Relations, Common Ancestors?

[C Peterson]

In Sweden, is it understood that if you have a common ancestor, you are related even though as the number of generations back becomes greater the relationahip obviously becomes more distant?
I would appreciate some discussion about this matter. Thank you in advance for your participation in the discussion.  
Best regards, Clyde

[Björn-Åke Petersson]

Clyde
 
When we do genealogy in Sweden most people do both father and mother side. 90 % of the sweds have common ancestors where thier family namn change from father to son, Among the 10 % there are some family namn going sometimes back 350 years but most of this namnes begin with someone who get out of the farmer class, even many nobility family have
background in the farmer class but during warperiod 1618-1718 many was serving the swedish king and got nobility names.
 
Björn-Åke

[Eva Cumner]

Hi Clyde,
 
I?ve seen some info here in the Swedish parts of the Anbytarforum, that after about five generations the genes are so thinned out, that you can not really be considered a relative anymore. I?d say though that as a genealogist you feel delighted if you find that you have common ancestry with for instance your best friend, which happened to me when I was in collage back home in Visby, Gotland, Sweden. Also, when it in some families comes to inheriting the farm from your father, you would obviously be proud to be the tenth generation to work that particular peace of land!
 
Best regards   Eva Cumner

[Ulla Kristoffersen]

If it would be so, that after 5 generations, you could  not consider yourself relatives any more - what would then be the point of doing genealogy research more than five generations back. On the contrary I am very proud if I can find a cousin 10 times removed and consider him very much a relative, if not close family. Even if we have only one drop of blood in common, I still consider us blood related.
Best regards
Ulla

[C Peterson]

More discussion. What is the church's or civil position on marriage of 'relatives'? How far back would it be OK to marry an individual with whom a person has a common ancestor? How was it in the 1600's, 1700's, 1800's, or 1900's?  
Clyde