How to Understand Relationships in Your Family Tree (Genealogy)

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If someone at your family reunion says they are your "third cousin once removed," how are you related? When it comes to genealogy, a family tree can tell you everything you need to know about how you’re linked to the other members of your family. If you want to improve your understanding of your family line and ancestry, we’ll help you understand relationship charts and family trees.

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    • Such as child, grandchild, great grandchild, great great grandchild .
    • Again, it may be child, grandchild, great grandchild, great great grandchild .
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Common Ancestor Child Grandchild Great Grandchild Great Great Grandchild Great Great Great Grandchild
GENEALOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Child
 Sibling Niece or Nephew Grand Niece or Nephew Great Grand Niece or Nephew Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew
Grandchild
 Niece or Nephew First Cousin First Cousin Once Removed First Cousin Twice Removed First Cousin Three Times Removed
Great Grandchild
 Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Once Removed Second Cousin Second Cousin Once Removed Second Cousin Twice Removed
Great Great Grandchild
 Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Twice Removed Second Cousin Once Removed Third Cousin Third Cousin Once Removed
Great Great Great Grandchild
 Great Great Grand Niece or Nephew First Cousin Three Times Removed Second Cousin Twice Removed Third Cousin Once Removed Fourth Cousin

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  • Question
    I'm the uncle to her, what will be her children to me?
    Community Answer
    They would be your nieces and nephews once removed. The same thing would apply to cousins. Your cousins' children are your cousins once removed. Your children and your cousins' would be second cousins.
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  • Question
    What is the type of relationship between my mother and her sister's children?
    Community Answer
    Your mother would be the children's aunt, and the children would be your mother's nieces and nephews.
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  • Question
    What would be the relation between me and the boy who is my mother's cousin's son?
    Mark Goerge
    Community Answer
    Second cousin. Your mother and her cousin's children are second cousins. The answer to the above answered question 'What is the relation between me and my first cousin's child?' was incorrectly answered as second cousins. It is indeed first cousin once removed.
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      • The chart can be expanded for as many generations as necessary.
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      • EXAMPLE: A "first cousin" is your relationship to your parent's niece or nephew, because you are both grandchildren of a common ancestor.
        • Your relationship to your cousin's child is "first cousin once removed", because you added one generation to the relationship.
        • However, the relationship between your child and your first-cousin-once-removed would be "second cousin", because they are both great-grandchildren of a common ancestor.
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