The term third cousin once removed refers to third cousins who are a generation removed from each other. Specifically, a third cousin once removed is either the child of a third cousin or the third cousin of one’s parent.
To understand this relationship, it is important first to understand what a third cousin is. Third cousins share a common set of great-great-grandparents. Therefore, the great-grandchildren of two siblings' grandchildren are third cousins. A third cousin once removed is one generation removed from this relationship.
The term "removed" is used to describe the number of generations between two individuals in a family tree. In the case of a third cousin once removed, the term "removed" indicates that the two individuals are not of the same generation. Each "removal" represents a generation.
It is important to note that a third cousin once removed is not the same as a second cousin twice removed, even though both relationships are one generation removed from a cousin. A second cousin twice removed is the grandchild of one's second cousin, while a third cousin once removed is the child of one's third cousin or the third cousin of one's parent.
While third cousins once removed are more distantly related than third cousins, they are still considered to be part of one's extended family and share a familial connection.
See also
Explore more about family relationships
- What Does Once Removed Mean? Untangling Family Relationships on the MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- New Relationship Diagram on MyHeritage, from the MyHeritage Blog
- The Power of DNA in Unlocking Family Relationships on Legacy Family Tree Webinars