Cecily Zamora
First cousins are individuals who share the same grandparents and have parents who are siblings. The degree of a cousin relationship is the number of generations to the closest ancestor, with first cousins being one degree. The removed label measures the number of generations separating blood cousins, with first cousins once removed being one generation away from being first cousins. A first cousin-in-law is the cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin. In the USA, first cousins are often considered close family for legal purposes, and cousin marriages are influenced by legal, cultural, and religious considerations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin |
| Degree | First cousins are one degree removed |
| Shared Ancestors | First cousins share one set of grandparents |
| Legal Status | First cousins are often considered close family, especially in the USA |
| Marriage Customs | Cousin marriages are common in some cultures and stigmatized in others |
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What You'll Learn
What is a cousin-in-law?
A cousin-in-law is the cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin. This means that the cousin-in-law is not a blood relative, but rather a relative by marriage. The degree of cousin-in-law is dependent on the degree of cousin that the spouse is to their family. For example, if your spouse's cousin is their first cousin, then their cousin is your first cousin-in-law.
The term 'cousin' is used to describe individuals who share the same grandparents and are the children of their parent's siblings. The degree of a cousin relationship describes the number of generations to the closest shared ancestor. For example, first cousins share a grandparent, second cousins share a great-grandparent, and third cousins share a great-great-grandparent. The removal of a cousin relationship describes the difference in generations between cousins. For example, first cousins once removed means that either one of the cousins is one generation away from being first cousins.
In some cultures and regions, marriage between first cousins is accepted and legal, while in others, it may be prohibited or frowned upon. In the USA, first cousins are often considered close family for legal purposes, such as funerals and commercial contracts.
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What is a first cousin?
The term "cousin" is used to refer to a relative with whom one shares a grandparent or a more distant common ancestor. The “degree” of a cousin relationship is determined by the number of generations to the closest common ancestor. First cousins, for example, share the same grandparents, while second cousins share the same great-grandparents. The term “removal” is used when cousins are not from the same generation, indicating the difference in generations between the two cousins. For instance, the child of your first cousin is your first cousin once removed.
The question of whether first cousins can marry is subject to legal, cultural, and sometimes religious considerations. In some regions and cultures, marriage between first cousins is legal and accepted, while in others, it may be prohibited or frowned upon. Historically, cousin marriages were more common and were often arranged to maintain family wealth, strengthen political alliances, or preserve social status within a community. Currently, about 10% of marriages are between first or second cousins, with a higher proportion in some regions of the Middle East.
In English-speaking societies, family relationships are typically classified based on gender, generation, consanguinity (direct descendants), and immediate affinal (in-law) relationships. While the term “cousin-in-law” specifically refers to the cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin, the term “step-cousin” refers to the stepchildren of one's aunt or uncle, the nieces and nephews of one's step-parent, or the children of one's parent's step-sibling.
In terms of genetics, first cousins are considered close relatives and share more DNA than second cousins. They have a higher degree of genetic overlap than cousins further removed, with about 12.5% of their DNA shared, similar to half-siblings. This level of genetic similarity has implications for both medical considerations and cultural perceptions of cousin marriages.
In the context of law and society, first cousins are often considered close family. In the USA, for example, they may be included in legal considerations for funerals and commercial contracts. However, the definition of "close family" may vary depending on the cultural context and specific circumstances.
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First cousins and marriage
First cousins are individuals who share a common grandparent. The children of two half-siblings are first half-cousins and would share one grandparent. If half-siblings have children with another pair of half-siblings, the resulting children would be double half-first cousins and would share one grandparent on each side.
A cousin-in-law is the cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin. The term "removed" is used to describe the difference in generations between two cousins. For example, "first cousins once removed" means that either one of you is one generation away from being first cousins. If your first cousin has children, they are your first cousins once removed.
Cousin marriages, or marriages between individuals with common grandparents or other recent ancestors, have been common in some societies and continue to be common in others. Anthropologists believe cousin marriages are used to strengthen family ties, conserve wealth, protect cultural heritage, and maintain power structures. Cousin marriages are often arranged. While some groups encourage the practice, others attach a strong social stigma to it, considering it incest. In some regions in the Middle East, more than half of all marriages are between first or second cousins.
The prevalence of first-cousin marriage in Western countries has declined since the late 19th century and early 20th century. In some jurisdictions, such marriages are prohibited due to concerns about inbreeding and potential health risks to any children of the marriage. In the United States, for example, first-cousin marriage is banned in several states. However, in the UK, first-cousin marriage is not illegal.
