Terminology Ancestor Vs Descendant
Not that I want to split hairs or anything, but over the decades I have lost count of the number of queries, posts, etc. that I have read in which the above terms are misused. The correct usage of a term can often lead to better results with regards to searches and replies. So in order to help people and try to sort this common mix-up:
- Ancestor: he or she who comes BEFORE in a given family timeline
- Descendant: he or she who comes AFTER in a given family timeline
Ergo, if you are wanting to find information about your great-grandfather, HE is the ancestor, and YOU are the descendant because he comes before and you come after.
If you are referring to one of your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc, then YOU are the ancestor and THEY are the descendants. The same applies to those who come after your siblings, cousins, or even common ancestors - because they come AFTER the person in question.
Thank You for clearing that up. I knew what they mean, but I too notice people using the terms incorrectly. Now I have a hard time trying to understand things like my cousin twice removed, or my 3rd cousin once removed, and that sort of thing. I just can't understand it. I know who my cousins are but how can you understand when they say my 3rd cousins once removed. I feel like it is all foreign to me and I am trying to understand the more I do ancestry, it just seems useless. I know that they are in my tree, but how they fit in is another issue. Thanks smith41
Seems like a great question to get answered here, smith41. So I posted it...
What's a second or third cousin...
You're most welcome smith41! I believe that the terms are confusing to a lot of people, and even when deep down they know, sometimes they get them mixed up anyway by accident. I myself have to stop and think twice when I use the terms to make sure that I didn't mix them up without noticing.
I have the same problem with this cousin mess and the x-times removed business. I suspect that this is a terminology restricted to the U.S. since I have not encountered it elsewhere, but I might be mistaken. I remember finding a chart sometime ago which should help one to figure it out.
Scott J, I am not very familiar with this site so I wonder if there's a way to publish an image anywhere? If so, I will gladly search for this chart. I know that I saved it somewhere.
@karex, you can upload an image along with a journal post, but not with a comment. I'd like to add that at some point. If you point me to it somewhere in a comment on that question, I'd be happy to add it manually.
@Scott J Better yet, I will try to find the site where I originally discovered the chart because if memory serves me right, it contains extensive explanations. It might be Wikipedia, come to think of it.