What is a first cousin - once removed ?

Genealogy Re: "REMOVED" vs "1st/2nd", etc

Question:

Would someone please clarify the difference/distinction between someone who is your relative "removed" (ie, my first cousin once-removed), as opposed to "1st, 2nd, (ie, my 2nd cousin).

Is a 2nd cousin the same as a 1st cousin once removed?

Answer:

If you go up (back in time) one generation, over a sibling, and then down (forward in time) one generation, those are first cousins.

If you go up (back in time) two generations, over a sibling, and then down (forward in time) two generations, those are second cousins.

If you go up (back in time) three generations, over a sibling, and then down (forward in time) three generations, those are third cousins.

Get it?

Now, if you go up (back in time) two generations, over a sibling, and then down (forward in time) one generation, those are first cousins, one generation removed. For instance, your grandfather's brother's daughter is your first cousin one generation removed, because she is your father's (or mother's) first cousin and you are one generation removed from your father.

For instance, I do research with my great-grandfather's brother's granddaughter. My father is her second cousin (back two, over a sibling, down two), so she is my second cousin, one generation removed. Her son and daughter are my third cousins, because our respective great-grandfathers were brothers. -- [email protected] (Mark Faucette) post to Soc.genealogy.methods Sun Apr 14 20:06:43 1996

A "removed" cousin is of a different generation than you are. I am first cousin once removed to my father's first cousin. The daughter of my father's first cousin and I are second cousins. My father's first cousin is also a first cousin once removed to me. The relationship is reciprocal. -- Dorothy A. Koenig - post to Soc.genealogy.methods Mon Apr 15 07:55:13 1996

http://www.optimizations.com/Genealogy/def_removed.html