Relative Chart

Relative Chart

Home Page

Event Details

Family Tree

Relative Chart

Relative Chart
File Download

What is the difference between a Second Cousin and a First Cousin, once removed ?

Relationship Terms
Here are some definitions to help determine how people are related to each other in a family tree.

Cousin: First cousins are people who have the same grandparent (i.e., the children of your aunts and uncles).

Second Cousin: Second cousins are people who have the same great-grandparent (i.e., the children of first cousins)

Removed: The term "removed" describes a relationship from different generations. "Once removed" shows a difference of one generation where "twice removed" shows a two generation difference. For example, a first cousin to your parent is also your first cousin, once removed. This is because your common ancestor is a great-grandparent to you but only a grandparent to your parent's first cousin.

Relative Chart
A chart is provided below to help you figure out how people in your family are related. Simply follow these instructions:

Pick two people in the family and find their common ancestor in the family tree. (i.e., cousins would have a grandparent in common).
Locate one person's relationship to the common ancestor on the top row.
Locate the other person's relationship to the common ancestor in the far left column.

Follow the selected row and column into the table location where they meet for their relationship.

Common Ancestor	Child	Grandchild	Great Grandchild	2nd Great Grandchild	3rd Great Grandchild	4th Great Grandchild	5th Great Grandchild
Child	Siblings (Brother or Sister)	Nephew or Niece	Grand Nephew or Niece	Great Grand Nephew or Niece	2nd Great Grand Nephew or Niece	3rd Great Grand Nephew or Niece	4th Great Grand Nephew or Niece
Grandchild	Nephew or Niece	First Cousin	First Cousin Once Removed	First Cousin Twice Removed	First Cousin Three Times Removed	First Cousin Four Times Removed	First Cousin Five Times Removed
Great Grandchild	Grand Nephew or Niece	First Cousin Once Removed	Second Cousin	Second Cousin Once Removed	Second Cousin Twice Removed	Second Cousin Three Times Removed	Second Cousin Four Times Removed
2nd Great Grandchild	Great Grand Nephew or Niece	First Cousin Twice Removed	Second Cousin Once Removed	Third Cousin	Third Cousin Once Removed	Third Cousin Twice Removed	Third Cousin Three Times Removed
3rd Great Grandchild	2nd Great Grand Nephew or Niece	First Cousin Three Times Removed	Second Cousin Twice Removed	Third Cousin Once Removed	Fourth Cousin	Fourth Cousin Once Removed	Fourth Cousin Twice Removed
4th Great Grandchild	3rd Great Grand Nephew or Niece	First Cousin Four Times Removed	Second Cousin Three Times Removed	Third Cousin Twice Removed	Fourth Cousin Once Removed	Fifth Cousin	Fifth Cousin Once Removed
5th Great Grandchild	4th Great Grand Nephew or Niece	First Cousin Five Times Removed	Second Cousin Four Times Removed	Third Cousin Three Times Removed	Fourth Cousin Twice Removed	Fifth Cousin Once Removed	Sixth Cousin