how do you work out what cousin you are to someone?

[nix-j-c]

how do you work out what number cousin you are and how many removed you are.

[whiskeysheri]

You are first cousins with someone if you share the same grandparents and second cousins if you share the same great-grandparents. It's the easiest way to explain it.

My first cousin's child will be my first cousin once removed and so on.

I hope this makes sense, I have tried too many times to explain to my sister how it works, LOL! :o)

[Hammond Egg]

Pretty much the same answer as whiskeysheri, but here goes:

To find the relationship between A and B:

Work out the relationship between A and the nearest ancestor they share with B

Count the number of gs in it (so great-great-great grandfather = 4 gs)

Do the same for B

The smaller number of gs is the number cousin you are

The difference between the numbers of gs in the number of times the two cousins are removed

So:

A and B share common ancestors

A is their great-great-great grandchild

B is their great-great-great-great-great grandchild

4 gs for A

6 gs for B

So A and B are fourth cousins, twice removed

[Quizmonster]

Click here for a chart which lays the whole relationships thing out clearly.

[nix-j-c]

no i understand thankyou sooo much!

[echokilo]

This website will do it for you:

http://www.dumville.org/trees/cousins_tre.html