CODING OF RELATIONSHIPS
There is a need for some comprehensive coding of human relationships to save time and space and to include more information than is usually provided. For example, the general term cousin gives no indication of the gender of that person. Coding would be especially useful in collecting, processing and indexing genealogical information. The following method is my own invention but has sufficient scope to cover most relationships with accuracy.
By definition, all relationships are two-way. The person who is researching his/her family or the person who is the subject of that research should be referred to as the nominated or root person (sometimes called the proband), as opposed to all other relatives who can be regarded as dependent or secondary. Some of the relationships stretch across generations while others are contemporary:-
Table 10 Relationships Between and Within Generations
|
Relationships Across Generations |
||
| 1. Great-grandfather or Great-grandmother | and | Great-grandson or Great-granddaughter |
| 2. Grandfather or Grandmother | and | Grandson or Granddaughter |
| 3. Father or Mother | and | Son or Daughter |
| 4. Uncle or Aunt | and | Nephew or Niece |
| 5. Cousins once or twice (etc.) removed | ||
| Contemporary Relationships (i.e. within generations) | ||
| 6. Identical Twins | ||
| 7. Brother or Sister | ||
| 8. Half Brother or Half Sister | ||
| 9. First Cousins | ||
| 10. Second Cousins | ||
With numbers 1 to 4 it is obvious who is the nominated person and in which direction one is looking (backwards or forwards through the generations). The gender of the dependent person is also clear. With contemporary relatives numbers 7 and 8, the gender of the dependent person is again evident. In the case of identical twins (no. 6) the gender will be the same as the nominee and can be included in the code, i.e. B(IT) or S(IT).
For all types of cousins, however, i.e. numbers 5, 9 and 10, the dependent person's gender can not be determined from the general relationship, i.e. 'cousin', but can be included in the code with the following device: Cm and Cf. A further problem with 'removed' cousin relationships, is that there is no clue as to which cousin is the senior one in terms of generations, i.e. the nominee or the dependent one. To incorporate this into the code, my suggestion is to use a positive generation number if the nominee is the junior relative and a negative one if senior:
Figure 60 Coding for Removed Cousinships
|
Nominated Person |
Symbol for Coefficient of Relationship [12] |
Full Title for Relative (From Nominated Person's Perspective) |
Code |
|
|
J |
RJG |
First cousin (male) once removed (backwards) |
Cm – 1 |
|
|
G |
RGJ |
First cousin (female) once removed (forwards) |
Cf + 1 |
|
To avoid the use of long repeated prefixes such as great-great-great-great-grandfather a number will be used for distant relatives to specify how many greats are involved. For example, the above ancestor will have the code: 5GF, i.e. grandfather + 4 greats. Similarly, to indicate second and third cousins a numerical prefix will be used:- 2Cm, 3Cf etc.
The initial letters of each relationship have been used for the abbreviations. There is a clash between sister and son where Sr and Sn have to be used. However, for grandson, half sister and identical twin sister, S can be used in each case as there is not likely to be any confusion, i.e. GS, HS and S(IT). Using D for both daughter and double relationships may also cause confusion. Since there is likely to be conflict, use Dr for daughter and D for double relationships. For granddaughter and great-grandaughter GD and 2GD canbe used without ambiguity, With nephews and nieces Nm and Nf are used to specify gender.
All the common types of relationship are included in the codes. For any rarer types, it should be possible to devise an appropriate abbreviation, if required. Not included are: enhanced half sibs; double relatives from reciprocal cross-generation marriages ; non-reciprocal intergeneration doubles ; and multiple relationships.
The order in which the various elements of the code are placed is shown in the following section:
Coding Sequences
The code can contain up to 6 components arranged in the following order:
· Priority is given to whether or not it is a double relationship, i.e. D for double. For single relationships S is omitted (clashes with sister and son).[14]
· The second component is the number which specifies how far back, forward or sideways the relative is in relation to the nominated person, e.g. 3GA, 2GNm, 4GM, 2GS or 3Cm.
· If it is a half relationship, H is used next. This only applies to sibs, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. F for a full relationship is unnecessary ( clashes with father).
· The relationship itself, i.e. C, A, F, GM etc.
· The gender, if required, e.g. Cm, Cf, Nm, Nf.
· Finally, if it is a 'removed' cousinship, the number of generations forward (+1) or back (-2)
Examples
· Double, half, second cousin, male, once removed, backwards is coded as D(2HCm) – 1.
· Half great-aunt = HGA.
