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Archiver > LONDON > 2003-12 > 1072818426


From: "Bev Pease" <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] Relationship
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 21:07:06 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
References: <00e301c3cee6$80711380$4ba4bd50@abc>


I read a lot of old beeks, and have only come across grand aunt, or grand
uncle used where the suthor is trying to emulate very achaic speech, usually
badly, and the story is based in medieval times, and about noble families.

Bev Pease

-------Original Message-------

From: John Henley
Date: 12/30/03 15:11:35
To:
Subject: Re: [Lon] Relationship

Hello Bob,
----- Original Message ----- From: "bcunning" <>
> Hello from Australia Maureen. You are a Grand Aunt. Sister/brothers of
> Grandads/Crandmas are Grand...... whilst sisters/brothers of Great
> Grandads/Great Grandmas are Great Grand...... In other words there is no
> "Great" by itself. HTH Bob

This may be true in Australia, but here in England I have only ever known
great-aunt and great uncle for grand parents' siblings.
I wonder if the usage has arisen because of confusion with the French, where
grand(e) has to do for both great and grand?
Checking with the Oxford English Dictionary, I find that grand-uncle has a
very long history, first appearing in 1475, but thereafter very rarely,
whilst grand-aunt appears first in the 19th century, and is rare.
Grand-aunt is defined as great aunt, and grand-uncle as great-uncle.
Great aunt and great-uncle, on the other hand, appear regularly from 1656.
The use of great grand-aunt and great grand-uncle appear unknown.
The use of great-father for grandfather is also known, as is great-cousin.
It would appear, therefore, that in UK English use:
Great-aunt, great-uncle, grandmother, grandfather are the normal terms;
Grand-aunt, grand-uncle, greatmother, greatfather are exceptionally
encountered in the past..
Great grand-aunt, great grand-uncle are unknown.

Cheers

John Henley
(still catching up on masses of emails )
using Archive CDs - see
http://www.archivecdbooks.org
and researching (and not finding much time for - but always very glad to
hear of any)
HENLEY, PARKER, PRENTICE, SECKER, RAPER, DURDEN
[IN London/Middx./Essex/Suffolk]
ROLFE, (O)RAFFERTY, EVANS, PARSONS, SYMONDS [IN Berks/Hants/Wilts]
HILL [IN Staffs/Cambs/Berks]


> > > ----- Original Message -----> From: "Maureen Avery"
<>
> > I wondered if anyone can help me with this. I have a photo with Gran
> Sister written on the back. Now I appreciate it could mean Gran's sister
but
> then my husband chipped in with his thoughts. My niece and nephew both had
> children this year and refer to me as great auntie BUT why aren't I called
> grand auntie as my brother is now grand dad and only my mother and father
> would now be great grandparents.
> >> > Who do you think Gran sister could be? and am I great auntie or what?
> Probably what but never mind eh? I would like your thoughts on this.
> >> > Thanks> >> > Maureen




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