what is considered a distant cousin?
Prepared by Elisabeth Lindsay. A distant cousin, also known as a collateral cousin, is a family member with whom you share a common ancestor, often many generations back. Close cousins are, by contrast, cousins one is likely to be acquainted with, descendant's of one's own grandparents, for example, the children of your aunts and uncles. The exact relationship between oneself and a distant cousin can often be determined through a relationship chart.