Genealogy 101

Have you ever wondered how many direct ancetors you have? Well, let’s see. You have one mother and one father, they each have a mother and a father, and your grandparents each have one mother and one father. That brings our total ancestors to 14 (2+4+8=14). Well, that is not very many, or is it? With each generation, the number of ancestors you have will double and by the time you go back 10 or even 16 generations, this number becomes rather large. Keep in mind, these numbers reflect only direct line ancestors. Once you add in the siblings in each generation, the number of possible relatives becomes astronomical.

What is a direct ancestor? Also known as progenitor, a direct ancestor is an originator of an individuals direct line of descent. For example, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc., are your direct ancestors. Your aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., are not in your direct line of descent, therefore, they are not your direct ancestors.

Each generation on the chart below is based on a 30-year average between generations to show the number of ancestors you may have going back to the year 1500.

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Now that we have the basic terms explained, it is time to look at the ‘half’, ‘step’ and ‘in-law’ relationship terms.

Half-brother or Half-sister
Siblings who have the same mother or father, but not both.

Step-brother or Step-sister
Siblings who have neither the same mother or father.

Step-father
Your mother’s husband, but not your father.

Step-mother
Your father’s wife, but not your mother.

Step-brother or Step-sister
The child of your step-father or step-mother, but not a child of your father and mother.

Step-Son or Step-daughter
The child of your husband or wife, but not your child.

Spouse
Your husband or wife.

Brother-in-law
The brother of your spouse or the husband of your sister.

Sister-in-law
The sister of your spouse or the wife of your brother.

Father-in-law
The father of your spouse.

Mother-in-law
The mother of your spouse.

Son-in-law
The husband of your daughter.

Daughter-in-law
The wife of your son.

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When someone introduces themselves as your second cousin once-removed, have you ever wondered what that meant? The terms below will help you understand some of the different relationships.

Child
Your son or daughter.

Sibling
Your brother or sister.

Parent
Your mother or father.

Niece
Female child of a sibling.

Nephew
Male child of a sibling.

Grand Niece or Grand Nephew (Great Niece or Great Nephew)
Grandchild of your sibling. Each generation past this adds another ‘Great’ to the relationship.

Maternal
Your mother’s side of the family.

Paternal
Your father’s side of the family.

Aunt
Sister of your mother or father or the wife of your uncle.

Uncle
Brother of your mother or father or the husband of your aunt.

Grand Aunt or Grand Uncle (Great Aunt or Great Uncle)
Aunt or uncle of your mother or father. Each generation past your parent(s) adds another ‘Great’ to the relationship.

First Cousin
Child of your aunt or uncle.

Second Cousin
Child of first cousins who share the same great grandparents, but have different grandparents.

Third, Fourth, etc., Cousins
Child of second cousins who share the same 2nd great grandparents, but have different great grandparents, etc.

First Cousin Once Removed, etc.
When ‘Removed’ is used in the instance of cousins, it indicates that there is a generation difference between the cousins. Example: Your father’s first cousin is your first cousin once removed. Your grandfather’s first cousin is your first cousin twice removed. The number, once, twice, third removed, etc., indicates the number of generations you are removed from the cousin.

Grandchild (Grandson or Granddaughter)
Child of your child.

Grandparent (Grandmother, Grandfather)
Parent(s) of your mother or father.

Great Grandparent (Great Grandmother, Great Grandfather)
Parent(s) of your grandparent(s); grandparent(s) of your mother or father. Each generation past your grandparent(s) adds another ‘Great’ to the relationship.

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Determining the relationship between two extended family members can be challenging when children and grandchildren of cousins, nieces and nephews are involved. The chart below is a basic chart that covers three to five generations of relationships.

Instructions:

Step 1. Determine the common ancestor.
Step 2. Choose the relationship of person #1 to the common ancestor in the first column.
Step 3. Choose the relationship of person #2 to the common ancestor in the first row.
Step 4. Move across the columns and down the rows to the matching box. The matching box represents the relationship between the two individuals.

A 10-generation chart in PDF format and perfect for printing is available below.

PDF Relationship Chart

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A Pedigree Chart, also known as an Ancestor Chart, shows several generations in a family unit and includes the known vital information on each individual. This allows you to see at a glance what information you have on each generation before the first individual on the chart. Pedigree Charts are available in a variety of styles and sizes and can include an infinite number of generations, though the most common is the four-generation chart as it easily fits onto an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Click on the chart image to view a full-size page.

A Pedigree Chart, to be useful in your research, should include for all individuals a line for birth date (b.) and place (p.), marriage date (m.) and place (p.), death date (d.) and place (p.). The marriage information will only appear on the husband’s information. The starting individual on the chart will also have a line for spouse name (sp.).

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The Family Group Record is one of the most basic and important forms you will use to keep your genealogical information. This form is where you will include the vital information you have gathered on a family unit so you can see at a glance what information you have and what you still need to find.

You will find many different styles and layouts of a Family Group Record, though most contain the same basic elements. The Family Group Record begins with information on the parents of the family unit. For the husband and wife sections this includes their full name, birth date and place, marriage date and place, death date and place, burial date and place, along with the names of their father and mother.

The next section contains a listing of all known children in the family unit and includes the child’s name, sex, birth date and place, date and place of marriage and name of spouse, date and place of death.

Other items you may find on a Family Group Record is a section or line for source citations, occupation, religion, and temple ordinances (baptized, endowed, sealed to parents and sealed to spouse and the temple name) used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Most genealogy programs will print the Family Group Record for a family unit based on the information contained in your file. If you are not using a program at this time, you can download and print a blank Family Group Record from Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. Both have slightly different forms, so take a look at each and choose the one that works best for you.

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