:confused: What does it mean when people say, "He's my cousin, twice removed?"

It means they are "removed" by a generation. A cousin is a child of your aunt or uncle. A removed cousin is not in your same generation. Like your father's cousin (first cousin) would be your cousin, once removed. Your grandfather's cousin would be your cousin twice removed.

Unless I am completely off.

Good question. I always wanted to know what that meant too.

It means they are "removed" by a generation. A cousin is a child of your aunt or uncle. A removed cousin is not in your same generation. Like your father's cousin (first cousin) would be your cousin, once removed. Your grandfather's cousin would be your cousin twice removed.

Unless I am completely off.

Oh, that makes sense. So your great-grandpa's cousin would be three times removed. Interesting.

I would also like to know what "" ______years his or her senior" means like

So and so married so and so who was (insert number) years her senior or junior

I would also like to know what "" ______years his or her senior" means like

So and so married so and so who was (insert number) years her senior or junior

Like if your mom is 5 years younger than your dad. She would be five years his junior.
Your dad would be five years your moms senior.

:confused: What does it mean when people say, "He's my cousin, twice removed?"
...it could also be a reference to the number of times the drunken slob was tossed out of family reunions...

...it could also be a reference to the number of times the drunken slob was tossed out of family reunions...


You know way too much about my family!! :lol:

It means they are "removed" by a generation. A cousin is a child of your aunt or uncle. A removed cousin is not in your same generation. Like your father's cousin (first cousin) would be your cousin, once removed. Your grandfather's cousin would be your cousin twice removed.

Unless I am completely off.

That's how I've always understood it. Isn't it also the same as saying "second cousins" or are second cousins the children of your cousins?

(damn this gets confusing fast!)

That's how I've always understood it. Isn't it also the same as saying "second cousins" or are second cousins the children of your cousins?

(damn this gets confusing fast!)

Your first cousins child would be your first cousin once removed, not your second cousin. If your first cousin once removed has a child, that would be your first cousin twice removed and any child they have would be your first cousin three times removed and so on. Now if you have a child and your first cousin has a child, those children would be second cousins to each other.
Confusing I know. I was always told that my first cousins kids were my second cousins but I was at a geneology site a few months ago and learned that they are actually my first cousins once removed.

Like if your mom is 5 years younger than your dad. She would be five years his junior.
Your dad would be five years your moms senior.
I see now Thanks!

second cousins are your same generation just starting a generation back, like your grandparent's sister's grandchildren are second cousins.
senior/junior are just older/younger
removed is the gap in generations

Okay so my cousin is pregnant. The baby she has will be my second cousin?

Your first cousins child would be your first cousin once removed, not your second cousin. If your first cousin once removed has a child, that would be your first cousin twice removed and any child they have would be your first cousin three times removed and so on. Now if you have a child and your first cousin has a child, those children would be second cousins to each other.
Confusing I know. I was always told that my first cousins kids were my second cousins but I was at a geneology site a few months ago and learned that they are actually my first cousins once removed.


Oh wow - thanks! That IS different. Guess that's why it's never been too "horrible" to have second cousins marry. I just recently heard that it's not even all that bad if first cousins were to marry genetically. I guess its just if their children were to marry with another cousin, etc.

Okay so my cousin is pregnant. The baby she has will be my second cousin?

If your first cousin is pregnant, her child will be your first cousin once removed. When you have a child of your own, he/she will be a second cousin to your first cousins child.
Your mothers/fathers first cousins children are your second cousins

Interesting! Always wanted to know about the "cousins removed" theory! One question: why the word "removed." They are not officially removed. :confused:

Interesting! Always wanted to know about the "cousins removed" theory! One question: why the word "removed." They are not officially removed. :confused:

The word removed is used because they are not of your generation. Your first cousin once/twice/three times removed etc is from a different generation than you. A first cousin(a child of your aunt or uncle), the word removed is not used because they are of the same generation as you. Their children would be one generation removed(away) from you, hence the name once removed. Very confusing I know :crazy:

:crazy: I declare that all cousins, second cousins, removed cousins or otherwise numbered cousins are henseforth simply dubbed "cousins"! A single designation is good enough for anyone!

So says Whittaker. So shall it be. :king:

How about this. I have a sister who has a daughter and a cousin who has a daughter. What would that be classified as?

How about this. I have a sister who has a daughter and a cousin who has a daughter. What would that be classified as?


A lot of girls in the family!

My family on my dad's side is really confusing sense his brother and 2 sisters are half.

:crazy: I declare that all cousins, second cousins, removed cousins or otherwise numbered cousins are henseforth simply dubbed "cousins"! A single designation is good enough for anyone!

So says Whittaker. So shall it be. :king:

I'm with you. I'd be standing there all day trying to introduce people the other way! :lol:

Your first cousins child would be your first cousin once removed, not your second cousin. If your first cousin once removed has a child, that would be your first cousin twice removed and any child they have would be your first cousin three times removed and so on. Now if you have a child and your first cousin has a child, those children would be second cousins to each other.
Confusing I know. I was always told that my first cousins kids were my second cousins but I was at a geneology site a few months ago and learned that they are actually my first cousins once removed.

You're making my head spin :crazy: :eek: :lol:

How about this. I have a sister who has a daughter and a cousin who has a daughter. What would that be classified as?

Your sisters daughter and your cousins daughter are second cousins to each other. Your sisters daughter is your niece and you are her uncle(I'm sure you already knew that :) ) Your cousins daughter is yours and your sisters first cousin once removed and vise versa.

If your first cousin is pregnant, her child will be your first cousin once removed. When you have a child of your own, he/she will be a second cousin to your first cousins child.
Your mothers/fathers first cousins children are your second cousins

Okay thanks for the information. I was curious about that.