Blood and Marriage

[darkerhorse]

Two men share a married uncle and aunt. The uncle is the blood relative for one man, and the aunt is the blood relative for the other man.

How would you describe the relationship between the two men: first cousins, first cousins by marriage, cousins, cousins by marriage, related by marriage, unrelated by blood, unrelated, etc.?

Also, is there a better term than "blood" such as "kinship" or is that ambiguous?

[mjclayton1]

A.I.'s answer:

"Cousin by marriage" refers to a person you are related to through a family member's marriage, not through blood. For example, if your aunt marries a man with a child, that child is your cousin by marriage. This is often also called a "cousin-in-law," and the term distinguishes them from "blood cousins".

How it works: The term applies when a blood relative marries someone who is not part of your bloodline, and you call that person's children or other relatives your "cousin by marriage".

Example: Your cousin marries someone. That person is your cousin-in-law, and you are also related to them by marriage.

Distinction from blood relatives: The key difference is that you do not share a genetic or blood relationship.
Social vs. technical terms: While socially, people may still refer to a cousin by marriage as a "cousin," the more accurate technical term is "cousin-in-law" to show the lack of a blood connection

[darkerhorse]

I don't see how "cousin-in-law" fits my example. They're not a spouse of a cousin or a cousin of a spouse.

[AngelaGrace56]

I don't see how "cousin-in-law" fits my example. They're not a spouse of a cousin or a cousin of a spouse.

I agree - (AI just doesn't cut it.)

I've had a read up about this and what you are bascially referring to is "consanguinity" (ie relationship by blood) versus "affinity?" which is relationship through marriage. e.g. I am related to my syblings by consanguinity (blood) but I am related to my brother's wife (ie my sisterinlaw) by affinity (marriage).

....
Also, is there a better term than "blood" such as "kinship" or is that ambiguous?

I think using the terms "related by blood" and "related by marriage" is fine. They are the terms generally used and people would understand what you meant.

Angela

[darkerhorse]

I don't see how "cousin-in-law" fits my example. They're not a spouse of a cousin or a cousin of a spouse.

I agree - (AI just doesn't cut it.)

I've had a read up about this and what you are bascially referring to is "consanguinity" (ie relationship by blood) versus "affinity?" which is relationship through marriage. e.g. I am related to my syblings by consanguinity (blood) but I am related to my brother's wife (ie my sisterinlaw) by affinity (marriage).

....
Also, is there a better term than "blood" such as "kinship" or is that ambiguous?

I think using the terms "related by blood" and "related by marriage" is fine. They are the terms generally used and people would understand what you meant.

Angela

Thanks. I'd be reluctant to use "in-law" if a spouse wasn't involved, as is the case in my example.

Do you think "cousin by marriage" works? They are "related" through the marriage of one's uncle and the other's aunt. If so, what about first cousin by marriage" or is that misleading?

[AngelaGrace56]

I don't see how "cousin-in-law" fits my example. They're not a spouse of a cousin or a cousin of a spouse.

I think using the terms "related by blood" and "related by marriage" is fine. They are the terms generally used and people would understand what you meant.

Angela

Thanks. I'd be reluctant to use "in-law" if a spouse wasn't involved, as is the case in my example.

Do you think "cousin by marriage" works? They are "related" through the marriage of one's uncle and the other's aunt. If so, what about first cousin by marriage" or is that misleading?

I would go with “affinity”.

From my Oxford Dictionary: “affinity 2. relationship (especially by marriage) other than blood-relationship”

You might find the following Ancestry article helpful which covers Family Relationship Terms. It also mentions the word Affinity – and I see that it specifies marriage or “partnership” which maybe pertains to your situation.

I’ll leave it to you to decide what works best for you. To me, a cousin, would be someone with whom I have a shared ancestry, so, I personally wouldn’t go with “first cousin by marriage”.

Family Relationship Terms
https://support.ancestry.co.uk/s/articl ... ship-Terms

Best to you with this.

Angela

[darkerhorse]

Thanks. I get your point about cousins and shared ancestry. The two men in my example were close friends, maybe I'll refer to them as bff or cumpari!

[darkerhorse]

I wanted to keep cousin in the title. Strictly speaking he's his cousin's cousin. I've toyed with the idea of honorary cousin and "cousin" in quotes which might be the best compromise. "First cousin" in quotes is probably pushing it.