If you meet someone new and they ask you a strange question like, “What are your parents’ first cousins to you?” What would you answer? Everyone has someone in their family who seems to have an in-depth knowledge of blood relations. That person is probably an anthropologist, who specializes in the study of human cultures through social biology. Anthropologists specialize in studying how different cultures organize themselves and how that impacts them as a group. In this article, we will go over what cousins are, what different types of cousins are, and what your parents’ first cousins are to you.
What Are Your Parents Cousins to You?
Your parents are second cousins to you. Cousins are people who share a common ancestor. Your parents are second cousins to you because they share a great-grandparent as their common ancestor. While your parents are second cousins, you and your siblings are first cousins once removed because you all share a grandparent as your common ancestor.
What Are Cousins?
- Cousins are people who share a common ancestor.
- Cousins share the same great-grandparent as their common ancestor.
- Cousins are first cousins once removed because they share a grandparent as their common ancestor.
- Cousins that share a grandparent as their common ancestor are second cousins, while those who do not share a grandparent as their common ancestor are first cousins once removed.
- When people have the same great-grandparent, they are first cousins to one another; when people have different great-grandparents, they are second cousins to one another.
- When two people have the same great-grandparents, they are second cousins to one another; when two people have different great-grandparents, they are third cousins to one another. For example, if your parents and grandparents were related by marriage and had children together, then your parents would be second cousins to you and your siblings because you would all be related and share the same great-grandparent.
- Cousins are common throughout history and across cultures; they are also very important in modern society.
Types of Cousins
1. First Cousins
First cousins are children of a parent’s sibling. This means that you have a first cousin twice removed. Your grandparents had a child, and the child had children, and those children had children, and so on. If you were to trace your ancestry back far enough, all the way to the grandparents of your great-grandparents, you would find a first cousin in each generation.
2. Second Cousins
Second cousins are children of your parents’ siblings’ siblings’ siblings (or more formally, second cousins once removed). If two people have a child who has children themselves, then they are second cousins once removed because their first cousin is their second cousin twice removed. So if they both have two children with each other, they would be second cousins twice removed if both of their parents were first cousins with each other and their great-grandparents were also first cousins with each other.
3. Third Cousins
Third cousins are children of your parents’ siblings’ children’s siblings. This means that you have a third cousin twice removed. Your grandparents had a child, and the child had children, and those children had children, and so on. If you were to trace your ancestry back far enough, all the way to the grandparents of your great-grandparents, you would find a third cousin in each generation.
4. Fourth Cousins
Fourth cousins are children of your parents’ siblings’ grandchildren’s siblings or more formally fourth cousins once removed. This means that you have an aunt who is a second cousin to you twice removed and an uncle who is a first cousin to you twice removed. Your grandparents had two children and their first cousin had two children with her first cousin, which gave them four first cousins (two on each side). Their second cousin was their aunt or uncle twice removed trout
5. Fifth Cousins
Fifth cousins are children of your parents’ siblings’ grandchildren’s siblings. This means that you have a fifth cousin once removed. Your grandparents had a child, and the child had children, and those children had children, and so on. If you were to trace your ancestry back far enough, all the way to the grandparents of your great-grandparents, you would find a fifth cousin in each generation.
How Are Your Parents’ First Cousins Related to You?
1. Your Parents’ Cousins Are Your Second Cousins
Your parents’ cousins are your second cousins. A cousin is someone you share a common ancestor with, and they are also called collateral relatives. Your second cousin is someone you share a common ancestor with, but they are not your parents’ siblings. You can think of first cousins as being like siblings to each other, but second cousins as being more distant than that. For example, if your father’s brother is your parent’s brother, then he is your parent’s first cousin. Your mother’s sister would be your parent’s second cousin.
2. Your Parents Are First Cousins To Each Other
Your parents are first cousins to each other because they have the same great-grandparents in common (their grandparents). This means that their great-grandparents were siblings and their children were first cousins to each other; there
3. Your Children Were Also First Cousins To Each Other.
Your parents are first cousins to each other, and their grandparents were also first cousins to each other. This means that their grandparents were siblings and their children were first cousins to each other; therefore, their children were also first cousins to each other.
4. Your Parents Are Second Cousins To Each Other
Your parents are second cousins to each other because they have the same great-great-grandparents in common (their great-great-grandparents). This means that their great-great-grandparents were siblings and their children had second cousins; therefore, their children had second cousins as well. For example, if your father’s mother is your parent’s grandmother, then she is your parent’s second cousin. Your mother’s father would be your parent’s second cousin as well (because they have the same great First Cousin Is Your Mother’s Sister
5. Your Ma’s Second Cousin Is Your Father’s Brother
Your father’s brother is your ma’s second cousin. A second cousin is someone you share a common ancestor with, but they are not your parents’ siblings. This means that your father and his brother are second cousins to each other and to you as well. You are the child of their first cousins, which makes you a third cousin to them. If we were to look at how many times two people share a common ancestor, it would be four times: once for their parents, once for their grandparents, and twice for their great-grandparents as well.
Summary
Cousins are people that are blood-related to you, sharing a common ancestor. There are many types of cousins and it can get confusing as you go back in generations. First cousins share both your parents’ blood and have a blood relationship that is twice as close as second cousins. Keep in mind that knowing how your family is related and the different types of cousins can be very helpful in social situations. It is always nice to know a little bit about the person you are speaking to. Knowing that they are a first cousin once removed can help you feel closer to them! If you are curious about your family tree, now is a great time to start researching. Start with a simple internet search and learn about your family’s history. You never know what you will find out about your relatives!
