Cousins

What is a first cousin three times removed?

A first cousin three times removed is a first cousin from a different generation: your first cousin's great-grandchild, or your great-grandparent's first cousin.

The shared ancestors are grandparents to one of you and great-great-great-grandparents to the other: 2 generations down on one side, 5 on the other.

Two ways to be one

  • Your first cousin's great-grandchild is your first cousin three times removed.
  • Your great-grandparent's first cousin is also your first cousin three times removed.

How to work it out

  1. Find the ancestors you share and count the generations from them down to each of you: 2 and 5.
  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": 5 minus 2 is 3, so "three times removed".
The first cousin three times removed 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