# Second cousin or half-second cousin?

**URL:** <https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917>\
**Category:** Genealogy\
**Created:** [August 29, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917 "2026-08-29T07:18:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![david1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@david1](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/david1)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917/1 "2026-08-29T07:18:19Z")

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AIO64-6.0.8–1, Win 11

Person X and Person Y share one common great-grandmother. The descent tree to Person X is via a first husband and the G grandmother. The descent tree to Person Y is via the marriage of a second husband and the same G grandmother.

My understanding is that second cousins share a set of two great-grandparents, and that half-second cousins share only one great-grandparent, rather than two.

Roots Magic identifies Person X and Person Y as half-second cousins.

On the other hand, Gramps’ Relationship Tool identifies Person X and Person Y as second cousins. FamilySearch also shows those two individuals as second cousins.

Does anyone know the correct answer?

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**Author:** ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 7:37am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917/2 "2026-08-29T07:37:12Z")

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I would argue that the half is correct on the basis that to be full  
cousins the gt. Grandmother and gt. Grandfather would have to be the  
same for both.  
Think of it in terms of DNA handed down  
phil

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**Author:** ![david1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@david1](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/david1)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917/3 "2026-08-29T18:05:49Z")

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It seems that Gramps code should therefore be updated to reflect the correct genealogical relationships for half cousins.

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**Author:** ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917/4 "2026-08-29T18:38:55Z")

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It certainly seems to behave strangely or rather not consistently  
for example  
Result of Relationship calculator  
“Leonard, Test2 is the second cousin of Berry, Test2. Their common  
ancestor is Stratton, Annie Elizabeth Jowett.”  
Seems to suggest a half relationship by not naming the partner of Annie  
Elizabeth Stratton

Whereas  
“Leonard, Female1 is the half-sister of Hopkins, Female2. Their common  
ancestor is Stratton, Annie Elizabeth Jowett.”  
This would appear to be correctly formatted  
phil

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/1X/2ac1e712b7adf612e31ca08a55419f4cf37c0158.png) [@system](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/second-cousin-or-half-second-cousin/9917/5 "2026-09-28T18:39:43Z")

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