Abstract

As an amateur genealogist, I’m still learning about definitions, numbering systems, degrees of separation, resource citation, and research strategies. We’ve all heard of the “Kevin Bacon’s Six Degrees of Separation” theory that suggests any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart. In genealogy, a Cousin, of course is someone with whom you share a common ancestor at least two generations away from you (grandparent or above). Once you go beyond the first cousin relationship, it can become confusing. Basically, to determine the degree of the cousin relationship, find the closest ancestor you share in common, then count the number of generations between you and your cousin and that common ancestor. The graphic on the right explains how it plays out in genealogy and illustrates the concept nicely.