If you have a large family, chances are you have been confused by what to call the relation between you and another relative at some point in your life. Immediate family is simple. Aunts, uncles, and grandparents are straightforward. First and second cousins? Easy. Your great-aunt’s great-grandfather’s second cousin? Not quite.
EverPresent has gathered all the terminology for family systems, both immediate and extended, to provide an uncomplicated explanation of the relationship between all members. This information can be helpful for those looking to uncover their family tree or to understand family systems better. If you wish to know how that famous ancestor is related to you or have a family reunion where it may be more of a first meeting between you and some family members, we are here to break it down for you.
The Origin of the Family Tree
The first known attempt to illustrate the connection between family members in the form of a tree has been dated back to the 11th century through the “Tree of Jesse.” The Tree of Jesse depicted the genealogy of Jesus’ biblical ancestors, though it isn’t known who the first artist to accomplish this was. The idea to visualize kinship as a tree came from the book of Isaiah: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (1:11).
The stump symbolized Jesse, the father of King David. Jesus is, therefore, thought to be the shoot or branch that grows from this stump. This depiction of the family of Jesus became a popular subject in medieval Christian art, but it didn’t stop there. Wealthy or noble families would commission art of their own family trees in its likeness, and this soon became the common way to express a schematic representation of one’s relatives.
According to Guinness World Records, the longest-known family lineage is that of the Chinese philosopher Confucius, with 86 recorded generations containing over two million people over 2,500 years. Imagine trying to put that on a family tree! As one of the oldest countries in the world, China’s meticulous record-keeping is to thank for this. For those living in younger countries or whose families immigrated in a more recent century, it is important to maintain reasonable expectations for how many generations you will be able to look back.
The Greats and the Grands
It may seem logical to think that the brother of your grandmother would be your granduncle. However, you would likely receive some odd looks if you introduced your grandmother’s brother as your granduncle in modern times. “Grand” is now typically reserved for a direct line of descent—almost exclusively for grandparents and grandchildren.
“Great” is the more versatile prefix between the two with a broader range of applications. Whereas “grand” always indicates two generations away, “great” can indicate how many generations are in the lineage. Your grandmother is your mother or father’s mother. Your great-grandmother is your grandmother or grandfather’s mother. Your great-great-grandmother is your great-grandmother or great-grandfather’s mother. However, to avoid endless repetition, any more generations removed from that would be referred to with a number beforehand rather than an additional “great.” Great-great-great-grandmother becomes 3rd great-grandmother.
What Does “Once Removed” Mean?
“Removed” is a term that may throw some people off because the definition in terms of kinship feels quite abstract in comparison to the common usage of the word. Simply put, it refers to how many generations away your common ancestor is from another family member. Your aunt’s child is simply your first cousin. First cousins share a grandparent. Second cousins share a great-grandparent. Third cousins share a great-great-grandparent, and so on.
However, your first cousin’s child will become your first cousin once removed. Your first cousin once removed can also be your mother or father’s first cousin. A cousin removed any number of times will always be in a generation above or below you, never the same generation as you. It is a bit similar to how “great” is used in family systems, as both terms refer to a relative in a different generation from you. Therefore, how many times they are “removed” from you is determined by how far apart the generations are.
Understanding the family system can be intimidating initially, but once you get the hang of the terms, it is quite formulaic. If you want to practice and learn a little about your own family along the way, try sorting through old family photos, videos, or albums and identifying how the people in them are related to you. For most families, there are usually only four or five generations alive at any given time, so knowing terms extensively is primarily necessary in the case of genealogy tracing. Six generations alive in a single family is very rare, and seven would likely garner its own segment in the news!
About Vanessa Boucher
Vanessa Boucher has personally helped over 500 families share memories and history through unique projects as a consultant and Marketing Manager for Brand & Engagement at EverPresent, the nation’s leading digital photo organizing company. A graphic/web designer and crafting enthusiast, Vanessa is one of the thought leaders behind EverPresent’s innovative website and blog, where she shares best practices and tips on topics ranging from digitizing irreplaceable memorabilia to creating stunning photo books