What is a First Cousin Once Removed? | Ancestry

In real life, family is family and cousins are cousins. But, in genealogy (and especially in genetic genealogy), it is important to understand exactly how you are related to someone. Correct understanding of the difference between a first cousin, a first cousin once removed, and a second cousin can make the difference in your genealogy research and in your interpretation of your AncestryDNA. Join Crista Cowan for a quick look at how to understand it and keep it all straight.

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What is a First Cousin Once Removed? | Ancestry

[holidayhouse]

I got some cousins I'd like to remove... more than once.

[KerinColson]

I always try to explain it by telling my relatives to count the g's. A great-great grandparent has 3 g's. So, third cousin.

[rosannelytle]

Very good Crista, you did a better job than I could have at explaining this concept.

[maryanndunwoody]

I'm constantly trying to explain this to my family members who are interested in our family tree. At some point they often get a glazed look in their eyes, shake their heads & tell me I can be the keeper of all that information. Haha! 🤣

[wandaglass]

Thanks, Crista! You always make the complicated topics much more fun and easier to understand!

[trees]

I just found my father and family by using this video, your reply and constant cross checking posting my photo with reaching out to all cousins made it possible. Thanks for your life changing works!!!

[HRHDMKYT]

Ok, this was actually very educational. I always wondered what the cousin "labels" were for my mother's first cousins and their kids. We grew up visiting them a lot -- since her (older) siblings all moved to Australia after WWII, they were her only family in North America. It's also nice to know we were correct when we explained to friends that (those cousins in our same generation) were our "2nd cousins". (But we did call my Mom's cousins and their spouses "Aunt" and "Uncle", which only feels right as a sign of respect for our elders. We always knew they weren't 'real' Aunts and Uncles, since they weren't my Mom's siblings). Now I know for sure what their relationship 'title' to me and my brothers actually is. Thanks a lot!

[lyzzpickle]

Thank you so very much, Crista, for this and your other videos. If your neck is sore, it’s because I’ve been hanging on to your every word since I received my DNA results. Cousins have always been difficult for me, but an NPE has made my understanding critically important. I appreciate your unflappable and straightforward explanations more than you know. God Bless.

[Alfruna]

This answered a question about my 1st cousins and 2nd cousins children.
We are a very close extended family – so I feel strange calling my cousins children cousins as well. I just call them my nieces/nephews. But at least I finally know how it's actually done. Thank you!

[wildchook]

Good timing explaining the cousin relationships. I was playing around with my tree last night to understand the cousin terms. It helps to know this to understand how you are related to your DNA matches.

[anthonybtwc]

This is such an awesome and simple explanation. Thank you!!!

[marthastevensonwright]

Perfect explanation! I ALWAYS think of the vertical boxes in my head when trying to figure out cousins too!

[esterixis]

My brain has just exploded. But, I did learn a lot! It helped to take notes, though. Thanks for the explanation. Subscribed!

[Denisedesigns]

Thank you for sharing. This is extremely helpful.

[imaginenoreligion]

I've watched three videos on this. Yours is the clearest BY FAR. Thanks

[djsunshine]

I just watched this for the first time. My what a game changer this will be for me. My mother could just rattle this off without missing a beat and she came from a huge family. Thank for all of these amazing videos that you provide.

[Wahian]

May be it’s easier to say— first cousins share the same grand parents. Second cousins share the same great grand parents. ( excluding the removed/generation ones)

[aprilwest]

You made this so easy to understand. Thank you so much.

[ruthwright]

Thank you Crista video ! Explains it perfectly.

[sundownsigns]

Years ago I served on a jury and during breaks I studied a chart in the law library that explained these relationships. It cleared up this mystery.