Despite having “done genealogy” for decades and knowing full well the distinctions in varying degrees of cousinship (including the “removed” part), I generally refer to a cousin of any degree as just that: a cousin.
I don’t specify that someone is my first cousin once removed, my second cousin, my third cousin twice removed, etc.
It important to remember that a relative may write the word “cousin” on the back of a photograph and not meant first cousin. The best bet is to transcribe the item as written, indicate (if known) who wrote it, and go from there.
Aunts may not be a sister of the person’s parent. Uncles may not be biologically related or even married to an aunt. In some families the terms “aunt” and “uncle” were used to indicate respect for the person or to suggest that they were more than a family friend.
Genealogists may be precise when they write about relationships–or at least they should be. Normal people are not.
And we won’t discuss whether genealogists are normal–whatever that word means. That’s beyond the intent of this post.
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