An ancestor is someone who you directly descend from. I have seen definitions that say this begins at your parents, but in the world of genealogy, we often refer to anyone before our grandparents as ancestors (great grandparents and earlier). Since you do not descend directly from you aunts, uncles, and cousins, they are not your ancestors. They are, however, your relatives. You have two types of ancestors: maternal and paternal. Maternal ancestors are those on your mother’s side, and paternal ancestors are those on your father’s side. Your mother’s parents are your maternal grandparents, and your father’s parents are … Continue reading →