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First cousins in law and genealogy
Genealogy is the study of family history and the tracing of family lineage and descent. The degree of a cousin relationship is the number of generations subsequent to the common ancestor before a parent of one of the cousins is found. The "degree" measures how distant the relationship is from the most recent common ancestor(s), starting with one for first cousins and increasing with every subsequent generation. If the cousins do not come from the same generation, "removal" expresses the difference in generations between the two cousins. When removal is not specified, no removal is assumed. The terms full cousin and cousin-german refer to a first cousin with no removals. The terms cousin-uncle/aunt and cousin-niece/nephew refer to a first cousin once removed, with uncle/aunt referring to an older generation and niece/nephew for younger ones. For additional removals, grand/great are appended to these relationships. For example, a cousin-granduncle is a male first cousin twice removed who comes from an older generation.
A cousin-in-law is a relative in the sense that they are part of one's family tree. They can be either the spouse of one's biological cousin or the biological cousin of one's spouse. This term bridges both familial and marital connections, providing a succinct descriptor for the relationship between non-blood relatives. While there is no legal reason behind the name, a cousin-in-law is a relation on one's family tree as this person married one's cousin. The closeness between a person and their cousin-in-law will likely depend on the relationship between them and their cousin. If they see each other often, they may form a friendship, and their children can grow up knowing one another.
The children of cousins-in-law are first cousins once removed. The children of cousins are second cousins to each other. Their children are part of the same generation, but with an additional generation between them and their common ancestor. The term "grandcousin" is sometimes used for the grandchild of a first cousin or the first cousin of a grandparent: a first cousin twice removed. The term "kissin' cousin" is sometimes used for a distant relative who is familiar enough to be greeted with a kiss. Maternal cousins are cousins related to the mother's side of the family, while paternal cousins are cousins related to the father's side of the family. This relationship is not necessarily reciprocal, as the maternal cousin of one person could be the paternal cousin of the other. Parallel cousins are descended from same-sex siblings, while cross cousins are descendants of opposite-sex siblings.
Historically, as many as 80% of all marriages were between first or second cousins. Currently, about 10% of marriages fall into this category. Cousin marriages are often arranged. Anthropologists believe they serve to strengthen the family, conserve its wealth, protect its cultural heritage, and maintain the power structure of the family and its place in the community. Some groups encourage cousin marriage while others attach a strong social stigma to it. In some regions in the Middle East, more than half of all marriages are between first or second cousins.
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First cousins in law and legal matters
A cousin-in-law is the spouse of one's cousin or the cousin of one's spouse. While there is no legal reason behind the term, a cousin-in-law is a relation on one's family tree. The children of one's cousin-in-law are considered first cousins once removed, and the children of one's cousins are second cousins to one's children.
In some jurisdictions, cousin marriage is legally prohibited. For example, first-cousin marriage is banned in China, North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines, some countries in the Balkans, and some states in the US. In the US, the legal status of first-cousin marriage varies from state to state, with 18 states allowing it and 32 states prohibiting it. Some states that prohibit cousin marriage recognize cousin marriages performed in other states, while others have laws explicitly voiding such marriages.
Historically, as many as 80% of all marriages were between first or second cousins, and currently, about 10% are. Cousin marriages are often arranged and are believed by anthropologists to serve various purposes, such as strengthening the family, conserving wealth, protecting cultural heritage, and maintaining the power structure of the family within the community. Some groups encourage cousin marriages, while others attach a strong social stigma to them. Many cultures have encouraged cross-cousin marriages specifically.
Supporters of cousin marriage in places where it is banned may view the prohibition as discrimination, while opponents may appeal to potential health risks and moral arguments. Children of first-cousin marriages have a 4-6% risk of autosomal recessive genetic disorders, compared to 3% for children of unrelated parents. In the US, states that permit first-cousin marriage may require genetic counselling. For example, Maine mandates genetic counselling for marrying cousins to minimize the risk of serious health defects in their children.
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Frequently asked questions
A cousin-in-law is the cousin of one's spouse or the spouse of one's cousin.
Cousins are usually considered close relatives, and first cousins are as close to your immediate family as can be, other than siblings and parents. In terms of the law, first cousins are often considered close family. In the USA, first cousins are often thought of as family for legal purposes, such as funerals and commercial contracts.
The legality of first cousin marriage depends on the local laws and cultural context of the region. In some regions and cultures, marriage between first cousins is perfectly legal and accepted, while in others, it may be prohibited or frowned upon.
