What does it mean if a relative is "once removed"?

Question

and is it only cousins that can be this?

Answer 1

Yes, it is only cousins that be "once removed" (or twice, or three times, etc., etc.).

Basically, it means that the generations between you and the cousin are uneven. Example: your mom's mom (grandma) has a sister, who also has a child. If we count grandma and her sister as generation one, then your mom and grandma's sister's child would be generation two, and be considered "first" cousins. You would be generation three. Because there is one generation's difference between you and your mom's cousin (yours, gen. 3, minus hers, gen. 2 = 1), mom's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. If your mom's first cousin has a child, that child would also be generation three, and that child would be your second cousin. If you have a child (generation four), your second cousin is your child's second cousin, once removed. Your second cousin's mother is your child's cousin, twice removed.

Hope this all makes sense - sometimes it's easier to draw it out like a chart. Good luck!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Your first cousins children are your first cousins once removed. Your first cousins children are the 2nd cousins to your children.

Some people make the mistake in thinking that it goes back just 2nd, third , fourth etc.
For instance they think your first cousins children are your 2nd cousins and they are the 3rd cousins to your children.

If you are in the same generation coming down from a common ancestor, there are no removes. If you vary a generation or more off then you became once removed, twice removed etc.

Answer 3

It means that they are one generation removed from the degree of cousin you are talking about. For instance, if your first cousin had a baby, the baby would be your first cousin once removed. If you had a baby also, it would be second cousins with your cousins baby, but would again be first cousin once removed to your cousin.

If your common ancestor is a grandparent than you are first cousins.
If your common ancestor is a great grandparent than you are second cousins
If your common ancestor is a great great grandparent than you are third cousins, etc.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

cousins, yes.

Your 1st cousin is your aunt/uncle's child. Your first cousin once removed is the child of your 1st cousin, twice removed would be your 1st cousin's grandchild.