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
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[@holidayhouse03]

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

[@thefreckledafrikan]

holidayhouse03 lmbooooo

[@phillipharris609]

holidayhouse03 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gladysdunbar8129]

lol

[@joesmith8725]

LOL Same here. :-D

[@1GoldenBreeze]

holidayhouse03 I see what you did there!!! rofl

[@maryanndunwoody4666]

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! 🤣

[@Br0wnSgr]

LOL but that is great that you are diligent with it. At least they trust you to be family historian!

[@SonnySantana2099]

Mary Ann Dunwoody wait so your first cousin is the first child of the oldest sibling of your parent?

[@MSSmith1022]

I get that with my families riddle.

[@RaymondHng]

Create a family tree chart. It might help in explaining.

[@moniquereese1031]

That's how I look now!

[@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.

[@lindseyormsbee]

It's not that easy though

[@macifoggs4463]

@@lindseyormsbee that was 3 years ago

[@lindseyormsbee]

@@macifoggs4463 and?? It doesn't change either statement.

[@macifoggs4463]

@@lindseyormsbee She not gonna read it

[@failyourwaytothetop]

Fascinating! A simple solution to a complex problem

[@rosannelytle6428]

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

[@wandaglass2412]

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

[@AncestryUS]

We measure how closely two people are related using units of measurement called centimorgans. The number of centimorgans we report is our estimate of the amount of shared DNA we can attribute to a recent shared ancestor. Centimorgans are not units of physical distance, but rather, units of probability. In general, the more centimorgans two people share, the more closely related they are. To learn more click here: support.ancestry.com/s/article/Measuring-Relatedness Click here to see the DNA match categories: support.ancestry.com/s/article/AncestryDNA-Match-Categories

[@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!

[@BobbyVene]

Is that an Asian thing to call your Mom’s cousin aunt and uncle?

[@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.

[@AncestryUS]

Thank you, Lilly! Good luck to you in using this knowledge to continue to make new discoveries. (~Crista)

[@marthastevensonwright6262]

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

[@dianewarde6074]

This is a wonderful and very clear explanation of something I could never figure out before. Thanks so much.

[@wildchook745]

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.

[@trees8240]

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!!!

[@CristaCowan]

You are so very welcome!

[@Itisfinished403]

You did a really GREAT job of explaining this, thank you so much! I can hardly wait to get my results to start my research 🤗

[@esterixis]

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

[@denisemuhammad2382]

Thank you for sharing. This is extremely helpful.

[@anthonybtwc]

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

[@moccasinlanding]

THANK YOU....This tells me what I did not know, and explained it in a way I can remember.

[@ruthwright6247]

Thank you Crista Cowan.....great video ! Explains it perfectly. .....

[@stephbowen4564]

Thank you so much for explaining! I never knew that this was the case. Very helpful :)

[@WhoInspects]

Good presentation. Thank you for your explanation. I stopped watching at the point that I got the answer to the relationship I was trying to define. Thanks.

[@melissaj1965]

Your explanation makes everything clearer. Thank you so much.

[@VikkiJoSelix]

This video was awesome, thank you so much! I rewound a few spots, but I get it!

[@Synth256]

Very nice video. I have struggled with the cousins designations my entire life (and I'm no spring chicken). Finally, the way you explained it clicked! Thank you so much for giving us such an excellent tutorial.

[@valj3841]

Thank you very much. It was a very concise explanation.

[@aquilaclark814]

Thx crista..you did a great job explaining this

[@sampson1952]

That is sooo excellent. Thank you so much for this explanation!!!

[@imaginenoreligion]

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

[@SheriNewton]

Thanks for an informative video, as always. :)

[@OrchestralMusicMidJourneyArt]

This video was awesome. I am no longer confused. THX!!

[@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!

[@annemarieharm7996]

Thank you so much! This is really helpful.

[@artwomer1184]

Thanks for a great video and explanation!

[@pwsquare]

This is a great video. I finally get it! Now it all makes sense.

[@aprilwest4079]

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

[@AncestryUS]

You're very welcome!

[@axjohn]

EXCELLENT explanation! One suggestion for future presentations, PLEASE bold or enhance your cursor in some way to make it more visible and obvious. Thanks. Gonna share your video with a “removed” cousin!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@reinabrowne]

thanks crista! i appreciate this. you're rad

[@karennanne]

Thanks for answering those questions!

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Karen, we are happy to hear that you found this video useful.

[@MrSquareart]

thank you for explaining this. I really really thought it was just something people said as a joke. I did not think it was a real thing. thank you for for cleaning that up and the knowledge is good to know.