· Great-great-grandson = 3GS.
· Great-niece = GNf
· Third cousin, female, once removed, forwards = 3Cf + 1.
Irregular Double Cousins
The most difficult coding is for irregular double cousins.I suggest using a hybrid form where both relationship elements (in brackets after D) are separated by a forward slash. For example, if the parallel sets of parents are half sibs and first cousins, then the code for the relationship to a male child across the two sets of children would be D(HCm / 2Cm). The closest of the two relationships, (HCm), being placed first for consistency.
Double Relationships Caused by Inbreeding
If the nominee has a double relationship to another person because of inbreeding, use the normal prefix D. If the the relationships are of more than one kind, use brackets and forward slashes as above. For example, (Figure 9) A and M's relationship can be coded as D3GF or D3GS, depending on who is the nominee; and that between D
and I (figure 16) as D(GM/GA) or D(GD/GNf).
First Degree Relationships
Coding for first degree relationships (see Table 3) is only given for double first cousins, to illustrate the procedure. Encodement for all the other types of first degree relationships, (as listed in table 3) should be done in the same way, e.g. U(I), Cm(I), Nf(I) and 2Cm(I).
The following lists only span a limited number of generations, but the general principle can be extended to as many generations as required, e.g. 10GF or 7 GU. The coefficient of relationship values given are those between the specified relatives and the nominee.
|
Relationship |
MALES |
FEMALES |
R |
|
Father /Mother |
F |
M |
1/2 |
|
Grandfather / Grandmother |
GF |
GM |
1/4 |
|
Great-Grandfather / Great-Grandmother |
2GF |
2GM |
1/8 |
|
Great-Great-Grandfather / Great-Great-Grandmother |
3GF |
3GM |
1/16 |
|
Son / Daughter |
Sn |
Dr |
1/2 |
|
Grandson / Granddaughter |
GS |
GD |
1/4 |
|
Great-Grandson / Great-Granddaughter |
2GS |
2GD |
1/8 |
|
Great-Great-Grandson / Great-Great-Granddaughter |
3GS |
3GD |
1/16 |
Table 12 COLLATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
|
Relationship |
MALES |
FEMALES |
R |
|
Brother / Sister |
B |
Sr |
1/2 |
|
Half Brother / Half Sister |
HB |
HS |
1/4 |
|
Uncle / Aunt |
U |
A |
1/4 |
|
Great-Uncle / Great-Aunt |
GU |
GA |
1/8 |
|
Great-Great-Uncle / Great-Great-Aunt |
2GU |
2GA |
1/16 |
|
Great-Great-Great-Uncle / Great-Great-Great-Aunt |
3GU |
3GA |
1/32 |
|
Half Uncle / Half Aunt |
HU |
HA |
1/8 |
|
Half Great-Uncle / Half Great-Aunt |
HGU |
HGA |
1/16 |
|
Half Great-Great-Uncle / Half Great-Great-Aunt |
2HGU |
2HGA |
1/32 |
|
Half Great-Great-Great-Uncle / Half Great-Great-Great-Aunt |
3HGU |
3HGA |
1/64 |
|
Nephew / Niece |
Nm |
Nf |
1/4 |
|
Great-Nephew / Great-Niece |
GNm |
GNf |
1/8 |
|
Great-Great-Nephew / Great-Great-Niece |
2GNm |
2GNf |
1/16 |
|
Great-Great-Great-Nephew / Great-Great-Great-Niece |
3GNm |
3GNf |
1/32 |
|
Half Nephew / Half Niece |
HNm |
HNf |
1/8 |
|
Half Great-Nephew / Half Great-Niece |
HGNm |
HGNf |
1/16 |
|
Half Great-Great-Nephew / Half Great-Great-Niece |
2HGNm |
2HGNf |
1/32 |
|
Half Great-Great-Great-Nephew / Half Grt-Grt-Grt-Niece |
3HGNm |
3HGNf |
1/64 |
|
First Cousin |
Cm |
Cf |
1/8 |
|
Second Cousin |
2Cm |
2Cf |
1/32 |
|
Third Cousin |
3Cm |
3Cf |
1/128 |
|
Half First Cousin |
HCm |
HCf |
1/16 |
|
Half Second Cousin |
2HCm |
2HCf |
1/64 |
|
