Crazy Confusing COUSIN THING.

Steve bboy_mn at yahoo.com
Sat Feb 7 00:12:15 UTC 2004


Once again we are discussing Genealogy in the main group.

Personally, and I know I'm not alone in this, I find the whole 1st
cousin, 2nd cousin, once removed, twice removed thing very confusing.

I am going to attempt to give my impression of what it all means, and
hopefully from there, some one can tell me where I'm right or wrong in
a way that doesn't confuse me even more.

First cousin, second cousing, etc...-

This refers to how far out you are on the family tree. My 1st cousin
is tied to the same central branch of the family tree that I am. He is
the son of my father's brother (my uncle). The common intersection of
the family tree is my father's father (my grandfather).

A 2nd cousin has to be one branch farther out but in the same
generation as myself (more on generations later, and I acknowledge
gross generalizations). To get to one branch farther out, we must
start one branch higher up (up meaning older generation, it's an
inverted tree); my grandfather and his brother, and their decendants
have a common intersection at my great grandfather.

So if we go to my Grandfather, then to his brother (my great uncle, my
father's uncle), then follow the tree down until we reach the same
level that I am on, we will find my second cousin; the son of the son
of my father's uncle. (The son of the son=my generation, the son=my
father's generation, my father's uncle=my grandfather's generation; yes?)

Perhaps, simplified; first cousins- we share a common grandfather,
second cousins- we share a common great grandfather, third cousin- a
common great great grandfather. Yes?


Once removed, twice removed-

My interpretation is that this is a generational thing, although,
generational with specific quidelines.

In essense, indicating how many generations removed from me my cousin
is. Remember, these are generations based on location in the family
tree, and not just differences in age. 

So, my best estimate is that my grandfather's brother's (my great
uncle's) son is my father's 1st cousin, and he is my 2nd cousin (one
branch farther out on the family tree) once removed (in that, he is my
father's generation, not mine). 

Now my grandfather's brother's son's son would be my second cousin not
removed since we are in the same generation; that is, at the same
level on the family tree. And I'm assuming my second cousin's son is
again my second cousin once removed; 2nd cousin defines the branch,
once removed defines the generation.

Sirius and Arthur are second cousins once removed (right?). So they
share a common great grandfather, and obviously, Arthur is one
generation removed from Sirius (Sirius' age=35 approx, Arthur's age=70
approx).

So, am I hopelessly lost or what?

If I am completely lost, could someone post a simple comprehendible
correction to my mis-beliefs? ...if that's even possible.

Just a thought, which, keep in mind, is only my best guess.

bboy_mn









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