Relationship Calculator

(or what sort of cousin is he?)

Figuring out your relationship to a distant relative can be daunting, particularly for someone new to family histories or genealogy. This table will help you sort it out quickly. Feel free to print it and keep it with your family history notes. An explanation on how to use it is below.

 01234 56789
0CAS/DGCGGCG2GC G3GCG4GCG5GCG6GCG7GC
1S/DB/SNGNGGN G2GNG3GNG4GNG5GNG6GN
2GCN1C1C1R1C2R 1C3R1C4R1C5R1C6R1C7R
3GGCGN1C1R2C2C1R 2C2R2C3R2C4R2C5R2C6R
4G2GCGGN 1C2R2C1R3C 3C1R3C2R3C3R3C4R 3C5R
5G3GCG2GN1C3R2C2R3C1R 4C4C1R4C2R4C3R4C4R
6G4GCG3GN1C4R2C3R3C2R 4C1R5C5C1R5C2R5C3R
7G5GCG4GN1C5R2C4R3C3R 4C2R5C1R6C6C1R6C2R
8G6GCG5GN1C6R2C5R3C4R 4C3R5C2R6C1R7C7C1R
9G7GCG6GN1C7R2C6R3C5R 4C4R5C3R6C2R7C1R8C

The Explanation

If a distant relative is descended 6 generations from an ancestor from which you are descended 4 generations, you count from the common ancestor across the top 6 columns, and down the left side from the common ancestor 4 rows. Where the columns and rows intersect (as shown by the cells with shaded background) at 3C2R gives the relationship. (3rd cousins, twice removed) The common ancestor is never counted.

Back to the
top of the page

Abbreviations

  • CA = Common Ancestor
  • B/S = Brother/Sister
  • N = Nephew, Niece
  • GGC = GreatGrandChild
  • R = Times Removed
  • S/D = Son/Daughter
  • C = Cousin
  • GC = GrandChild
  • GGN = GreatGrandNephew or GreatGrandNiece

Back to the
top of the page

Home Page

Our Privacy Policy

Site Map

WebMaster:
Scott Holmes
Brampton, Ontario
This web site is best suited for viewing on a system set for 800 x 600 or higher resolution.
However, this page has been formatted narrower to accomodate printing in portait mode on most printers

Last updated by
D.L. (Dave) Holmes