What in the world is consanguinity? And how do you pronounce it?!
If I said it has to do with how you are related to different family members, your eyebrows might raise as you form an “oh” with your mouth and nod your understanding.
If you then asked me to explain third cousins twice removed, I would close my eyes (so you wouldn’t see them cross!), raise my brows, inhale impressively and say, “Hold on while I get my chart.”
Your consanguinity (kon-sang-gwin-i-tee)1 describes the kinship you have with another person who descends from an ancestor you both share. Merriam-Webster.com defines consanguinity as:
If I said it has to do with how you are related to different family members, your eyebrows might raise as you form an “oh” with your mouth and nod your understanding.
If you then asked me to explain third cousins twice removed, I would close my eyes (so you wouldn’t see them cross!), raise my brows, inhale impressively and say, “Hold on while I get my chart.”
Your consanguinity (kon-sang-gwin-i-tee)1 describes the kinship you have with another person who descends from an ancestor you both share. Merriam-Webster.com defines consanguinity as:
Kinship characterized by the sharing of common ancestors (derived from the Latin consanguineous, meaning “of common blood”). Kin are of two basic kinds: consanguineous (sharing common ancestors) and affinal (related by marriage).2
There are many charts and calculators available to help you establish kinship. Myrelative.com has one of the very best kinship charts I’ve found. Not only is the chart available free of charge (Yay!), it is also interactive, allowing you to click on a relationship and an explanation of that relationship including your degree of kinship will appear. In addition, the website has a good list of definitions as well as various calculators and a relationship chart. Cyndi’s List also has over 60 links to charts and tables which could help you determine consanguinity.
In determining consanguinity, be sure you use the most recent common ancestor when you begin the calculation. Otherwise, your result will be incorrect.
For example, in calculating my sister’s son’s relationship me, I would use my mother as the most recent common ancestor. First, I find my relationship to my mother (child) on the top row. Next, I find my sister’s son’s relationship to my mother (grandchild) in the left column. The point at which my column and his row intersect in the table reveals his relationship to me. Lo and behold, my sister’s son is my nephew.
However, if I made a mistake and used my grandmother as our most recent common ancestor, I would mistakenly conclude that my sister’s son is my first cousin once removed!
In determining consanguinity, be sure you use the most recent common ancestor when you begin the calculation. Otherwise, your result will be incorrect.
For example, in calculating my sister’s son’s relationship me, I would use my mother as the most recent common ancestor. First, I find my relationship to my mother (child) on the top row. Next, I find my sister’s son’s relationship to my mother (grandchild) in the left column. The point at which my column and his row intersect in the table reveals his relationship to me. Lo and behold, my sister’s son is my nephew.
However, if I made a mistake and used my grandmother as our most recent common ancestor, I would mistakenly conclude that my sister’s son is my first cousin once removed!
Now, to explain third cousins twice removed. Using a VERY simplistic example, let’s say Model T is the most recent common ancestor to Jeep and Mustang. Jeep is Model T’s great-great grandson, while Mustang is Model T’s great-great-great-great grandson. Jeep and Mustang are third cousins twice removed.
“Kon-sang-gwin-i-tee.” Piece of cake!
1. Dictionary.com app on iPhone, accessed 24 June 2014, “consanguinity.”
2. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.m-w.com : accessed 24 June 24, 2014), “consanguinity.”
1. Dictionary.com app on iPhone, accessed 24 June 2014, “consanguinity.”
2. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.m-w.com : accessed 24 June 24, 2014), “consanguinity.”