Do you prefer great aunt/uncle or grand aunt/uncle?

Question

When referring to the siblings of your grandparents some say the technical term is grand aunt/grand uncle.  The siblings of your great grandparents then being your great grand aunts/uncles.  But to keep things simple I prefer using only great.  Therefore grandparents siblings being great aunt/uncle great grandparents siblings being great great aunts/uncles.  Which do you use?

Shirley T · Accepted Answer

Great Aunt or Great Uncle are more commonly used and most people understand.  However after seeing Grand Uncle and Grand Aunt used in genealogy websites  I can see where it makes more sense.  It shows that they are in the same generation at your grandparents.  You have great grandparents why not their siblings be  great grand aunts and uncles instead of great great aunts and uncles.

? · Answer

Great Aunt/Great Uncle

Nothingusefullearnedinschool · Answer

Proper English calls for the usage of great-aunt, great-uncle.

In our family, we always skip the greats; also, we never said great-grandparents, simply grandparents.

Anonymous · Answer

Grand. That makes my 4th great grand uncle the brother of my 4th great grandfather or grandmother. Otherwise it's 5th great uncle is the brother of my 4th great grandfather or grand mother.

Do you prefer great aunt/uncle or grand aunt/uncle?

4 Answers