RELATIVE TERMINOLOGY: A REPRINTED ARTICLE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE (UNDATED)

RELATIVE TERMINOLOGY

Conversation on the subject of who is related to whom often bogs down over terminology.

Your 1st cousin, of course is your parent's brother's or sister's child.  However, the 1st cousin's child is not your second cousin, as is sometimes thought to be the case, but your 1st cousin once removed.  The child of the 1st cousin once removed is your 1st cousin twice removed and his child, your 1st cousin three times removed.

Your 2nd cousin is your grandparent's brother's or sister's grandchild.  That 2nd cousin's child is your 2nd cousin once removed.  His child, your 2nd counsin twice removed, and so on.

And your 3rd cousin?  It's your great-grandparent's brother's or sister's great grandchild.  The 3rd cousin's child is your 3rd cousin once removed and his child, your 3rd cousin twice removed.

Siblings - have parents in common.  Brothers or sisters are siblings.

Grandnephew or Grandniece - the grandchild of your brother or sister.

Great-Aunt or Great-Uncle - the sister or brother of your grandparent.

Great-grandaunt of great-granduncle - the sister or brother of your great grandparents.

Stepfather or Stepmother - the husband of your mother or the wife of your father by a subsequent  

marriage.

Stepchild - the child of your husband or wife by a former marriage.

Stepsister or Stepbrother - the child of your stepfather or stepmother.

Half sister or half brother - the child of your mother and step father, or of your father and step mother. or of either parent by a former marriage.

In-Laws - your connections by the law of marriage (as distinct from relatives by blood): in particular your husband's or wife's relatives and you own brother's wife or sister's husband.

Ancestor - the person from whom you descend  "directly, " such as a grandparent or great grandparent.

Descendent - the person who descends "directly" from you, such as a grandson or a great-granddaughter.

Lineal Relations - those in the "direct" line of ascent or descent, such as a grandfather or granddaughter.

Collateral Relations - those relatives who are "linked" by a common ancestor, such as aunts, uncles and cousins.

To contact me for more information or questions, please send you information to:  smorris7912@gmail.com or through my Facebook account:  www.facebook.com/recruiter.stevenmorris

NOTE:  A REPRINTED ARTICLE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE (UNDATED)

PEOPLE ARE HUNG UP ON HOW TO CLASSIFY COUSINS

This article is a 'reprint' from the Boston Globe somewhere in the 50's - 80's and it gives a good story on how cousins are created over time.

'It is not hard to understand about "third cousins once removed" once you understand the basic rule.

The son or daughter of your aunt or uncle is your 1st cousin.

If your 1st cousin has a child, the child's relationship to you is 1st cousin once removed.

If that child has a child, he will be your 1st cousin twice removed and so on.

Now, if you have a child and your 1st cousin has a child, then those two children will be 2nd cousins to each other.

If your child has a child (your grandchild), and your cousin's child has a child (your cousin's grandchild), those two will be 3rd cousins to each other.

If you would like to contact me on genealogy issues, please e-mail me at:  smorris7912@gmail.com or on facebook.com/recruiter.stevenmorris

EXPLAINING 'COUSINS' TO GRANDCHILDREN: HOW ARE WE ALL RELATED?

My family has a lot of history in its background.  My former wife was related to William Jennings Bryant, Nathaniel Hawthorn and the family goes even farther back into time as far back as the Pilgrims.  My family is equally as historic by going as far back as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence with Elbridge Gerry.

Having famous relatives is always good, but it is trying to do the research and understanding how people are related is another issue.  So, one fine day we were all sitting around the table talking about 'cousins' and who was 1st cousins,  2nd cousins and even 3rd cousins.  What was even more interesting, was how to explain how one gets all these different levels of relatives.

I am going to try and explain it for the lay person:

1.  Your 1st cousin is your parent's brother or sister's child.  We will call that person 'B'.

2.  So, You and B are 1st cousins.

3.  Your child is B's 1st cousin once removed.

4.  Your grandchild is B's 1st cousin twice removed.

5.  Your child and B's child are 2nd cousins.

6.  Your grandchild is B's child's second cousin once removed, ect.

7.  Your grandchildren and B's grandchildren are 3rd cousins.

So, that is it.  How 1st cousins and 3rd cousins are related.

Have a great day.

Steven Morris
smorris7912@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/recruiter.stevenmorris

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