Common Kinship Terms Found in Records

By Marsha Hoffman Rising Premium

Kinship terms can become very important in analyzing the records that use them. In the Colonial Era, terms such as cousin and nephew had different meanings than in modern times. An “in-law” was usually a stepparent, a “cousin” could be a nephew, and a “nephew” could be a grandchild. Listed below are some of the terms used in American society to identify collateral relatives. 

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