blood kin
Family related by blood, not just by marriage or friendship.
Also called bloodkin.
Updated September 21, 2026
blood kin pronunciation
/BLUD kin/
Meaning
People who share your bloodline: parents, kids, siblings, cousins down the tree. In Southern and Appalachian talk it draws a line between biological family and in-laws or chosen kin. It also hints at duty. Blood kin get helped when they are in a fix, even when they try your patience.
How folks use it
- “He's blood kin, so we're putting him up till he finds work.”
- “Are y'all blood kin, or just kin by marriage?”
Origin and etymology
From older English blood plus kin (family, kind). The pairing stayed common in the South and Appalachia, where who counts as family still matters in daily life. Kinfolk can stretch wider; blood kin keeps the focus on shared ancestry.
Frequently asked questions
Are in-laws blood kin?
Usually no. In-laws are kin by marriage. Blood kin share ancestry.