How to Understand Relationships in Your Family Tree (Genealogy) (2024)

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Last Updated: January 24, 2022

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If someone at your family reunion says they are your "third cousin once removed," how are you related? When it comes to genealogy, a family tree can tell you everything you need to know about how you’re linked to the other members of your family. If you want to improve your understanding of your family line and ancestry, we’ll help you understand relationship charts and family trees.

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  1. 1

    Choose an ancestor that the two individuals have in common.

  2. 2

    Determine the simple relationship between the ancestor and the first family member.

    • Such as child, grandchild, great grandchild, great great grandchild.

  3. 3

    Determine the simple relationship between the ancestor and the second family member.

    • Again, it may be child, grandchild, great grandchild, great great grandchild.

  4. 4

    Cross reference those simple relationships from the table below.

    See Also
    Uncover Your Ancestral Roots: A Guide to Family Relationship ChartsThe Entire Family Tree From 1923 Explained - LooperPortal:Datenbanken – GenWikiGenealogical Helps, Relationship Chart, List of Ancestral Names and Places, Date Calculator - International Institute

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GENEALOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Common AncestorChildGrandchildGreat GrandchildGreat Great GrandchildGreat Great Great Grandchild
ChildSiblingNiece or NephewGrand Niece or NephewGreat Grand Niece or NephewGreat Great Grand Niece or Nephew
GrandchildNiece or NephewFirst CousinFirst Cousin Once RemovedFirst Cousin Twice RemovedFirst Cousin Three Times Removed
Great GrandchildGrand Niece or NephewFirst Cousin Once RemovedSecond CousinSecond Cousin Once RemovedSecond Cousin Twice Removed
Great Great GrandchildGreat Grand Niece or NephewFirst Cousin Twice RemovedSecond Cousin Once RemovedThird CousinThird Cousin Once Removed
Great Great Great GrandchildGreat Great Grand Niece or NephewFirst Cousin Three Times RemovedSecond Cousin Twice RemovedThird Cousin Once RemovedFourth Cousin

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  • Question

    I'm the uncle to her, what will be her children to me?

    How to Understand Relationships in Your Family Tree (Genealogy) (8)

    Community Answer

    They would be your nieces and nephews once removed. The same thing would apply to cousins. Your cousins' children are your cousins once removed. Your children and your cousins' would be second cousins.

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  • Question

    What is the type of relationship between my mother and her sister's children?

    How to Understand Relationships in Your Family Tree (Genealogy) (9)

    Community Answer

    Your mother would be the children's aunt, and the children would be your mother's nieces and nephews.

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  • Question

    What would be the relation between me and the boy who is my mother's cousin's son?

    How to Understand Relationships in Your Family Tree (Genealogy) (10)

    Mark Goerge

    Community Answer

    Second cousin. Your mother and her cousin's children are second cousins. The answer to the above answered question 'What is the relation between me and my first cousin's child?' was incorrectly answered as second cousins. It is indeed first cousin once removed.

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    See Also
    Community S1 E18: Basic Genealogy - TV Tropes

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      • The chart can be expanded for as many generations as necessary.

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      • EXAMPLE: A "first cousin" is your relationship to your parent's niece or nephew, because you are both grandchildren of a common ancestor.

        • Your relationship to your cousin's child is "first cousin once removed", because you added one generation to the relationship.
        • However, the relationship between your child and your first-cousin-once-removed would be "second cousin", because they are both great-grandchildren of a common ancestor.

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      • The chart can be expanded for as many generations as necessary.

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      Updated: January 24, 2022

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