Cousins / 2nd Cousins / 3rd Cousins

[Ermieox]

Can anyone please explain, definitively, how relationships between cousins are described? I understand that second cousins are the children of first cousins but from that point on I get extremely confused. Where does the whole 'once removed' thing come in?
Any help/advice would be much appreciated so that I can explain our rather extensive family tree to my son!

[TCL-MUMPING]

There's a table here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin

[piggling]

Start with the common parents

Their children are siblings (brothers, sisters)

then 1st cousins (gen 1)

then 2nd cousins (gen 2)

relationship between gen 1 & gen 2 is 1st cousins once removed. Same principle applies further down the generations.

Try drawing it out on a simple tree & it looks much more simple

Hope that helps

[Ermieox]

FANTASTIC!

Many Thanks

[Iolanthe]

It is quite complex, trying to explain without a chart. A Family history program will often identify relationships for you.
Draw this on paper. Start off at the top with 2 brothers, side by side. Their children are 1st cousins to each other. Go down one more generation to the children of those 1st cousins. They are then 2nd cousins to each other because they are on the same generation level. The next generation of children on the same level will be 3rd cousins to each other. "Once removed" is when you have the children of one generation linked with a higher, or lower, generation level, and so it goes on ad infinitum, and gets more complicated!

Brothers John Harry

1st cousins Fred Mary

2nd cousins Joe Gladys

3rd cousins Edward Susan

I don't know if this explanation will help or confuse you!!! The layout on AB won't spread these out as I want.

I have met up with a 3rd cousin - our Great grandfathers were brothers, so we share a common GG grandfather and GG Grandmother

[Segilla]

I have a diamond shaped chart here, subdivided into diamomd shapes which clearly determines cousin relationships more quickly than any other means. Not sure how to get you an image.