Family Relationship Chart Sample (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

This chart shows the blood relationship of “YOU” to

YOU. Those above YOU on the chart are “ascendant”

everyone else on the chart.

cousins, those below YOU are “descendant” cousins.

1. In-laws are relatives YOU gain when YOU or your

8. BOB is four steps from YOUR common ancestor whereas

siblings marry. A half-brother or a half-sister is someone

YOU are only three steps away. YOU are closer to the

who shares just one parent with YOU. These relationships

common ancestors who are YOUR g-grand-parents. They

are not illustrated in this chart.

are BOB’s g-g-grandparents. Count the ‘g’s in the closest

relationship which in this case is 2. So he is a second

2. The siblings of YOUR grandparents are your granduncle

cousin but one generation removed from (below) YOU.

or grandaunt, not great uncle nor great aunt. Similarly, the

That makes him YOUR descendant 2C1R.

siblings of YOUR great-grandparents are YOUR great-

granduncle or great-grandaunt. Also the same nomen-

9. SUE is two steps from your common ancestor whereas

clature is used for grandnephew and grandniece.

YOU are four steps away. SUE is the closest to the

common ancestors who are her grandparents. One ‘g’

3. Cousins are persons who are related through a sibling of

makes her a ﬁrst cousin two generations removed from

one of YOUR ancestors. YOU and a cousin will share one

YOU. She is YOUR grandmother’s ﬁrst cousin. Since YOU

or more ancestors. There is no such thing as a half-cousin.

are two generations below SUE, YOU and SUE are 1C2R.

4. To determine a cousin relationship, ﬁrst locate the nearest

common ancestor(s). Count the number of generations

10. Watch out for titled relatives who may not be whom they

(steps) up for each person to the common ancestor.

seem to be. An “aunt” may actually be a grandaunt or a

cousin and “Grandmaw” may actually be a great-grand-

5. If the number of steps between each person and the

mother. Misunderstanding of the ancestor hierarchy is

common ancestor is the same, count the number of ‘g’s in

often a problem.

the common ancestor’s title. For instance, ﬁrst cousins

share the same grandfather or grandmother or both. There

11. Some people may have a relative title but they may not

is one ‘g’ in grandfather and grandmother, so that makes

be related. Some are religious titles (Father, Sister, etc.)

them ﬁrst cousins to each other.

Others may be given the title by everyone, not just

relatives.

6. Second cousins share the same great-grandparent(s), so

two ‘g’s yields second cousins. It is similarly done for

12. YOU may be related in more than one way with another

more distant common ancestors.

person because of a marriage between relatives in an

7. If the number of steps between each person and the

earlier generation. That creates more than one pathway to

common ancestor is different, they are removed cousins,

the common ancestor.

meaning they are one or more generations above or below

Family Relationship Chart Sample Page 2

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