collateral kin

anthropology

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June 24, 2026

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In anthropology, "collateral kin" refers to relatives who are not in your direct line of descent, such as cousins. This contrasts with lineal kin, like parents or children, who are directly related through ancestry. Kinship terminology systems categorize these relationships. Some systems, known as classificatory systems, group collateral kin with lineal kin, using the same terms for relatives like a father and his brother. Other systems, called descriptive, maintain separate terms for lineal and collateral relatives. The study of these terms helps anthropologists understand social structures and relatedness within different cultures.12

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consanguinity
Lineal and collateral kin
A great-grandparent and great-grandchild are genetically related to the same degree as a pair of first cousins. The grandparent is, however, a lineal kinsman, whereas the cousin is collateral kin. In genetics the degree of consanguinity is the sole factor of significance, but…
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A great-grandparent and great-grandchild are genetically related to the same degree as a pair of first cousins. The grandparent is, however, a lineal kinsman, whereas the cousin is collateral kin. In genetics the degree of consanguinity is the sole factor of significance, but…
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kinship
The evolution of family forms
…direct parent-child relationship) from “collateral kin” (such as cousins, aunts, and uncles), others did not. In some cultures, for example, father and father’s brother, or mother and mother’s sister, were denoted by the same term. In such systems the terms for cousins would be the same as those for…
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…direct parent-child relationship) from “collateral kin” (such as cousins, aunts, and uncles), others did not. In some cultures, for example, father and father’s brother, or mother and mother’s sister, were denoted by the same term. In such systems the terms for cousins would be the same as those for…
Read More