I published this story in my old blog and got a lot of feed back - so I wanted to share it here!
A lot of people get confused when talking
about family members. Yes, we all know how the grandparent chain works, but not always the cousin chain
or the "Once Removed" chain (1x).
A first cousin is a person in your family who has the same grandparents as you. Example being a brother and a sister, who both have children. The children would be first cousins because they have the same grandparents, who are the brother and sister's parents.
The term "second cousins" is used when the person has the same great-grandparents as you; but not the same grandparents. An example would be: My first cousin's children and my children are second cousins because they have the same great-grandparents but not same grandparents. My first cousin and I share the same grandparents.
Third cousins have in common two great-great-grandparents. Get the trend now!
When cousins descend from common ancestors by a different number of generations they are called “removed.” Once removed (1x) means there is a difference of one generation. Your mother's first cousin would be your "first cousin, once removed (1x)". She is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents.
Twice removed (2x) means that there is a two-generation difference. Your grandmother's first cousin would be your first cousin, twice removed because you are separated by two generations; mother and grandmother.
If you use a computer program for genealogy, most will calculate this out for you! Which is a huge help.
So you may have a famous person in your line, but he may be your 7th cousin, 7x removed....yes, that person is in your tree, but far from the roots! Is it important to have this person in your tree? You have to decide, especially when you're tree gets large. It is nice when you can find a famous person that may be many generations back, but only once removed because that is a more direct ancestor because you would have a grandparent shared. I have several famous Kings and Queens or noble people in my lines, but I'm going to show you two examples of the difference of generations using United States Presidents.
A first cousin is a person in your family who has the same grandparents as you. Example being a brother and a sister, who both have children. The children would be first cousins because they have the same grandparents, who are the brother and sister's parents.
The term "second cousins" is used when the person has the same great-grandparents as you; but not the same grandparents. An example would be: My first cousin's children and my children are second cousins because they have the same great-grandparents but not same grandparents. My first cousin and I share the same grandparents.
Third cousins have in common two great-great-grandparents. Get the trend now!
When cousins descend from common ancestors by a different number of generations they are called “removed.” Once removed (1x) means there is a difference of one generation. Your mother's first cousin would be your "first cousin, once removed (1x)". She is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents.
Twice removed (2x) means that there is a two-generation difference. Your grandmother's first cousin would be your first cousin, twice removed because you are separated by two generations; mother and grandmother.
If you use a computer program for genealogy, most will calculate this out for you! Which is a huge help.
So you may have a famous person in your line, but he may be your 7th cousin, 7x removed....yes, that person is in your tree, but far from the roots! Is it important to have this person in your tree? You have to decide, especially when you're tree gets large. It is nice when you can find a famous person that may be many generations back, but only once removed because that is a more direct ancestor because you would have a grandparent shared. I have several famous Kings and Queens or noble people in my lines, but I'm going to show you two examples of the difference of generations using United States Presidents.
Richard Cocke I was b: 1602, he is my 10th Great Grandfather. He is also President George W Bush's 8th Great Grandfather. This makes President George W. Bush my 10th Cousin, Once Removed. This is a more direct line because its only Once Removed.
Now if anyone says they are a direct descendant of President George Washington, you know it isn't true. Why? Because President Washington didn't have children. But you can still be related as cousins.
President George Washington was my 4th Cousin 9x's removed. Again, way off the roots, but still interesting, so I traced it! Lawrence Washington was my 12th Great Grandfather. He was President George Washington's 3rd Great Grandfather. So good O' George is still connected and still an interesting story!
I know that it is confusing with the number of cousin's and number of "removes" you may have in your tree. When your tree gets large, this is why it is important to decide how far off the path you really want to go. I say go off the path if your seeking that famous connection. But if you are going off the path just to add names to your tree, it can be a bit distracting. Choose wisely!
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