It can easily get confusing, but here's my try: One way of describing "cousins-removed" is that it is the difference in the number of generational links you and a cousin have back to your common ancestor. (There can also be a further distinction, that being who has the longer or shorter "chain.") 14th Cousin, 9 times removed means: The cousin with the shortest line back to a common ancestor has 15 generations, the other person has 24 [15+9] generations back. (And it is 15 generations, not 14. Remember that ONE generation back are your parents and their other children are your brothers and sisters. TWO generations back are your grandparents and anyone else who shares them with you as your nearest ancestors-in-common are your FIRST cousins. A simple example: The children of your third cousins would be your third cousins, once removed. It may help to understand a specific example by drawing out on paper all of the links involved between two cousins back to their common ancestor. I hope that helps, and doesn't hinder, your understanding. > -----Original Message----- > From: Patti Gigandet [mailto:gidget@osrc.org] > Sent: Saturday, August 14, 1999 3:00 PM > To: VACAROLI-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: 2 questions > > > Hi, got 2 questions here: > Can anyone explain to me what "times removed" means exactly? > Like if I have > a 14th cousin 9 times removed, what does that mean exactly? > Also, looking for the guy who has put posts several times on a Rev > Wiatt/Wyatt, I have a file he might be interested in, if he > doesn't already > have it. Just email me privately, it goes back to Renaissance > England, some > of it's medieval > Patti > > SURNAMES: > Chicago&NJ-Coyne, Niehaus > Mass- Baker, Bourne, Curtis, Chilton, Miller, Newton, Pope, Shaw, Snow, > Standish, Warren, Winslow > Virginia- Leitch, Purcell, Rowe > Japan-Fujii > England- Ollyver, Spinney, Tansley, Throckmorton, Warren, Waterman > >