What does it mean when someone says "she is my 2nd cousin twice removed"?

Question

what does "twice removed" refer to?

Answer 1

It means that there is way too much inbreeding going on in that family.

Answer 2

What is a First Cousin, Twice Removed?
by Genealogy.com
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Figuring Out Family Relationships
At Genealogy.com, we get asked about how to determine relationships all the time. Here, you'll learn how to figure out the relationships between family members using a simple chart.

If someone walked up to you and said "Howdy, I'm your third cousin, twice removed," would you have any idea what they meant? Most people have a good understanding of basic relationship words such as "mother," "father," "aunt," "uncle," "brother," and "sister." But what about the relationship terms that we don't use in everyday speech? Terms like "second cousin" and "first cousin, once removed"? We don't tend to speak about our relationships in such exact terms ("cousin" seems good enough when you are introducing one person to another), so most of us aren't familiar with what these words mean.
Relationship Terms

Sometimes, especially when working on your family history, it's handy to know how to describe your family relationships more exactly. The definitions below should help you out.

Cousin (a.k.a "first cousin")

Your first cousins are the people in your family who have two of the same grandparents as you. In other words, they are the children of your aunts and uncles.
Second Cousin

Your second cousins are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you., but not the same grandparents.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cousins

Your third cousins have the same great-great-grandparents, fourth cousins have the same great-great-great-grandparents, and so on.
Removed

When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.

The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."

Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.

Relationship Charts Simplify Everything

Now that you have an idea of what these different words mean, take a look at the chart below. It's called a relationship chart, and it can help you figure out how different people in your family are related. It's much simpler than it looks, just follow the instructions.

Instructions for Using a Relationship Chart

1. Pick two people in your family and figure out which ancestor they have in common. For example, if you chose yourself and a cousin, you would have a grandparent in common.
2. Look at the top row of the chart and find the first person's relationship to the common ancestor.
3. Look at the far left column of the chart and find the second person's relationship to the common ancestor.
4. Determine where the row and column containing those two relationships meet.

Common
Ancestor Child Grandchild G-grandchild G-g-grandchild
Child Sister or Brother Nephew or Niece Grand-nephew or niece G-grand-nephew or niece
Grandchild Nephew or Niece First cousin First cousin, once removed First cousin, twice removed
G-grandchild Grand-nephew or niece First cousin, once removed Second cousin Second cousin, once removed
G-g-grandchild G-grand-nephew or niece First cousin, twice removed Second cousin, once removed Third cousin
Just When You Thought You Had it

When you are working with older records, be aware that the meaning of the word "cousin," along with the meanings of other relationship terms, have changed over time. The Glossary section of the Learning Center can help you with any confusing relationship terms, including those in Latin.

Answer 3

Cousins share a common ancestor in the same way.

A first cousin is one who shares a grandparent with you.

A second cousin is one who shares a great grandparent with you.

Whenever the common ancestor is not related to you and your cousin in the same degree; [that is the same number of generations from the common ancestor], the relationship is described as "removed" as many times as degrees of difference in the relationship. Removed refers to the descendants of one person who are not in the same generation.

A second cousin to you would be a person whose parent is first cousin to your parent, and the two parents have a common parent, your grandparent.

A second cousin once removed would describe the relationship between you and your second cousin's child; twice removed would be your second cousin's grandchild, as long as you all share the common ancestor, your grandparent. Of course, your grandparent would be once removed's great grandparent, and twice removed's great great grandparent.

Clear as mud?

Answer 4

"Twice removed" means there is a two-generation difference. That person is the same generation as your grandparents or grandchildren.

Answer 5

The person is your cousin's child, but is in the generation of your grandparents. Crazy huh?

Answer 6

When they say that, it means they are taking out Marriages or children. For example.. your cousin's wife's cousin... your not blood related but are if you go by who's related to who.

Answer 7

The 2d cousin two times bumped off often is the grandchild of the 2d cousin. In different words, their 2d cousin's baby is the 2d cousin once bumped off and their grandchild is the 2d cousin two times bumped off.

Answer 8

It means your children will be retarded and inbreeds if you marry her.

Answer 9

i think that's your mom or dad's cousin's child...

Answer 10

I am my own grandpa.