What Is An Eighth Cousin? (Explained)

Step into a captivating exploration of our deepest family ties as we journey into the realm of 8th cousins.

You’ve likely heard of first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cousins. But did you know the cousin ladder continues to climb far beyond this? Essentially, the idea of ‘cousinhood’ has no end; it perpetuates through countless generations. Theoretically, for each generation in your family tree, there is an equivalent cousin designation. So, no matter how many generations you trace back, there’s always a cousin relationship to be found.

These distant relatives, linked to us through a shared lineage stretching back to our seven-times-great-grandparents, form an essential thread in our genealogical tapestry.

Through the course of this exploration, we’ll untangle the mysteries of shared DNA, provide strategies for uncovering these elusive relatives, and examine the profound connections that bind us.

Whether you are an accomplished genealogist or just kindling your interest in your ancestral roots, this deep dive into 8th cousin relationships will provide a fresh perspective on the vast web that is our family tree.

Understanding The Concept of Eighth Cousins

An “8th cousin” is a relative who shares ancestors with you who are eight generations back, but not any ancestors from the seven generations since.

To put it into context, your parents would be 6th cousins, and your grandparents would be 7th cousins, with the degrees of cousinhood determined by the number of generations to the most recent common ancestors.

So, when you say “8th cousin,” it denotes that you share a set of ancestors who are eight generations back in your family history, but you do not share any ancestors from the seven generations since.

The “8th” in 8th cousin refers to this eight-generation distance from the shared ancestors.

‘Once Removed’ and ‘Twice Removed’ in the Context of 8th Cousins

“Once removed” and “twice removed” in genealogy are terms used to denote the generational gap between relatives who are not in the same generation. In the context of 8th cousins:

1. If your 8th cousin is “once removed,” this means there is a one-generation difference between you and your cousin. This could happen if the person is either one generation above you (the child of your 8th cousin) or one generation below you (the 8th cousin of your parent).
   
2. If your 8th cousin is “twice removed,” this implies there is a two-generation difference. The person could be two generations above you (the grandchild of your 8th cousin) or two generations below you (the 8th cousin of your grandparent).

So “once removed” or “twice removed” communicates a difference in generation from the main cousin level, either up or down the family tree.

The Degrees of Separation Between Eighth Cousins

In genealogy, the “degrees of separation” between two people typically refers to the number of steps or individuals linking them in the family tree.

When it comes to 8th cousins, the “degrees of separation” stand at 18.

Here’s why:

To connect yourself with an 8th cousin, you have to go up 9 generations to your shared 7th great-grandparents – that’s 9 steps.

Then, you count the same 9 steps down to your 8th cousin.

So, add these together, and you have 18 steps. In other words, you and your 8th cousin are 18 degrees apart on the family tree.

How Many 8th Cousins Do I Have?

it’s a mind-boggling thought when you realize just how many eighth cousins you might actually have. This is largely due to the exponential nature of ancestry – each generation doubles the number of ancestors in your family tree, leading to a vast extended family network.

So, how many eighth cousins might you have?

Well, it can vary quite a bit depending on your family’s specific history. But on average, it’s estimated that you could have as many as a whopping 1m to 10m eighth cousins! Yes, you heard that right, 10 million! This figure might go up or down depending on factors like the size of your family in previous generations and historical population size.

Other Types of 8th Cousins

8th cousins can also be referred to by other names that indicate some variation in their biological connection. Below are some variations of the term “eighth cousins”.

Eighth Cousin Once Removed

An “eighth cousin once removed” refers to a familial relationship where one person is an eighth cousin of the other person’s ancestor or descendant. Put simply, if your eighth cousin has a child, you would be the “eighth cousin once removed” of that child. On the flip side, if your great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents had siblings who also have descendants, your eighth cousin once removed could be a person from that sibling’s lineage, but one generation above or below you.

