Second cousin chart

What is a Second Cousin?The number associated with your cousin has to do with how many generations away your common ancestor is. For example: First cousins share a grandparent (2 generations) Second cousins share a great-grandparent (3 generations) Third cousins share a great-great-grandparent (4 generations) Fourth cousins share a 3rd-great grandparent (5 generations)Quick Tip: Count how many "greats" are in your common ancestor's title and add 1 to find out what number cousin your relative is. Note that grandparents have no “greats” in their titles, so cousins who share grandparents are first cousins because 0 + 1 = 1. However, keep in mind that this trick only works if you are both the same number of generations removed from the common ancestor.Sometimes you and your cousin may share a common ancestor, but you each call this ancestor something different. For example, the common ancestor may be your great-grandparent, but your cousin's great-great grandparent.This is where the phrase "once removed" comes in handy.To be a "once removed" from a cousin means you are separated by 1 or more generations.If you look at the cousin chart above, you’ll see that each row is color-coded by generation. You, your siblings, and your first, second, and third cousins are all of the same generation.You may have noticed that the boxes labeled "cousin once removed" are either from one generation above or below you. You are "once removed" if you are separated by 1 generation and "twice removed" if you are separated by 2 generations, and so on.Quick Tip: Your parent's first, second, and third cousins are also your first, second, and third cousins—but once removed. This is because your parents and their generation are 1 above yours. Likewise, your grandparents' first, second, and third cousins are also your first, second, and third cousins, this time twice removed. This pattern continues throughout each generation. So, for example, a first cousin once removed is either the child of your first cousin or the parent of your second cousin.So . . . William / Agusta Burton McKeever Relationship Name Name Ancestor Siblings Alberta Fred Share the same

It Mean to be a Cousin “Once Removed”?Sometimes you and your cousin may share a common ancestor, but you each call this ancestor something different. For example, the common ancestor may be your great-grandparent, but your cousin’s great-great-grandparent. This is where the phrase “once removed” comes in handy.To be “once removed” from a cousin means you are separated by one generation. The number before “removed” will always represent the number of generations you are separated (“removed”) from the cousin. For example, if you are one generation away from your first cousin, then you are first cousins once removed. If you are two generations away from your second cousin, then you are second cousins twice removed.According to FamilySearch, you can use this chart to identify a cousin relationship without using a chart:For cousins that are in the same generation: determine the most recent common ancestor between the two people whose relationship you are trying to determine. Then use the “add 1” trick to find out what number cousin they are.For cousins that are not in the same generation: follow the steps above for the person who is more closely related to the common ancestor. Then determine the number of generations between the two potential cousins. Or conversely, determine how many generations further away from the common ancestor the second person is. Then add the “removed” phrase accordingly.ConclusionNow that you know how to calculate what kind of cousin your dad’s cousin is to you, you can explore your family tree more easily and confidently. You can also use this knowledge to connect with distant relatives and learn more about your ancestry and heritage. Remember, cousins are people who share a common ancestor with you that is at least two generations away. The number of generations determines what number cousin they are, and the difference in generations determines if they are “removed” or not. Happy researching!

Relationship terminology can be confusing, but we've compiled a guide to explain how you are related to that cousin three times removed.That’s a question that we have been asked quite a bit lately, and sometimes determining that exact familial connection with someone else can be confusing.What is the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin, once removed?What does the “removed” mean, anyway?If my mom has a cousin, how is he related to me?Is my grandfather’s sister my great-aunt, or my grand-aunt?If you have ever felt confusion over these terms, you are not alone!Most of us know that our parents’ siblings’ children are our first cousins, and that our parents’ siblings themselves are our aunts and uncles. That’s easy enough to understand. It’s when you get to more distant connections that it becomes confusing.If you share the same grandparents, there is no difference in the generations, so you are first cousins. If you share the same great-grandparents, you are second cousins. If you share the same great-great-grandparents you are third cousins, and so on.However, if your grandparents are someone else’s great-grandparents, then you are first cousins once removed, because there is a generational gap between you. The thing to remember is that the “removed” is used when you and your relative are of different generations. For instance, you and your cousin’s child, or you and your father’s cousin are of different generations, so there is going to be a “removed” in a description of your relationship.The numerical value, “once removed” or “three times removed,” counts back how many generations you have to go to find the common ancestor between you and that other relative.For example, if your first cousin has children, those children are your first cousins once removed, because your grandparents are their great-grandparents (just one generation). If those children then have children, they are your first cousins twice removed, because your grandparents are their great-great-grandparents (which is two generations).Similarly, your mom’s cousin is your first cousin once removed, because his grandparents are your great-grandparents. There is a generational difference. However, your mom’s cousin’s CHILD is your second cousin with no “removed” added, because the two of you share the same great-grandparents. There is no generational difference between the two of you, so there is no “remove.”With regards to the difference between great-aunt, grand-aunt, etc. – this one is up to you! They're just different terms that mean the same thing. The siblings of your grandparents can be called either your great-aunts and great-uncles, or your grand-aunts and grand-uncles.The following chart may be helpful:The following DNA & Relationship Quick Reference Chart also helps identify the % of shared DNA between you and other relatives. Get your free pdf