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Learning Your Genealogy Terms


husband had died before her.
  • Son and Daughter These usually mean the same as they do today, but may have been used to refer to a son-in-law or daughter-in-law as well. Fathers- and Mothers-in-law may have been referred to as father or mother.
  • Son-in-law and Daughter-in-law These terms were occasionally used to refer to step-children during the 1600s.
  • Brother Though it usually means what it does today, brother could also refer to a step-brother or brother-in-law. In addition, it may not refer to a family relationship at all, when it is used to talk about a “brother” in the church.
  • Cousin This may be the most confusing term of all. Today it clearly refers to the son or daughter of an aunt or uncle. However, in earlier American history, cousin could refer to any close relative not a brother, sister, son or daughter. A grandchild, uncle or aunt, or niece or nephew might be called a cousin.

    For more information on relationships and the terms used to describe them, look at Genealogy Tips on Relationships.

    It is important to know what many of these terms mean when you are researching your family history. Keep this in mind the next time you see someone called “brother” or “cousin.” They might not be who you think!

    The copyright of the article Learning Your Genealogy Terms in Family Historians is owned by Deanna Corbeil. Permission to republish Learning Your Genealogy Terms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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