Some people have difficulty working out relationships, especially distant ones of first, second and third cousins, once, twice and three times removed. They are really quite easy if you remember a few simple rules.

1.        If you share parents you are siblings, brothers and/or sisters.

2.        If you share only one parent you are half siblings, half brothers and/or half sisters.

3.        If you share grandparents, you are first cousins. (The same generation)

4.        If you share great grandparents, you are second cousins. (The same generation)

5.        If you share great great grandparents, you are third cousins. (The same generation)

Removed, simply means, the number of generations levels that one cousin is removed from the other, up or down..

A.      Your father or mother’s first cousins are your first cousins once removed. (One generation above or removed from your generation.)

B.       Your first cousin's children are also your first cousins once removed. (One generation below or removed from your generation.)

C.       Your first cousin's grandchildren are your first cousins twice removed. (Two generations below or removed from your generation.)

D.      Your first cousin's great grandchildren are your first cousins three times removed. (Three generations below or removed from your generation.)

E.       Your grandparents and your great aunts and uncles are all on the same generation as each other, but they are two generations above or removed from your generation.

F.       Your parents and your aunts and uncles are all on the same generation as each other, but they are one generation above or removed from your generation.

G.       You, your brothers and sister, first, second and third cousins are all on the same generation.

H.      Your sons and daughters, your nephews and nieces, and your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cousin's children, are all on the same generation as each other, but they are one generation below or removed from your generation.

I.         Your grandchildren, your grand nephews and nieces and your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cousin's grandchildren, are all on the same generation as each other, but they are two generation below or removed from your generation.

J.        Your great grandchildren, your great grandnephews and nieces and your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cousin's great grandchildren, are all on the same generation as each other, but they are three generation below or removed from your generation.

    GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS

                                                                                  /                                               \

                                                           GREAT GRANDPARENTS               GREAT GREAT UNCLE/AUNT

                                                                /                                      \                                                    \

                                            GRANDPARENTS            GREAT UNCLE/AUNT             1^ST COUSIN TWICE REMOVED

                                                  /                        \                                    \                                                        \

                                     PARENTS        UNCLE/AUNT        1^ST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED       2^nd COUSIN ONCE REMOVED

                                      /              \                               \                                   \                                                       \

                             >YOU< BROTHER/SISTER     1^ST COUSIN           2^ND COUSIN                                     3^rd COUSIN

                                 /                        \                                \                                     \                                                      \

                          SON                 NEPHEW                1^ST COUSIN                  2^ND COUSIN                                  3^rd COUSIN

                 DAUGHTER            NIECE                    ONCE REMOVED       ONCE REMOVED                       ONCE REMOVED  

                          /                                   \                                    \                                      \                                                    \

           GRANDSON                 GRANDNEPHEW           1^ST COUSIN                 2^ND COUSIN                               3^rd COUSIN

     GRANDDAUGHTER          GRANDNIECE        TWICE REMOVED      TWICE REMOVED                       TWICE REMOVED

                      /                                            \                                    \                                      \                                                       \

   GREAT GRAND                       GREAT GRAND              1^ST COUSIN              2^ND COUSIN                                 3^rd COUSIN

  SON/DAUGHTER                     NEPHEW/NIECE    3 TIMES REMOVED     3 TIMES REMOVED              3 TIMES REMOVED

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