The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com. What Is "Second Cousin Once Removed?" One of the terms frequently encountered when researching your family tree is "removed" cousins; for instance, "second cousin, once removed." Many people have an erroneous idea of what this means. So what is the correct definition? First of all, let's examine the definition of cousins. It is "two people who share a common ancestor:" In fact, in order to be cousins, you must share a grandparent or someone from an even earlier generation of the family: FIRST COUSINS share a grandparent in common. SECOND COUSINS share a great-grandparent in common. THIRD COUSINS share a great-great-grandparent in common. And so on. When the word "removed" is used to describe a cousin relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. "Once removed" indicates a difference of one generation, "twice removed" indicates a difference of two generations, and so forth. Let's compare you with your first cousin. You both share a grandparent, often two grandparents. However, your cousin's child also shares the same ancestry but at a difference of one generation. That child is "removed" from your cousin relationship by one generation. Hence, that child is your first cousin, once removed. Likewise, the grandchild of your first cousin is your first cousin twice removed (two generations removed from being a first cousin). Many people confuse the term "first cousin once removed" with "second cousin." The two are not the same. Here is a chart that explains the relationships and can quickly explain your relationship to anyone else in your family, up to 10 generations away. Note that we are talking about "blood relatives," not those whose sole relationship is by marriage. To see the actual chart which accompanied this article go to http://www.eogn.com/newsletter/ and click on What Is "Second Cousin Once Removed?" While you are there you will find information on how to get your own copy of this informative free genealogy electronic newsletter.