Genealogy Chat

Has anyone got an opinion/definitive answer on the correct terminology for siblings of grandparents etc. The reason I ask is that I've always (even before I got into genealogy) referred to my grandparents siblings as great-aunts/uncles. This obviously complicates things as you move back through the generations, as the number of 'greats' will be out of synch. Only the other day, I came across the term 'grand-aunt' for the first time, which certainly makes more sense, but sounds a bit odd to me. I suppose it's a bit academic in one sense, as you're perhaps more likely to simply say, for example, 'my great-great-grandmother's brother' rather than great-great-great uncle. What do you reckon ? Simon

I think 'grand-aunt' is just another way of saying 'great-aunt'. But would you then say 'great-grand aunt' or 'grand-grand aunt'?!!

I think Grand Aunt is more correct as they are on the same level as Grand Dads etc Bob

I became a Great-Aunt at the age of 28 and am now a Great-Great Aunt. To have been called a Grand Aunt at that age.... well!!!! I would have sounded sooooo old! A forever young Jacky:-)

I don't know "definitively" either. I have experienced it being used both ways. I posted a Site yesterday in "Good Websites (add yours here)" where you can work out family relationships (for instance: who your 2nd. Cousin, twice removed is), and they use the terms Grandaunt, Granduncle, G-G-Grandaunt or -Granduncle, etc. My guess is that it's probably more a question of personal "usage" (that's how my mum always said it !) rather than correct/incorrect. Regards, Bob

Nudged for information. Maureen

I think the grandaunt & granduncle stuff is another use of the American language it's usually greataunt or uncle in this country.

I think that technically the siblings of a grandparent are grand aunts and uncles but it has become more common usage to refer to them as great aunts and great uncles. So the siblings of a great grandparent are actually your great grand aunts and uncles. Of course you could always just refer to them as gg aunt and gg uncle then it wouldn't matter! Sue

I have just become a Great Aunt as my neice has just has her fisrt baby, as I am her Aunt I have now become the babies Great Aunt! Thats the way we do it! Any Comments welcome Janie

I call them great aunts/uncles. I think grand aunt/uncle is just the American version of this. Kath. x

We just called our great aunts and uncles, Aunt.. and Uncle... but our parents brothers and sisters, called by their first names, and not prefixed by Aunt and Uncle. This is carried on now, my husband and I called by our first names, not Aunt and Uncle. Getting back to Long Way fromHome, what names are given to grandparents. My paternal grandmother, would not be called Nanny. She associate that word with a paid Nanny, looking after a child. Suppose in this day and age that is what they are, generally for no renumeration.lol

nudge