Kümnekordsete

Kümnekordsete is an Estonian term that translates to "ten-time great." It is most commonly used in discussions of genealogy and family history to refer to an ancestor who is ten generations removed from the individual. This means there are ten generations between the subject and their kümnekordsete ancestor. Tracing lineage back ten generations is a significant undertaking, often requiring extensive research into historical records, parish registers, and other genealogical resources. The number of direct ancestors an individual has in ten generations is theoretically 1024 (2 raised to the power of 10), although in practice, due to intermarriage and incomplete records, the actual number of distinct ancestors identified may be lower. The term highlights the long-term perspective required in genealogical research and the vast number of individuals who contribute to one's ancestry over many centuries.