A 7th cousin is someone you share a great great great great great great grandparent with. Let's break this down further:
Understanding Cousin Relationships
Cousin relationships can seem complicated, but they're based on shared ancestors. Here’s a table explaining the relationship:
| Cousin Type | Shared Ancestor |
|---|---|
| 1st Cousin | Grandparent |
| 2nd Cousin | Great-Grandparent |
| 3rd Cousin | Great-Great-Grandparent |
| 4th Cousin | Great-Great-Great-Grandparent |
| 5th Cousin | Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandparent |
| 6th Cousin | Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandparent |
| 7th Cousin | Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandparent |
According to information dated September 19, 2017, a first cousin shares a grandparent, a second cousin shares a great-grandparent, and a 7th cousin shares a great great great great great great grandparent.
Practical Insights
Because you share a very distant ancestor, you likely won't know your 7th cousins. Genealogical research or DNA testing are often how people discover these far-removed relatives.