Eighth Cousin Twice Removed

An “eighth cousin twice removed” implies a two-generation difference within your family tree. To illustrate, consider your eighth cousin’s grandchild. You would be the “eighth cousin twice removed” of that grandchild because there are two generations separating you. Alternatively, this term could also refer to the grandchild of a person who is your eighth cousin.

Half Eighth Cousin

A “half eighth cousin” refers to a scenario where you share one common ancestor couple, not two, at the eighth great-grandparent level. For instance, imagine there are two families; in the first, a woman has a child, and in the second, the same woman has a child with a different partner. Those children’s descendants, eight generations later, would be half eighth cousins. They are considered “half” cousins because they share one ancestor (the woman in the example), but not a complete set of ancestor couples at that generational level.

How To Find Your 8th Cousins – A Short Guide to Locating Your Distant Relatives

Finding your 8th cousins can be a challenging yet rewarding journey through your family’s history. Here’s a brief guide on how to begin:

1. Start with What You Know: Compile as much information as you can about your family tree. Gather names, birth dates, and locations from family members, vital records, or family documents. This will provide a solid starting point.

2. Use Genealogical Databases: Websites like Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch have extensive databases and can help build out your family tree. They offer historical records and user-created family trees which may connect with your lineage.

3. DNA Testing: Consider taking a DNA test from companies like AncestryDNA or 23andMe. These tests often connect you to a database of others who have taken the test and share some amount of DNA with you, potentially including distant cousins. Note that 9th cousins may not be reliably identified through shared DNA due to the minute amount of shared DNA.

Autosomal DNA testing is a popular tool for genealogy. This type of test looks at the 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes that you inherited from both your parents. Because these autosomes are a mix of both parents’ DNA, they can trace lineage from both sides of your family, making it a useful tool for connecting with a broad range of relatives.

To take an autosomal DNA test, you’ll typically need to do the following:

Choose a Testing Company: There are several companies that offer autosomal DNA testing services, such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage DNA, and FamilyTreeDNA. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so you might want to do a bit of research to decide which is best for your needs.

Purchase a Test Kit: Once you’ve chosen a company, you can order a test kit from their website. The kit will include everything you need to collect a DNA sample at home.

Collect and Submit Your DNA Sample: Most kits require either a saliva sample or a cheek swab. After you’ve collected your sample, you’ll package it up as instructed and mail it back to the company.

Wait for Results: The company will extract and analyze your DNA from the sample you sent. This process can take several weeks. Once your results are ready, you’ll be able to view them online. The company’s website will usually provide a variety of tools for exploring your genetic ancestry and connecting with relatives who have also taken the test.

Remember that while these tests can provide fascinating insights into your ancestry, they should be taken with a grain of salt. The science of genetic genealogy is still evolving, and results should be considered as one piece of the larger puzzle of your family history.

4. Join Genealogical Societies: Local, regional, and nationality-based genealogical societies often have resources and connections that can help you in your search.

5. Hire a Professional: If your search becomes too daunting or you hit a dead-end, consider hiring a professional genealogist. They have the expertise and resources to uncover connections that may be hard to find on your own.

Remember, patience and persistence are key. Happy hunting!

Quick Cousin Relation Reference List

See how you are related to your cousins

• first cousins share grandparents
• second cousins share great-grandparents
• third cousins share great-great grandparents (2 greats)
• fourth cousins share great-great-great grandparents (3 greats)
• fifth cousins share great-great-great-great-great grandparents (4 greats)
• sixth cousins share great-great-great-great-great grandparents (5 greats)
• seventh cousins share great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents (6 greats)
• eighth cousins share great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents (7 greats)
• ninth cousins share great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents (8 greats)
• tenth cousins share great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents (9 greats)

Other Types Of Cousins In Your Family Tree

Second Cousins
Third Cousins
Fourth Cousins
Fifth Cousins
Sixth Cousins
Seventh Cousins
Eighth Cousins
Ninth Cousins
Great Cousins