parents......ooooerrr here we go again.. Heather

Sorry Ann, I was reading something else! Deryn..........I'm just copying your post so I can see it whilst I'm typing!! ''My mom and her sister - their children are first cousins. The first cousins have children - they are 2nd cousins to each other.Now tell me using the next generation if we have to who is removed from who? Please....... '' A person born into the next generation will be second cousin once removed to the second cousin of their parent. They will be first cousin twice removed to the first cousin of their grandparent They will be a third cousin if the other second cousin has a child! Clear as mud again? It's sooo much easier to draw it than explain!! Merry

Well I have just realised that my brain is not working this evening - hopefully, it's only temporary. I still don't get it.......feel like removing the whole lot of them to make it easier - getting the clippers out to go pruning.......

Heres another method -count the G's method. People who have the same grandparents are first cousins- one G People who have the same g grandparents are 2nd cousins-2 G's. People who have the same gggrandparents are 3rd cousins-3 G's and so on. removed is added when you move up or down a generation on one side when comparing a relation ship..... twice removed applies to moving up or down 2 generations on one side of a realationship and so on. eg you and joe 90 have the same ggrandparents-you are 2nd cousins........joe 90 has a child -that child will now be your 2nd cousin once removed. joe 90 becomes a grandfather later in life.....his grandchild will then be your 2nd cousin twice removed .....and so on.

Never mind, try again tomorrow. As Merry says writing them down starting with grandparents and the children and grandchildren below each makes it much easier to see how it works. Heather

Thanks that made it much clearer! I will now go put Joe 90 in my tree - I didn't know he was even related! Just joking - in a mad mood tonight.....I think I understand now.

The Right Name For The Right Cousin Conversation on the subject 'who is related to whom' bogs down over terminology, particularly when it comes to defining cousins. Your first cousin is your parents' brother's or sister's child. However, the first cousin's child is not your second cousin, but your first cousin one removed. The child of the first cousin once removed is your first cousin twice removed, and his child is your first cousin three times removed. Your second cousin is your grandparents' brother's or sister's grandchild. That second cousin's child is your second cousin once removed, and his child is your second cousin twice removed, and so on. Your third cousin is your great-grandparents' brother's or sister's great-grandchild. The third cousin's child is your third cousin once removed, and his child is your third cousin twice removed. Other Occasionally Misunderstood Terms Siblings: Parents in common, brothers and sisters Grandnephew and Grandniece: the grandchild of your brother or sister Grandaunt or Granduncle: the brother or sister of your grandparent Great-Grandaunt or Great-Granduncle: the sister or brother of your great-grandparents Stepfather or Stepmother: the husband of your mother or the wife of your father by a subsequent marriage Stepchild: the child of your husband or wife by a former marriage Stepsister or Stepbrother: the child of your stepfather or stepmother Half Sister or Half Brother: the child of your mother and stepfather or the child of your father and stepmother, or of either parent by a former marriage In-Laws: your connections by the law of marriage (as distinct from relatives by blood) in particular, your husband's or wife's relatives and your own brother's wife or sister's husband Ancestor: the person from whom you descend directly, such as a grandparent or a great-grandparent Descendant: the person who descends directly from you, such as a grandson or granddaughter Lineal Relations: those in a direct line of ascent or descent, such as a grandfather or granddaughter Collateral Relations: those relatives who are linked by a common ancestor, such as aunts, uncles, or cousins. Hope that helps! Judy

so my mothers cousins what are they to me mind gone blank?