What do you mean "removed"?

If you are anything like me, then you never really understood what they mean when they say "2nd cousin 9x removed". When I was younger I thought it had something to do with divorce - that was the only "removal" in family that made any sense to me.

It has nothing to do with divorce. "Removed" simply mean a different generation. It's like "grand"parents or "great"aunts. Removed is the equivilent of grand or great, but in regards to cousins.

So, if someone is your 2nd cousin 9x removed. It just means they're your 2nd cousin from 9 generations back. While a 2nd cousin (zero times removed) would be a cousin of the same generation.