When you are first starting your genealogy research you will come across many different relationship terms. But what do they all mean? Here is a breakdown.
Siblings: This means two people have parents in common. So brothers and sisters are siblings.
First Cousin: This is your mom or dad’s brother’s (or sister’s) child.
Second Cousin: This is your grandma or grandpa’s child.
Third Cousin: This is your great grandma or great grandpa’s child.
Grandnephew or Grandniece: This means a grandchild of your brother or sister.
Grandaunt or Granduncle: This means a sister or brother of your grandparents.
Lineal relationships: Those people in a “direct” line in your family tree. This can go up (ascending) from you to your parents and grandparents or down (descending) from your great grandparents to your grandparents to your parents to you.
Collateral relationships: Family members linked by a common ancestor in your family tree. This could be a cousin, aunt or uncle.
