Cousin
In genealogy, a cousin is a relative, other than an ancestor or descendant, who shares a common ancestor. The word cousin is often used to refer to a person's first cousin - the child of one's aunt or uncle. The word only sometimes means siblings, siblings of ancestors, or descendants of siblings, because other words are more common (for example a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, and so on).
[change] How the removed cousin system works
- A first cousin is someone who shares the same grandparent
- A second cousin is someone who shares the same great-grandparent
- A third cousin is someone who shares the same great-great-grandparent
etc.
A second cousin once removed can be either:
- your second cousin but one generation down (your second cousin's son or daughter)
- your parent's second cousin - one generation up (your father's or mother's second cousin)
You are second cousin once removed to your second cousin once removed.
Each time it is removed once, that person will go one generation down or up.
Each time it is removed twice, that person will go two generations down or up.
Your children and your second cousin's children are third cousins to each other.
[change] Other websites
Geni.com - Defining the Genealogical Term, 'Removed'
SearchforAncestors.com - Cousin Relationship Calculator
Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - What Is "Second Cousin Once Removed?"