The main difference between ancestor and descendant is that ancestor is a person related to you who lived a long time ago, but a descendant is a person who is related to you and who lives after you.
Both ancestors and descendants refer to people related to you. However, ancestor and descendant are exact opposites. An ancestor lived before you while a descendant lives after you. Most people, even English native speakers, tend to misuse these two words. That’s why it’s important to understand the difference between ancestor and descendant.
Key Areas Covered
1. Who is an Ancestor
– Definition, Relationship, Examples
2. Who is a Descendant
– Definition, Relationship, Examples
3. What is the Relationship Between Ancestor and Descendant
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Ancestor and Descendant
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Ancestry, Ancestor, Descendant
Who is an Ancestor
An ancestor is a person from whom one is descended. We usually use this term to refer to relatives who are usually more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent. For example, great- grandparents, great-great-grandparent, etc. Ancestry is the line of descent or the line of people from whom a person descends.
When considering two people, if one is the ancestor of the other or if both share a common ancestor, they share a genetic relationship. Furthermore, in law, an ancestor can refer to the person from whom an estate is lawfully obtained. This does not imply any blood relationship.
Who is a Descendant
A descendant is a person descended from a particular ancestor. In other words, someone’s descendants are the people in later generations who are related to them. For example, your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are your descendants. You are descendant of someone, and those who come after you are your descendants. For instance, you are a descendant of your great grandparents. Like ancestors, descendants also share a genetic relationship.
In the above family tree, both Draco Malfoy and Regulus Black are descendants of Phineas Nigellus. Similarly, we can say that Phineas Nigellus is the ancestor of Draco Malfoy and Regulus Black. Therefore, these two words, ancestor and descendant, are exact opposites.
In law, there are two types of descendants as lineal descendants and collateral descendants. Lineal descendants are blood relatives in the direct line of descent, i.e., children, grandchildren, etc. Collateral descendants, on the other hand, are relatives that descend from a brother or sister of an ancestor; for example, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Relationship Between Ancestor and Descendant
- Ancestor and descendant are exact opposites.
- For example, if Jeremiah is Jake’s ancestor, then Jake is a descendant of Jeremiah.
- Both ancestors and descendants have a blood relationship.
Difference Between Ancestor and Descendant
Definition
An ancestor is a person related to you who lived a long time ago, but a descendant is a person who is related to you and who lives after you.
Order
While an ancestor is someone who lived before you, a descendant is someone who lives after you.
Examples
Great grandparents, great-great-grandparents are your ancestors, while grandchildren and great-grandchildren are your descendants.
Conclusion
The main difference between ancestor and descendant is that an ancestor is a person related to you who lived a long time ago, but a descendant is a person who is related to you and who lives after you. In other words, an ancestor lived before you, but a descendant lives after you. For example, great grandparents, great-great-grandparents are your ancestors, while grandchildren and great-grandchildren are your descendants.
Reference:
1. “Ancestor.” Simple Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Mar. 2019, Available here.
2. “Lineal Descendant.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Feb. 2018, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “16972” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Black family tree” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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