Cousins

[polyanna18]

My father has a cousin who is 85 years old. Can you tell me please what relation she would be to me - am I her second cousin or one cousin removed or something else? Thanks for any help.

[Buenchico]

Start from the position of the 85-year-old gentleman. Your father is his first cousin (because they share common grandparents). Further, any child of your father (or, indeed, his grandchild or great-grandchild) is also his first cousin (because the link is via through his grandparents). However they are 'removed' by one (or more) generation(s).

So you are that elderly gentleman's first cousin, once removed (and vice versa). If you've got children, they're his first cousins, twice removed.

Chris

(PS: To be second cousins with someone you need to have great-grandparents in common)

[HowardKennitby]

Lots of charts here

http://www.google.co....QsAQ&biw=1068&bih=861

[Trishy]

The following link may help http://freepages.gene...lationship_chart.html

[pretty_snowdrop]

I agree with Buenchio, He is your 1st cousin, once removed x

[HowardKennitby]

Trishy's one looks better than any I found.

[New Judge]

A simple way to remember this is that first cousins are of the same generation and share grandparents. Second cousins share great-grandparents, third cousins great-great grandparents and so on. But they are all of the same generation.

Cousins “removed” (be they first cousins, second cousins or whatever) are removed by being of an earlier or later generation. So your first cousin’s child is your first cousin once removed.

[polyanna18]

Thank you all very much for your answers - I am a lot clearer now