What Do "Second Cousin" and "Cousin Once Removed" Mean? - Cousin Kinship Demystified
"Second Cousin" and "Cousin Once Removed" are genealogy terms used to describe kinship which are frequently misunderstood. They are often wrongly used interchangeably when, in reality, they are describing completely different relationships. The precise relationship between yourself and your cousin is determined by the common ancestor you share (which specifies the degree such as "First", "Second" and "Third") and the generation gap between yourself and your cousin (which specifies the separation "Once Removed", "Twice Removed" and "Three Times Removed"). Your "First Cousin" is a relative to whom you are linked via one, or both, of your grandparents (for example a child of one of your uncles or aunts). Your "Second Cousin" is a relative to whom you are linked via one, or both, of your great-grandparents. Your "Third Cousin" is a relative to whom you are linked via one, or both,...