Relationship Chart
 
 

 

 

When I think about how people are related I get a headache !!  Here is a brief set of definitions and a standard genealogy chart to help explain and show relationships.

The definitions were gleaned from geneology.com

 

 

Cousin (a.k.a "first cousin")
Your first cousins are the people in your family who have two of the same grandparents as you. In other words, they are the children of your aunts and uncles.
Second Cousin
Your second cousins are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you., but not the same grandparents.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cousins
Your third cousins have the same great-great-grandparents, fourth cousins have the same great-great-great-grandparents, and so on.
Removed
When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.

The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."

Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.

Relationship Charts Simplify Everything

Now that you have an idea of what these different words mean, take a look at the chart below. It's called a relationship chart, and it can help you figure out how different people in your family are related. It's much simpler than it looks, just follow the instructions.

Instructions for Using a Relationship Chart

  1. Pick two people in your family and figure out which ancestor they have in common. For example, if you chose yourself and a cousin, you would have a grandparent in common.
  2. Look at the top row of the chart and find the first person's relationship to the common ancestor.
  3. Look at the far left column of the chart and find the second person's relationship to the common ancestor.
  4. Determine where the row and column containing those two relationships meet.

 

Relationship Chart 

This is a widely used genealogical chart tool to help determine relationships between relatives with a common ancestor.  


Common Ancestor Child Grandchild Great Grandchild Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandchild
Child Sibling Niece or Nephew Grand Niece or Nephew Great Grand Niece or Nephew Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew Great Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew Great Great Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew
Grandchild Niece or Nephew First Cousin First Cousin Once Removed First Cousin Twice Removed First Cousin Three Times Removed First Cousin Four Times Removed First Cousin Five Times Removed First Cousin Six Times Removed
Great Grandchild Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Once Removed Second Cousin Second Cousin Once Removed Second Cousin Twice Removed Second Cousin Three Times Removed Second Cousin Four Times Removed Second Cousin Five Times Removed
Great Great Grandchild Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Twice Removed Second Cousin Once Removed Third Third Cousin Once Removed Third Cousin Twice Removed Third Cousin Three Times Removed Third Cousin Four Times Removed
Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Three Times Removed Second Cousin Twice Removed Third Cousin Once Removed Fourth Cousin Fourth Cousin Once Removed Fourth Cousin Twice Removed Fourth Cousin Three Times Removed
Great Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Four Times Removed Second Cousin Three Times Removed Third Cousin Twice Removed Fourth Cousin Once Removed Fifth Cousin Fifth Cousin Once Removed Fifth Cousin Twice Removed
Great Great Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Five Times Removed Second Cousin Four Times Removed Third Cousin Three Times Removed Fourth Cousin Twice Removed Fifth Cousin Once Removed Sixth Cousin Sixth Cousin Once Removed
Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Six Times Removed Second Cousin Five Times Removed Third Cousin Four Times Removed Fourth Cousin Three Times Removed Fifth Cousin Twice Removed Sixth Cousin Once Removed Seventh Cousin

 

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