How are you related to your cousins?

Identifying Relationships – This document describes the relationship between individuals within the same family. Sometimes, individuals get confused about the various relationships, particularly when the expression 1st or 2^nd cousin, once or twice removed is used. This chart simplifies the various family relationships and provides a useful table for identifying the various relationships up to a fifth cousin.

Cousins
First Cousins Share the same set of Grandparents.
Second Cousins Share the same set of Great-Grandparents
Third Cousins Share the same set of Great-Great-Grandparents
Fourth Cousins Share the same set of Great-Great-Great -Grandparents
Fifth Cousins Share the same set of Great- Great-Great-Great -Grandparents

Cousins – Removed

The term “removed” indicates the separation of a generation. Therefore:

• First Cousin-Once Removed My First Cousin’s child
• First Cousin-Twice Removed My First Cousin’s Grandchild (My First Cousin’s once removed child)
• First Cousin-Three Times Removed My First Cousin’s Great-Grandchild; the common ancestors are 3xG-Grandparents.

Another example:

• Third Cousin-Once Removed My Third Cousin’s child
• Third Cousin-Twice Removed My Third Cousin’s Grandchild (My Third Cousin’s once removed child)
• Third Cousin-Three Times Removed My Third Cousin’s Great-Grandchild; the common ancestors are 5xG-Grandparents.

It is appropriate to identify a wife of a cousin by saying (e.g.) wife of the first cousin, twice removed etc.