Genealogy Definitions

· Ancestor -- person from whom another person is descended, for example, a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent
· Ancestor chart-- form for recording genealogical information on several generations of a person’s ancestors; also known as a pedigree chart
· Blood relationship -- relationship between persons descended from a common ancestor
· Collateral relationship -- relationship between persons descended from a common ancestor, but not in the direct line, for example, a great-aunt, uncle, cousin, or nephew
· Common ancestor -- mutual ancestor of two or more persons
· Cousin, removed -- person descended from a common ancestor, but by a different number of generations; one generation would be “once removed,” two generations would be “twice removed”
· Descendant -- person who is descended from another person, for example, a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild
· Gazetteer -- geographical dictionary
· Lineal relationship -- relationship between persons descended from a common ancestor in the same line, for example, a parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild
· Maternal ancestors -- ancestors of one’s mother
· Paternal ancestors -- ancestors of one’s father
· Pedigree chart-- form for recording genealogical information on several generations of a person’s ancestors; also known as an ancestor chart

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