Tex-Mach, inc. wrote: > Does anyone understand the "first cousin once removed", "second cousin > once removed" and so on? > Janice White Janice, I looked to see if I had this explanation in some official written form. I did not find it, so I will give a try at it! If someone can correct, add to, or simplify this, please do. "Cousins" must be of the SAME generation away from a common ancestor. For example, a child of my father's brother is my FIRST cousin. {We both have the same grandfather.} My son and his (my first cousin) son are SECOND cousins. {They both have the same great-grandfather.} Their sons would be THIRD cousins. {They both have the same great-great-grandfather.} The "_____ removed" comes into the picture when cousins are not the same number of generations away from a common ancestor. My son would not be a first cousin of my first cousin. They are not the same number of generations away from my grandfather. My son would be a first cousin 'once removed' of my first cousin. My grandson would be a first cousin 'twice removed' of my first cousin. Age has little to do with it. In one branch of a family all the individuals may have married young and had their children early, while in another branch the children may have been born late in the life of their parents. So people the same age may be third cousins 'six times removed'. I hope this is helpful! As I look back over what I have written, it looks just about as clear as mud! Lura "A MERRY HEART doeth good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22