What is the study of family history and lineage called?
AnswerGenealogy
Genealogy traces family lines through records, stories and documents.
History · Facts & stats
Ancestry facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about ancestry and family history, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What is a chart showing family relationships across generations commonly called?
AnswerA family tree
A family tree maps ancestors and descendants, branching out with each generation.
Going deeper
What does "first cousin once removed" mean?
AnswerA first cousin one generation apart, like your cousin's child
'Removed' counts generations of difference, so your first cousin's child is your first cousin once removed.
How many great-great-grandparents does each person have?
Answer16
Ancestors double each generation: 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great-great-grandparents.
A surname like "Johnson" originally meant what?
AnswerSon of John
Names ending in -son are patronymics that began as 'son of' a father's given name.
Expert level
In Scottish and Irish surnames, what does "Mac" or "Mc" mean?
AnswerSon of
Mac is Gaelic for 'son', so MacDonald originally meant 'son of Donald'.
The Y chromosome is passed down in which way?
AnswerFrom father to son
Only males carry a Y chromosome, so it passes from father to son, tracing the paternal line.
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