cousins 1st 2nd 3rd 4th and so on

If you follow your families line you will find that you could be related to almost everyone else. When President Kennedy was elected almost everyone could show that they were related to him if you went back far enough. If you have two children and each generation has two children per family it keeps doubling each generation.

To make it simple. 1st cousin is like your children and your brother children. Your grandchildren will be second cousin. Your greatgrandchildren will be third cousin. your greatgreatgrandchildren will be the 4th cousin. The list can go on and on but nobody really care up to the 4th or 5th tier. Most of the people will even consider married their 3rd cousin. Usually the closest relatives we usually have is up to the 2nd tier. More than that we still consider relatives but not that close.

If I remember right, 4th cousins are your 1st cousins children...3 times down. Your cousin (1st) you cousin's child (2nd), your cousins child child (3rd) and your cousins, child, child, child (4th) The "once removed" comes in where You and your cousins are 1st cousins. Your children and your 1st cousins child are "1st cousins, once removed". Your childrens children and your 1st cousins children's children are "1st cousins, twice removed" Then your children and your cousins children are 1st cousins, then when they have children, those children are 2nd cousins. Those children have children, they will be 3rd cousins...etc.