Relation (kinship) terminology

Understanding of relation terminology is an essential part of any work related to genealogy. Some terms that define a relation degree, for example, the widespread word "ancestor", has a general meaning: any person from the family tree, starting from the grandfather. However, there are terms that define a relation degree between persons succinctly. Such terms must be used within context—where they correspond to their meaning. The following diagram depicts an understanding of relation terms.

relation degree

                                 1-2 - man and wife;
  THE FIRST RELATION DEGREE:     1-3 - father and son,
                                 1-4 - father and daughter,
                                 2-3 - mother and son,
                                 2-4 - mother and daughter;
  THE SECOND RELATION DEGREE:    1-8 and 1-11 - grandfather and granddaughters,
                                 2-10 and 2-12 - grandmother and grandsons;
  THE THIRD RELATION DEGREE:     1-15 and 1-17 - great-grandfather and great-grandchildren,
                                 3-10 - uncle and nephew,
                                 4-8 - aunt and niece;
  THE FOURTH RELATION DEGREE:    8-11 and 10-12 - cousins,
                                 3-15 and 3-17 - grand-uncle and grand-nephews,
                                 4-14 and 4-16 - grand-aunt and grand-nieces;
  THE FIFTH RELATION DEGREE:     12-15 and 12-17 - cousin of one's father or mother and children of one's first cousin;
  THE SIXTH RELATION DEGREE:     14-15 and 16-17 - second cousins;

  THE FIRST DEGREE OF PROPERTY:  1-5 - father-in-law (husband's father) and daughter-in-law,
                                 1-6 - father-in-law (wife's father) and son-in-law,
                                 2-6 - mother-in-law (wife's mother) and son-in-law,
                                 2-5 - mother-in-law (husband's mother) and daughter-in-law;
  THE SECOND DEGREE OF PROPERTY: 7-8 - daughter-in-law and sister-in-law,
                                 9-10 - son-in-law and brother-in-law (wife's brother),
                                 13-16 - son-in-law and sister-in-law (wife's sister),
                                 17-18 - brother-in-law (husband's brother) and sister-in-law (the brother's wife);
  THE THIRD DEGREE OF PROPERTY:  13-19 - brothers-in-law (husbands of the sisters),
                                 18-20 - sisters-in-law (wives of the brothers).

Relation terminology is varied and complicated. Most of the terms have vanished from modern language and are used rarely. Some terms are used only within certain communities. In fact, when you are talking with your relatives or elderly persons you may hear an unfamiliar word in conversation. Therefore, there is reason to become more familiar with relation terminology.

There are three groups of terms:

Relation terms

When becoming familiar with relation terms, remember that terms of blood relation contain keywords and attributes of relation degree.

Keywords:

Attributes of relation degree:

This is non-English words, this is transliteration of Russian words. It's impossible to translate some Russian native dialect words.

Property terms

Unrelated relation terms

Unrelated relations are of great value in a persons' life. These relations impacted genealogical terms. It is worth noting that unrelated relation terms are close to blood relation terms. Try not to confuse them.

These are non-English words impossible to translate from Russian native dialects.


"Where are your roots? Guide to pedigree compiling" Copyright © Vitalij Jakovlevich Bomash