What's the difference?

[DSJ]

What's the difference between a second cousin & a cousin once removed? Thanks in advance.

[Bummle]

Oh i am so looking forward to the answer to this because I am always asking wha is the differenece betwen a first cousin, a second cousin and a cousin once removed

[ubasses]

second cousins are the children of cousins
cousins once removed - relationship of cousin 1 to cousin's 2 child

[Old_Geezer]

Once removed means there is a generation difference between you, ie the other branch of the family bred younger or older than your own.

I'll look it up to remind me, but I'm sure somone will respond before I get back.

[DSJ]

Thanks, I understand now.

[Old_Geezer]

Or even before I post it seems.

[Buenchico]

A second cousin is of the same generation as you. (If you share a grandparent, you're first cousins. If you share a great-grandparent, you're second cousins).

A cousin who is 'once removed' from you is one generation ahead or behind you. So the child of your first cousin is also your first cousin but once removed.

More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin

Chris

[jno]

as others have said, "once removed" means "one generation removed".

[Bummle]

so does that mean (with reference to ubasses answer) that a second cousin and a first cousin once removed are the same thing, then?

[jackthehat]

No.
Robert and John are first cousins.
Roberts daughter, Julie, and John's daughter, Christine are second cousins.
Robert and Christine are First cousins (removed by one generation from each other) Once removed.........as are John and Julie.

[jno]

no!

If two brothers have children, A and B, then A and B are first cousins.

If A has a child, the child will be a first cousin once removed of B.

If B also has a child, the children of A and B will be each other's second cousin.

[sherrardk]

Can't we just call them by their actual names -this first/second, once removed thing is really confusing.

[Bummle]

Well I can't speak for DSJ but I am much obliged to you all for your patient explanations

[Barmaid]

I am in contact with a distant relative of mine. She is both a 4th cousin once removed and a 5th cousin (but that's the Fens for you).

[jno]

sherrardk, you can if you like, but when you meet sherrardq and sherrardw for the first time and you try to figure out how you're related... well, it helps to know the vocabulary.

[sherrardk]

Hi jno - I'm from South Wales so it would all be 'this is x, she's y's daughter - you know, the one with a stutter and a limp, used to work in Woolworth's. You do know her, she had that little dog.' Reply by saying you've no idea and the description goes on and on. Say yes, I remember now and the conversation is over. (Although, sadly, these sorts of conversations won't be going on now that my mother and granddad aren't around anymore.)

[Bummle]

well I am quite envious of you, barmaid, as I am a bit short in the cousins dept which is probably why I never really got it

[jno]

ahhh.... I met a cousin last year that I didn't even know I had (same surname as me), but she had a family tree and was able to work out that our ancestors were brothers in about 1830, and that we were sixth cousins.

[sherrardk]

Out of curiosity, up to what number does a cousin still count? As Jno has just said she has a sixth cousin, is that still regarded as family? (My grans cousin has a rather (in)famous (at the moment) grandson - what is our relationship?)

[jackthehat]

3rd cousin

[archeraddict]

sherrardk, I'm also from South Wales and that description did make me laugh! I have not lived there for a while now and it brought it all back.

I'm currently doing cultural missionary work in the South East! ;o)