Are You My Second Cousin or My First Cousin Once Removed?

I can never get that straight. I had a great-aunt pass away recently and it sparked the discussion that everyone has when family gets together- are you my second cousin or first cousin once removed? I figured since I had that question, others probably did as well. So, I dug out this old chart that I had come across several years ago, that explains it well. It all comes down to the generation you are in. First and second cousins, etc. all belong to the same generation. You only get to removing family members (unless you do so by choice!) when you move to another generation. For example, the child of my aunt or uncle is my first cousin, I think we all know that relationship pretty well. It’s when we move past that line that it gets confusing. However, it’s not that hard to understand. The child of my first cousin would be my first cousin, once removed, since they are in a generation below us. Their child would be my first cousin, twice removed and so on. Once you understand the generational concept, it’s easy to keep straight. Although, like I said earlier, we all have those family members that we may want to remove! I can’t help you with that issue. Enjoy the chart and feel free to remove or add as many family members as you like!

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The relationship in each box is what that person’s relationship would be th st 4 Great To you, where you are “Self.” As you can see, you, your siblings, your 1 Grand Cousins, 2nd cousins, etc., are all in the same generation. Thus, “once Parent Removed” means “one generation removed.” Copyright Alice J. Ramsay 3rd Great 3rd Great Designed January, 1987 Grand Grand Parent Uncle

Great, Great Great, 1st Cousin Grand Great 4 times Parent Grand Aunt removed

Great Great 1st Cousin 2nd Cousin Grand Grand thrice thrice Parent Uncle removed removed

rd Grand Great Aunt 1st Cousin 2nd Cousin 3 Cousin twice Parent or Uncle twice twice removed removed removed

1st Cousin 2nd Cousin rd th Parent Aunt or 3 Cousin 4 Cousin once Uncle once once once removed removed removed removed

You nd rd st 2 Cousin 3 Cousin 4th Cousin th Are Sibling 1 Cousin 5 Cousin

Here Self

Child Niece or 1st Cousin 2nd Cousin 3rd Cousin 4th Cousin Nephew once once once once removed removed removed removed

Grand Grand 1st Cousin 2nd Cousin 3rd Cousin Child Niece or twice twice twice Nephew removed removed removed

Great Great Grand 1st Cousin 2nd Cousin Grand Niece or thrice thrice Child Nephew removed removed

Great Great Great, Great st Grand Child 1 Cousin Grand Niece 4 times or Nephew removed rd 3 Great 3rd Great Grand Grand Niece Child or Nephew

4th Great Grand Child