I know we're some sort of cousins, but I'd like a more clear definition

Question

I met someone who is some sort of a cousin of mine, but I'm confused as to exactly how we're related. I'll try to keep this simple:

Carl had two sons: Henry and Frank. I am Henry's grandson. I recently met Frank's great granddaughter.

I'm thinking she's my second cousin. Is that close?

Answer 1

That's close, but not quite the whole story....

You need a table of consanguinity - It helps to identify the degree of cousin relationship between two individuals using their most recent common ancestor as the reference point.

You are Carl's great grandson and Frank's great-grandaughter is Carl's great-great grandaughter.  This makes you 2nd cousins once removed.  ("removed" means that you are a generation different to each other).

Answer 2

Shirley and Scaredy Cat are right.

Bastriopcc TOTALLY screwed up how the relationship thing works.  2nd cousins are NOT the same thing as first cousin 1x removed.  3rd cousins are NOT the same thing as cousins 2x removed.  4th cousins are NOT the same thing as cousins 3x removed.

Answer 3

Henry and Frank's children are first cousins.

Henry and Frank's grandchildren are 2nd cousins

Your common ancestor with Frank's great grandaugher is Henry and Frank's father.

That person is one generation removed from you

I don't have a chart but I believe he or she is your 2nd cousin, once removed.

Answer 4

Carl

Henry

your dad

you

Carl

Frank

someone's grandfather

someone's father

someone (the one you are trying to match)

Henry (your grandfather) and Frank (someone's great grandfather) are brothers

your dad and someone's grandfather are cousins

your dad and someone's father are 2nd cousins (cousins 1x removed)

your dad and someone are 3rd cousins (cousins 2x removed)

(add one more) you and someone are 4th cousins (cousins 3x removed)