Family Relationship Terminology

Ancestor:
a person from whom one is descended (e.g., father, mother, grandparents, etc.—not aunts or uncles).

Genealogy:
the science of studying about our ancestors (also called family history).

Generation:
the average span of time between the birth of parents and that of their children (approximately twenty to twenty-five years).

Given Name:
a person's first name(s).

Maiden Name:
a female’s surname or family name at birth.

Maternal Line:
the line of descent on the mother’s side.

Nickname:
an informal version of a given name (e.g., a person with the last name of McDowell could have been called "Mac" or "Mic" by his friends or a girl with the name Elizabeth may be known as "Liz" or "Beth").