[@bridlong7763]

That was crystal clear. Thank you for this tutorial... I've even saved it into a folder on my phone for reference👍👍👍Now I'll spend the evening arguing with my Dad as he thinks his first cousin is my second cousin🤣🤣🤣

[@alynbailey6031]

Thank you - really clear explanation. I’ve now explained to my daughter that she has a second cousin once removed!

[@AncestryUS]

We're glad to hear you found it useful! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@gingercameronfordcrouch7057]

I am having a hard time explaining to my newly connected 1C1R that we are not 2nd Cousins my mom's 1C well actually another of mom's 1C also thinks we are 2C and that is how I grew up thinking as well. It has taken some time for me to understand that and I am still trying to grasp so much more. Especially everything past basic immediate family. I didn't grow up knowing hardly anyone in my family we didn't know mom's or dad's family so all of this is so new to me and mom and moms cousins, etc.

[@mariecarty222]

Very informative. Thank you so much

[@cecelliarogers7346]

I used to subscribe to the Who Cares? perspective, but now that I'm trying to narrow down DNA connections, this becomes meaningful. Thx!

[@janhackett7483]

Great explanation of a very confusing issue.

[@dirtyratbastard9082]

Thanks for explaining all this. Never really knew any of my relatives since my father was in the Navy, and we were constantly on the move. I've always been curious to know what the difference between a 1st cousin, and 2nd cousin was. Seeing it explained on a graph really helps.

[@petertosh8626]

U make me understand this thing more than anyone 🙏 thank u.

[@teriaugustine6464]

Thank you, Crista. I FINALLY get it.

[@juanguentenguea.gonzalez737]

Thanks all of your details I appreciate it

[@lynorasholistic-healing8317]

I just learned so much watching your video.... Thank you!🙂

[@AncestryUS]

That's awesome! We are happy that you are diving into your family history.

[@daydreamsinmusic3050]

I was afraid that if I watched this my brain would explode ...lol. But it was good. p.s. Till my brain exploded! ...lol But seriously...Thanks!

[@EgressMan2006]

My head spun around 3 times before it was a removed cousin!

[@darlenefarmer5921]

Great Information! 👍👍👍

[@MrSquareart]

Yes I think it is great info to know.

[@jewillis100]

Thank you so much Crista for this video....I think the penny has finally dropped🤣

[@kathrynspicer3787]

EXCELLENT. All clear. I am the youngest of my siblings by many years. A 1st cousin once removed is only 15months younger. I am 1st cousin to her mother. I am now totally straight on how it works. THANKS.

[@ashablack2291]

Thanks, this was very helpful.

[@NaomiCurtis]

So very helpful. Thank you.

[@Peachy08]

Thank you for explaining!

[@carojayess1723]

This really helped me understand the cousin relationships. Thank you!!

[@josephclegg3562]

I had to go back and look at this several times before l got a better understanding of it.

[@janeashley4920]

I have worked on my tree for many years and this is the first illustration I have understood completely 🙈 thank you!

[@JaTon]

Great info! Thank you!!

[@cassandrataylor5463]

I love this!!!...this helped me so much.

[@Angryginger2421]

Thanks I have been struggling with this

[@pamelasharp8498]

Thank you very helpful will keep replaying till I have my head around it but thank you

[@oshtoolman]

Outstanding explanation

[@richardday4088]

You really want to get the party started then throw in a set of double first cousins LOL

[@melissaknights8450]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@whyarewealwaysyelling]

Thank you for explaining it very clearly

[@terrychristiansen4542]

Thanks for the info it was always confusing to me now it makes more sense. Evelyn

[@JLamar-tt3lh]

This video really helped me to understand my family tree and correct and error that I’ve been making for years now.

[@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.

[@ashmorg5616]

Great thank you Crista.

[@tajuana_on_a_mission]

This was such an awesome video

[@kathybeee1055]

There is a 17year gap between my oldest brother and myself. His son (my nephew) was 18months younger than me. My nephew's son/my grandnephew is 1 year younger than my youngest son. My son and grand nephew are 1st cousins once removed. Being from a large family I went to school with my 1st cousin once removed and my nephew in the late 1970s, I would refer to them as my cousin and nephew. Thank you Crista, for an easy explanation of the cousin formula.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Great explanation thanks.

[@magicrehab]

Great teaching

[@cherylfurr4149]

Thank you for this video! Crista, you have a gift for explaining the impossible! Beginning with ancestry has nothing to do with time but with generations...this is why I am a solid 2C to someone 22 years older than myself! I will need to review this video several times and "play" with the chart , inserting different people to make sense of their relationship. Thank you again!

