Genealogy Quiz! Second Cousin or Niece/Nephew?

What is the appropriate title for “first cousins once removed”?

Many of us look at our first cousins as a brother or sister and often times even refer to them as brother or sister. Though not technically brothers or sisters, first cousin’s children share a common title as the children of brother and sister. Many people may believe that the children of their first cousin are their second cousins, however the appropriate title to address your cousin’s children is niece or nephew even though they are actually “first cousins once removed”. So, now you and your first cousins can feel even closer as you call each others children as you do your true sibling’s children.

What’s the meaning of “once removed” and what are “second cousins”?

The word “removed” is used when two people are separated by generation(s), hence the word is not used for first cousins but with the children of first cousins. When figuring out the number “removed” a cousin is, just count how many generation levels they are apart. So your aunt’s grandchild is your “first cousin once removed” and so is your great aunt’s child because they are only one generation apart.

A second cousin can only come through one of your grandparents and the descendants of your first cousin can never be a second cousin to you. The ordinal numbers refers to how many generations  to count back before you run into siblings. For example your second cousin is second because your parents and their parents are not siblings however your grandparents and their grandparents are siblings so therefore that makes you second cousins because siblings are two generations back. First cousins are first cousin because your parents and their parents are siblings.

-Your first cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle.
-Your second cousin is the grandchild of your great aunt or great uncle.
-Your third cousin is the great-grandchild of your great-great uncle or great-great aunt.
-Your first cousin, once removed, is the child of your first cousin or is the child of your great uncle or great aunt.

Below is a great diagram that may can help you understand.