This chart has been reproduced on this site by kind permission of John Williams.
Have you ever really wondered what people mean when they say " Oh he (or she) was my cousin three times removed!"
Well this chart will help you understand just that.
To find the relationship between two individuals with a common ancestor, follow these simple instructions. Assuming you are the 4x Great Grandchild of a common Ancestor, place a pointer in the 4x Gr. Grandchild column along the top of the chart. Now assume that the relative you are researching is also a 4x Great Grandchild of that common Ancestor, place a pointer in the 4x Gr. Grandchild row along the left hand side of the chart. Follow along the row and down the column to where the lines intersect and you will find that you are Fifth Cousins to each other.
Gr. = "Great" | / | Rem. = "Removed" |
Common Ancestor |
Child |
Grandchild |
Great |
2x Great |
3x Great |
4x Great |
5x Great |
6x Great |
Child |
Sibling |
Niece / |
Grand |
Gr. Grand |
2x Gr. Grand |
3x Gr. Grand |
4x Gr. Grand |
5x Gr. Grand |
Grandchild |
Niece / |
First |
First |
First |
First |
First |
First |
First |
Great |
Grand |
First |
Second |
Second |
Second |
Second |
Second |
Second |
2x Great |
Gr. Grand |
First |
Second |
Third |
Third |
Third |
Third |
Third |
3x Great |
2x Gr. Grand |
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Fourth |
Fourth |
Fourth |
4x Great |
3x Gr. Grand |
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Fifth |
Fifth |
Fifth |
5x Great |
4x Gr. Grand |
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Fifth |
Sixth |
Sixth |
6x Great |
5x Gr. Grand |
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Fifth |
Sixth |
Seventh |