Ahnentafel numbering system....System used to number a person’s ancestors

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

c./ca.....Abbreviation for “circa”

circa.....Latin term meaning “about”

Co......Abbreviation for “County”

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

Consanguinity.....Blood relationship; relationship among descendants of a common ancestor

Cousin.....Person with whom one has ancestors in common

First cousin.....Person with whom one has in common two grandparents and their ancestors

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”

Second cousin....Person with whom one has in common two great-grandparents and their ancestors

Third cousin.....Person with whom one has in common two great-great-grandparents and their ancestors

Descendant.....Person who is descended from another person, for example, a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild

Family group sheet.....Form for recording genealogical information on a husband and wife and their children with sources of the information

Family history......History of a person’s family or ancestors

family historian    Person who collects and compiles information about a family’s history

Gazetteer.....Geographical dictionary

Genealogy.....Study of the origins and descent of families; a written history of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor

Genealogist.....Person who collects and compiles information on the descendants of an individual or the history of a family

Given name......Person’s first or middle name

Half brother/sister......Person with whom one has one parent in common

Half cousin.....Person with whom one has one grandparent in common

Lineal relationship.....Relationship between persons descended from a common ancestor in the same line, for example, a parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild

Locality.....City, town, township, or other subdivision of a county

Maiden name.....Surname of an unmarried woman

Married name.....Surname of a married woman

Maternal ancestors....Ancestors of one’s mother

Nickname....Name used as a substitute for a person’s given name

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

Sibling....Brother or sister

Surname.....Person’s last name or family name

Twp......Abbreviation for “Township”