First Cousin Once removed? Second Cousin? Find Out The Difference!

Have you ever wondered about why some people talk about their 2nd cousin but others say their 1st cousin once removed?   Do you know the difference?  It is straightforward once you know what it is!  

At Kin Tree, we can provide you with charts showing the relationships between your ancestors but here is a quick guide.

We all know what a cousin is and they are our 1st cousins. 

• 1st cousins have two grandparents that are the same. 
• 2nd cousins have two of the same great grandparents but different grandparents. 
• 3rd cousins have two great great grandparents in common but different descendants after that.

and so it carries on back through the generations.

If you look at our chart below, you will see that 

• Hannah and Martin are 1st cousins as they share two of the same grandparents.  
• Hannah daughter Olivia and Martin's son Robert are 2nd cousins as they have different grandparents but share two of the same great grandparents.
• Olivia's son William and Robert's daughter Zoe are 3rd cousins

So what about a cousin once removed?

A cousin once removed comes into play where you have a common ancestor but are in different generations of the family tree.  If you are one generation different then it is called once removed, two generations is twice removed and so on. So your mother or father's cousin is your cousin once removed, your grandmother or grandfather's cousin is your cousin twice removed etc.

In our chart, look at how people are related to Kate.  

• Hannah and Kate are 1st cousins.
• Hannah's daughter Olivia and Kate are 1st cousins once removed.
• Hannah's grandson William and Kate are 1st cousins twice removed.

So To Remember

• 1st cousins: Share two grandparents.
• 2nd cousins: Share two great grandparents (but not the same grandparents)
• Cousins Once removed : One generation apart in the family tree
• Cousins Twice removed: Two generations apart in the family tree

Remember Kin Tree can help you with any questions you have about your family history so please get in touch!  Leave a message here or email us at kintree@ymail.com for some friendly help.

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