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Archiver > TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM > 2011-06 > 1307072065
From: Jacqueline Wilson <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] English use of "in law" now "Aunt"
Date: Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:34:25 -0500
References: <762131740.31275.1307070474493.JavaMail.root@cl01-host04.dlls.pa.frontiernet.net>
In-Reply-To: <762131740.31275.1307070474493.JavaMail.root@cl01-host04.dlls.pa.frontiernet.net>
I had relatives who were actually my father's cousins (I think fourth cousins) and they were all called Aunt and Uncle by my Dad. His mother had no siblings, so he did not have any 'real' aunts and uncles but he grew up living with several of these families from time to time.
There are lots of people in Chicago who have 'play' aunts (as they are described) but who really are no relation at all.
~Jackie
On Jun 2, 2011, at 10:07 PM, wrote:
The word "Aunt" has been used to describe other relationships, too. For instance, my grandmother's step-grandmother was called "Aunt Susan". And her step-father was called "Uncle". My guess is that these terms were used for the older relatives who married into the family as subsequesnt spouses.
Anyone else hear of this?
Cheryl Proctor
Southern Indiana
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Jacqueline Wilson
Evanston, IL
"Wilssearch Editorial & Research Services - your service of choice for the indexing challenged genealogist."
Deputy Sheriff for Publications of the Chicago Corral of the Westerners
Masters of Military History student at AMU
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