Are You and Your Girlfriend First-Cousin Distant Relatives?

When you discover that you and your girlfriend are related through distant bloodlines, it can be a surprising and sometimes worrying experience. Specifically, if your grandmother and your girlfriend’s grandfather are first cousins, do you and your girlfriend share a distant relationship?

Understanding Next-Generation Kinship

Yes, you are related, but the connection is quite distant. If your grandmother and your girlfriend’s grandfather are first cousins, this means they share a set of grandparents. Therefore, you are second cousins once removed. Let's break it down further:

Your grandmother and her grandfather are first cousins. This means their parents (your great-grandparents) are siblings, or they share the same set of grandparents.

This makes your parents and your girlfriend's parents second cousins. As the next generation, you and your girlfriend are second cousins once removed. For clarity, each of your great-grandparents has a sibling who is also a great-grandparent to your potential partner’s great-grandparents.

Deeper Relationships

Furthermore, your boyfriends grandmother is your first cousin twice removed, which means her parent (your grandparent) is your first cousin.

Similarly, your parent and your boyfriend's parent are second cousins, since you both have the same great-grandparents. Therefore, you and your boyfriend are second cousins once removed. This means you are the children of individuals who are second cousins.

Legal and Genetic Considerations

Despite the familial connection, there is nothing wrong with dating or marrying a third cousin or a second cousin once removed. There are no legal restrictions in the U.S. prohibiting the marriage of third cousins. The primary barrier to marriage between first cousins still exists in some U.S. states, but it does not apply to third cousins.

From a genetic perspective, the degree of genetic similarity among third cousins is minimal and does not pose a significant risk. Both you and your girlfriend have similar genetic differences to the general population, making the genetic connection very distant and virtually negligible.

Conclusion

Understanding and accepting this familial relationship is important. Despite the closeness in blood, the actual genetic connection is extremely weak, further diminished by the distance in generations. Marriage or dating a distant cousin does not carry the same risks and restrictions as closer relatives.

So, don’t let the facts deter you. You and your partner can continue with your relationship with peace of mind. Enjoy your journey together, and wish you the best of luck in your combined future.