When it comes to Amish marriages, there’s a common question: do the Amish marry their cousins? The truth is nuanced and varies across different Amish communities.
Past Practices vs. Present Rules
Historically, in some Amish communities, marriages between first cousins did occur. However, in modern times, this practice has changed. Presently, Amish rules strictly prohibit marrying first cousins.
This shift aligns with broader legal norms and a growing awareness of the potential health risks associated with such marriages.
Second Cousins and Beyond
While first-cousin marriages are off-limits, marrying a second or a third cousin is sometimes permitted within the Amish community.
This allowance can be attributed to the relatively closed nature of Amish society, where extended families often live in close proximity.
Swartzentruber Amish frequently marry their third cousins.
The Kissing Cousins Study: Nebraska Amish Marriages
The “Kissing cousins: Frequencies of cousin types in Nebraska Amish marriages” study looked at 190 marriages among a group of Nebraska Amish.
The Nebraska Amish, named after a bishop from Nebraska who organized them, aren’t allowed to marry first cousins or closer relatives, according to both church and state rules. Other than that, there aren’t any other specific rules about who they can marry based on family relationships.
To do this study, they checked out the family trees going back four generations for each married person in the community. They gathered this information from both private and published genealogies, as well as from talking to people.
Here’s what they found: Almost half, or 47.4%, of all marriages were between second cousins.
They didn’t find any strong trend towards marrying cousins from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family.
This lines up with the lack of strict marriage rules based on family ties and also shows how limited their options might be due to the size of their community.
⇒ Fun Fact: Nebraska Amish travel in white buggies.
Health Concerns and Genetic Disorders When Marrying Cousins
The Amish community’s approach to marriage and family has raised concerns about genetic disorders due to a restricted gene pool.
Some Amish communities have higher incidences of certain genetic disorders, which are attributed to the phenomenon known as the “founder effect.”
This effect occurs when a small population, due to isolation and limited gene flow, exhibits higher rates of particular genetic traits or disorders.
Efforts to Prevent Inbreeding
Amish communities are aware of the risks associated with inbreeding. Many families maintain detailed family trees and oral histories to track relationships and prevent close relatives from marrying.
Amish and Mennonites love tracing their family history. They even play a game where they try to figure out how they’re related when they meet.
They keep records in family Bibles and big books, like “The Snyder book,” with lots of info going back generations.
Nowadays, Mennonites also use online genealogy and DNA databases, but they’ve been keeping records the old way for ages, and it’s been working for them.
These efforts help to minimize the risks associated with inbreeding, though they are not foolproof.
Some communities encourage dating outside the local Amish group, but it’s tough if you can’t drive, and outsiders aren’t usually welcome.
Though the Amish don’t actively seek new members, some outsiders have joined their community. To become full members, they must learn the Amish language and follow the church’s rules.
New members coming from the English world help the Amish diversify their gene pool a bit.
Long Story Short
In conclusion, while the Amish do not marry their first cousins, marriages between more distant relatives like second cousins or third cousins are allowed.