Half Third Cousin |
3HCm |
3HCf |
1/256 |
|
First Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
Cm+/-1 |
Cf+/-1 |
1/16 |
|
First Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
Cm+/-2 |
Cf+/-2 |
1/32 |
|
First Cousin Three Times Removed (Forward / Back) |
Cm+/-3 |
Cf+/-3 |
1/64 |
|
Second Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
2Cm+/-1 |
2Cf+/-1 |
1/64 |
|
Second Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
2Cm+/-2 |
2Cf+/-2 |
1/128 |
|
Second Cousin Three Times Removed (Forward / Back) |
2Cm+/-3 |
2Cf+/-3 |
1/256 |
|
Third Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
3Cm+/-1 |
3Cf+/-1 |
1/256 |
|
Third Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
3Cm+/-2 |
3Cf+/-2 |
1/512 |
|
Third Cousin Three Times Removed (Forward / Back) |
3Cm+/-3 |
3Cf+/-3 |
1/1024 |
|
Half First Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
HCm+/-1 |
HCf+/-1 |
1/32 |
|
Half First Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
HCm+/-2 |
HCf+/-2 |
1/64 |
|
Half First Cousin Three Times Removed (Forward / Back) |
HCm+/-3 |
HCf+/-3 |
1/128 |
|
Half Second Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
2HCm+/-1 |
2HCf+/-1 |
1/128 |
|
Half Second Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
2HCm+/-2 |
2HCf+/-2 |
1/256 |
|
Half Second Cousin Thrice Removed (Forward / Back) |
2HCm+/-3 |
2HCf+/-3 |
1/512 |
|
Half Third Cousin Once Removed (Forward / Back) |
3HCm+/-1 |
3HCf+/-1 |
1/512 |
|
Half Third Cousin Twice Removed (Forward / Back) |
3HCm+/-2 |
3HCf+/-2 |
1/1024 |
|
Half Third Cousin Three Times Removed (Forward / Back) |
3HCm+/-3 |
3HCf+/-3 |
1/2048 |
Table 13 UNUSUAL COLLATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
a) Twins [13]
|
|
MALES |
FEMALES |
R |
|
Identical Twin |
B(IT) |
S(IT) |
1.0 |
|
Fraternal Twin (full sib) |
B(FT) |
S(FT) |
1/2 |
|
Fraternal Twin (half sib) |
HB(FT) |
HS(FT) |
1/4 |
Table 14
UNUSUAL COLLATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
b) Regular Double Cousinships
|
|
MALES |
FEMALES |
R |
|
Double First Cousin (First Degree) |
D[Cm (I)] |
D[Cf (I)] |
1/2 |
|
Double First Cousin |
DCm |
DCf |
1/4 |
|
Double Half First Cousin |
DHCm |
DHCf |
1/8 |
|
Double Second Cousin (both types – see Figure 32) |
D2Cm |
D2Cf |
1/16 |
|
Double Half Second Cousins (both types) |
D2HCm |
D2HCf |
1/32 |
|
Double Third Cousins (three types) |
D3Cm |
D3Cf |
1/64 |
Table 15 UNUSUAL COLLATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
c) Irregular Double Cousinships
|
Combinations of Parents |
MALES |
FEMALES |
R |
|
Identical Twins and Full Sibs |
D[Cm (I) / Cm] |
D[Cf (I) / Cf] |
3/8 |
|
Identical Twins and Half Sibs |
D[Cm (I) / HCm] |
D[Cf (I) / HCf] |
5/16 |
|
Identical Twins and First Cousins |
D[Cm (I) / 2Cm] |
D[Cf (I) / 2Cf] |
9/32 |
|
Identical Twins and Half First Cousins |
D[Cm (I) / 2HCm] |
D[Cf (I) / 2HCf] |
17/64 |
|
Identical Twins and Second Cousins |
D[Cm (I) / 3Cm] |
D[Cf (I) / 3Cf] |
33/128 |
|
Full Sibs and Half Sibs |
D(Cm / HCm) |
D(Cf / HCf) |
3/16 |
|
Full Sibs and First Cousins |
D(Cm / 2Cm) |
D(Cf / 2Cf) |
5/32 |
|
Full Sibs and Half First Cousins |
D(Cm / 2HCm) |
D(Cf / 2HCf) |
9/64 |
|
Full Sibs and Second Cousins |
D(Cm / 3Cm) |
D(Cf / 3Cf) |
17/128 |
|
Half Sibs and First Cousins |
D(HCm / 2Cm) |
D(HCf / 2Cf) |
3/32 |
|
Half Sibs and Half First Cousins |
D(HCm / 2HCm) |
D(HCf / 2HCf) |
5/64 |