Cousins

What is a first cousin?

First cousins share a set of grandparents and are the same number of generations below them. Their parents are siblings.

You both descend from the same grandparents, each of you 2 generations down.

An example

  • Your aunt's or uncle's child is your first cousin.

How to work it out

  1. Find the ancestors you share and count the generations from them down to each of you: 2 and 2.
  2. The smaller number minus one gives the cousin degree: 2 minus 1 is 1, so "first".
  3. The difference between the two numbers is how many times "removed": 2 minus 2 is 0, so not removed.
The first cousin square is marked. Rows are you, columns your relative.
You are the ancestor's…ChildGrandchildGreat-grandchild2x great-grandchild3x great-grandchild4x great-grandchild
ChildSiblingNiece or nephewGrandniece or grandnephewGreat-grandniece or nephewGreat-great-grandniece or nephewGreat-great-great-grandniece or nephew
GrandchildAunt or uncleFirst cousinFirst cousin once removedFirst cousin twice removedFirst cousin three times removedFirst cousin four times removed
Great-grandchildGreat-aunt or uncleFirst cousin once removedSecond cousinSecond cousin once removedSecond cousin twice removedSecond cousin three times removed
2x great-grandchildGreat-great-aunt or uncleFirst cousin twice removedSecond cousin once removedThird cousinThird cousin once removedThird cousin twice removed
3x great-grandchildGreat-great-great-aunt or uncleFirst cousin three times removedSecond cousin twice removedThird cousin once removedFourth cousinFourth cousin once removed
4x great-grandchildGreat-great-great-great-aunt or uncleFirst cousin four times removedSecond cousin three times removedThird cousin twice removedFourth cousin once removedFifth cousin

Check it in the cousin calculator

Cousin calculator