Cousins: How Many Times Removed?

When researching your family history, you may discover that someone is your second cousin, third cousin, or even your fourth cousin twice removed. But what exactly does "removed" mean? Although these relationships may sound complicated, they are actually quite simple once you understand how cousins are connected through a common ancestor.

First, let's understand how cousins are numbered: First cousins share grandparents, second cousins share great-grandparents, and third cousins share great-great-grandparents. Each additional generation of shared ancestors increases the cousin number by one. For example, if your grandmother and another person's grandfather were brother and sister, you and that person would be second cousins because you share the same great-grandparents.

So, what does "removed" mean? The word "removed" simply refers to the number of generations separating two cousins. If your first cousin has a child, that child is your *first cousin once removed*. You and your first cousin are in the same generation, but their child is one generation below you. Likewise, your mother's first cousin is also your first cousin once removed, because that person is one generation above you. The relationship works in both directions.

What about twice removed?  If your first cousin has a grandchild, that grandchild is your *first cousin twice removed*. There are two generations between you. Similarly, your grandmother's first cousin would be your first cousin twice removed. The number of times "removed" always tells you how many generations apart the two individuals are, not how distant their family connection may seem.

Here's an easy way to figure out cousin relationships on your family tree. Start by finding the closest ancestor that both people share. Count the generations from each person back to that ancestor. If both are two generations away, they are first cousins. If both are three generations away, they are second cousins. When the numbers are different, use the smaller number to determine the cousin relationship and the difference between the two numbers to determine how many times removed. For example, if one person is three generations from a shared ancestor and the other is four generations away, they are second cousins once removed.

The next time you discover a distant relative in your genealogy research, don't let the words "once removed" or "twice removed" confuse you. Remember that the cousin number tells you how far back your common ancestors are, while "removed" tells you how many generations separate you.  With a little practice, those complicated family relationships will become much easier to understand.