The Ultimate Cousin Guide

It can be somewhat overwhelming to look at your family tree. You might have more relatives than you initially thought, and you may not even understand what terms like “once removed” mean. Don’t worry, though, we at 5-Minute Crafts will take our best shot at explaining all of this to you.

Cousin terms explained

When it comes to your cousin’s number, it’ll all depend on your common ancestor. Here’s how it goes:

• First cousins share a grandparent.
• Second cousins share a great-grandparent.
• Third cousins share a great-great-grandparent.
• Fourth cousins share a great-great-great grandparent.

Other important terms to keep in mind are both “once removed” and “twice removed.”

If you’re “once removed” from a cousin, it means you guys are a whole generation away from each other. Twice removed adds one more to that.

Let’s say your great-great-grandparents are part of the very 1st generation, and you’re part of the 5th one. This means your once removed cousins will be in the 4th generation, as well as the 6th one. As for twice removed cousins, they’ll either be in the 3rd generation, or the 7th.

1. First generation

• Generation 1 will be composed of your great-great-grandparents.

2. Second generation

• Your great-great-grandparents will have kids, and they’ll become your great-grandparents or great-granduncles/aunts.

3. Third generation

• In this generation, you’ll find your grandparents, as well as their siblings and cousins. Their cousins are also yours, but twice removed.

4. Fourth generation

• Your parents will be here, alongside your uncles, aunts, and their cousins (also yours, but once removed).

5. Fifth generation

• Here’s where you are, in the fifth generation counting down all the way from your great-great-grandparents. It’ll be a row consisting of you, your siblings, and your collective cousins.

6. Sixth generation

• All of your children, nephews, nieces, and their cousins — are a part of this row. Their cousins are also yours, once removed.

7. Seventh generation

• Lastly, your grandchildren, grandnieces, grandnephews, and all of their cousins will all turn out here. Their cousins will become yours too, twice removed.