How Long Is a Generation? Video Added!

[Texas Star]

I was listening to Miss Universe in an interview, and she mentioned that her family has lived in South Africa for five generations. (Not this interview; there are many of her.)

Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters:


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Q01DISXCQ[/ame]



I hadn't thought about the term "generation" for years and was curious how long five of them might be.

She's of Dutch ancestry, and they began settling there in the 1650's, so her family could go 'way back.

I checked Wiki, and left a bit confused. Apparently, some count a generation as short as 20 years, and in more developed, advanced countries, it may be about 30 years.

Demi-Leigh didn't say in which year her forebears arrived, so I took the 30-year guess and that times five is only 150 years.

My father's family arrived in the USA in 1830. I think this means six generations. ?? That counts me, but not my kids, who are probably a seventh generation. And both of my children have kids, one being well under two years old. Is he the same generation as his oldest cousin, who's 24?

We haven't "done" all the work on my mother's side of the family, but they arrived here in the 18th Century. So, from that standpoint, I've been American for maybe 9 generations. Ten?

When did your family arrive here, and how many generations do you calculate that is, until you?

Is there a hard and fast number of years for "generation"? If so, how many?

 

[Targets Guy]

I've always used the example of when you (a person) was born and the birth of your (that persons) first child. In the US I think that is about 25 years now.

But it will vary according to how you define it.

 

[Texas Star]

I was 29 when we had our first, so that sort of fits.

I guess I'll count all the known forebears and see how many that is. My son has that info.

 

[Filo McShoe]

Based on the 1st birth theory in my family seems to be about 30.5 years but maybe we're a bit slow.

 

[Florida Guy]

Wikipedia version:

A generation is "all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively." It can also be described as, "the average period, generally considered to be about thirty years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children of their own."

 

[DocB]

A generation has been historically defined as 40 years in most cases.

 

[Protocall_Design]

It seems to me that, historically, people got married and started having kids from around 18 to 22. Especially in the past, when the average life span was not as long. Then their kids would start a family around the age of 20, which starts the next generation. There are lots of exceptions, I'm thinking in general terms. I think every 20 years.

 

[arjay]

Some branches of my family produce more generations in a century than others ;-)
I'm first generation and my kids are second.I have a sibling that's produced a third generation and I wouldn't be surprised if the oldest of that bunch starts a fourth within the next five years :-0

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Well if you go by birth of children, some on my clients can fit three generations in less than 40 years

 

[H Richard]

I have always considered a Generation to be each set of parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. In my case, My Great, Great Grandparents came to the US from Germany (Prussia), in the 1840's. That makes me a 5th generation American.

 

[NYlakesider]

In my case my maternal side of the family came here from England a couple decades before the Revolutionary war. A bunch of generation no doubt, not going to the distant cemetery and read grave stones to figure out how many!

My fathers side of the family came here in the 1890s from Italy. My father was born here so that makes me a second generation, or if you add in my grand parents I'm a third. Pick what ever one you want.

 

[BC38]

It seems to me that, historically, people got married and started having kids from around 18 to 22. Especially in the past, when the average life span was not as long. Then their kids would start a family around the age of 20, which starts the next generation. There are lots of exceptions, I'm thinking in general terms. I think every 20 years.

This has always been my understanding too.
For example, I've always understood my "generation" as being defined as those born between the end of WWII (1945) and 1965 (Baby Boomers) - which is 20 years.

I guess the definition changes as people live longer and wait longer to start having kids. Back then it was about age 20. For the Millennials it is looking more like 25 or even 30 years old.

 

[nachogrande]

THE JERRY LEE LEWIS METHOD???

I recall living in the projects back in the early 80's. My next door neighbors had SEVERAL generations in the same house. All the Mothers would take the kids for a stroll at the same time. The avg age between each mom & daughter seemed to be app 13-15 years. 3 Strollers with 1 niece, 1 aunt, 1 great aunt all about the same age. Throw in 3 more, no longer breeding moms, still under 90 y/o & that's a bunch of generations.

 

[Skeet 028]

Fathers side of the family came here in the mid 1870s...Mothers side came here in 1660's. Generations?? I always considered it to be about 20 years. There were quite a few in mothers family who married quite young and had children in their mid teens. Family bibles tell many stories. People did not average as long a life span even a 100 yrs ago. 200 yrs ago?? even worse! Medical care has improved by leaps and bounds compared to our grandparents times...parents too for that matter. Heck in the middle ages girls were often married off at age 13 or 14..

 

[BC38]

Fathers side of the family came here in the mid 1870s...Mothers side came here in 1660's. Generations?? I always considered it to be about 20 years. There were quite a few in mothers family who married quite young and had children in their mid teens. Family bibles tell many stories. People did not average as long a life span even a 100 yrs ago. 200 yrs ago?? even worse! Medical care has improved by leaps and bounds compared to our grandparents times...parents too for that matter. Heck in the middle ages girls were often married off at age 13 or 14..

Yup, between advances in medical care and nutrition, the average life expectancy in the USA has increased nearly 10% (from 73 to 79 years) just in my lifetime.
Pretty incredible when you think about it.

 

[mike from st pete]

Well, if my brother and his boy count a generation is 15-16 years?

 

[WardenRoss]

My great, great, great, great, grandfather landed (from Scotland) in Virginia in 1776. That would make me a seventh generation Southerner in Genogological terms.

Four Greats plus my Grandad plus my father plus me equals "7th".

 

[Roadtrash]

I have always considered a Generation to be each set of parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. In my case, My Great, Great Grandparents came to the US from Germany (Prussia), in the 1840's. That makes me a 5th generation American.

I agree with you. My 4th Great grandfather on my Father's side was born 1756 in NJ. His parents not sure but I think the line got here in the mid 1600's. On my Mother's side my 4th Great Grandfather was born in North Carolina, his father came from Germany and was born in 1702.
The way I figure it I am 7th generation American even though some were here before the founding of the country.
Also, a lot of people did live long lives back then. I have found in my research on my family tree that quite a few lived to their 80's and 90's. A lot of the husbands out lived their wives due to problems relating to childbirth and then remarried and had more children with their new wives so it was common back then to see children seperated from their siblings by over 20 years.
Family tree research can be a lot of fun and very informative. Let's face it, George Washington is famous but it was the little guys our forefathers, who made him famous. They were the ones that actually fought the battles and won the war.

 

[crstrode]

My great grand uncle founded the town I now live in (Spokane, WA). His father (my great great grand father) was born in 1815. Even though Great Great Grandfather Soloman only came to town after the untimely death of his Son, Lorenzo, he is still technically first generation. That makes me a fifth generation Spokanite.

Earliest Ancestors are a bunch of Viking dudes that didn't pay much mind to calendars and such (Uff Da).

 

[Toyman]

We need Charlie Sherrill to step in and explain the generations
he dealt with, would shed some light on the years involved !!