What is a 2nd cousin? 3rd cousin? Once removed?

First, second, or third cousins are terms used to indicate the number of generations between cousins and the nearest common ancestor.

• First cousins share grandparents.
• Second cousins share great-grandparents.
• Third cousins share great-great-grandparents.

Removed (once removed, twice removed) is a term used to indicate the number of generations separating the cousins. So if two people share a set of ancestors but are not the same number of generations in descent from those ancestors, they are considered removed.

Example: Your first cousins children would be your first cousins, once removed (the common ancestors are your grandparents, who are their great-grandparents). Your children and your first cousin’s children would be second cousins. Ayrshireroots