[@buttercup141312]

What the hell... I just realized that the cousin who I always thought was just my “cousin” is really my first cousin two times removed... This ancestry stuff is so complex...

[@tantiwahopak101]

Dang then you should be old 😄

[@dreamergirlbaby]

They are your cousin whether they’re 2x removed. Slightly far down the family line but doesn’t disregard the fact that they are a cousin.

[@podfatherljv]

Great video! thank you.

[@AncestryUS]

We're so glad that you enjoyed this, thanks for sharing! 😊

[@JeriPaulette]

Thank you for this...

[@dupeaccount1647]

My grandmother was the oldest of four. My mom had me in her mid 30s. My grandma's baby brother had his kid around 50. So he's my mom's cousin or my first cousin once removed. He's about a month older (we're both 42 now and I haven't seen him since we were kids) than me so when we were always just the kid cousins when we were little. My mom still thinks he's my 2nd cousin even though I've explained this a few times already. Maybe I'll show her this and with the visual it will make more sense to her.

[@Wahian1]

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)

[@mrosamartinez2746]

Great explanation

[@AncestryUS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@333ministries]

This is the best explanation

[@jacicurrie9379]

thank you very helpful

[@nahlawalker6339]

Thank you for this!!!!

[@adaml2932]

Well explained

[@KristenPellegrini]

What was that program you were using in the beginning? Thanks for the great explanation!!!

[@AncestryUS]

I just used the Org Chart template in PowerPoint. I use it a lot for figuring out DNA Match connections. (~Crista)

[@Anne--Marie]

Thank you!

[@dreamergirlbaby]

So if my first cousin have a child that child is my first cousin once removed.

[@jmk1962]

Yes

[@conorscorner15]

Yeha and if your 1st cousin once removed has a child first cousin twice removed

[@regularjoe5517]

Wait but I thought that was a second cousin...?

[@conorscorner15]

Leticia Flowerpants yeha it is

[@fr0stb1ght34]

@@conorscorner15 no it's not. It's second cousin if we're talking about your grandparents' sibling's children. If granddad has a brother he is your grand/great uncle. Your grand-uncle's children are the 1st cousin of your parents as they are part of the same generation but different bloodline. Next, when your parents 1st cousins have kids those kids become your 2nd cousin as they are apart of a different bloodline but born in the same generation as you. But they become your parents 1st cousin once removed.

[@AncestryUS]

Interesting!

[@candicesalisbury5828]

Thanks you so much I totally get a better understanding of the generation once removed now. God Bless.

[@anontantanstan]

I thought my mums cousin was my second cousin lol, thanks for clearing up the confusion

[@ammiev5702]

MushDaMalone Thats seems to be popular way to look at it when not using ancestry or DNA as a factor. That’s how my family has always said it. Once removed sounds weird and complicated, but I do try to use it when working on family tree.

[@macifoggs4463]

It is your second cousin

[@macifoggs4463]

Once removed is second cousin

[@ceeceedior21]

@@macifoggs4463 no it isn’t. Your second cousin is the child of your mom or dads first cousin

[@danielcarneiro5483]

@@ceeceedior21 the child of your mom is your sibling not second cousin lol

[@duotone69]

Thank you. I never understood how that worked until now. 💡

[@cokeejohnson]

That helped a lot, thank you

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Nicole, we are glad to hear this video was of some help with your research.

[@LeeRalph100]

Thanks for the explanation. I was always told my cousins kids were my 2nd cousins. Thanks

[@elli003]

EZ - thanks for the clarification !

[@desireetamara8482]

What Software is being used? I'd like to create a Family Tree and I like the way this aligns with new entries.

[@marin803]

The English system is really complicated. I'm glad Swedish has more words for relatives.

[@333ministries]

great job; where can I get that ancestry extension for Exel, or did you create it?

[@Br0wnSgr]

Wow thanks! I too assumped the 3 and 4th cousin incorrectly. And I have been calling my grandma's sister, my Great Aunt this WHOLE time, all of my 30+ years!

[@joesmith8725]

Uummm, siblings of your grandparents are your Great Aunts/Great Uncles.

[@josephclegg3562]

She is.

[@gaynor1721]

Some people call their grandparents siblings great aunt or great uncle. Others prefer to call them grand aunt or grand uncle, but that just complicates things.

[@danielcarneiro5483]

bro she is your great aunt. You can call her either grand-aunt or great-aunt

[@paolam.p.4075]

Oh, wow! Thanks! I never understood thet "removed" part before, since English is not my first language.

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Paola, and thanks for stopping by! We are thrilled to hear we have been able to help you! We wish you all the best on your research, thank you for sharing!