Great-aunt and great-uncle: who they are
Your great-aunt or great-uncle is a sister or brother of one of your grandparents. You are their great-niece or great-nephew.
- Shared ancestor
- 3 generations up from you
- They call you
- their great-niece or great-nephew
- Average shared DNA
- ≈ 12.5%
Great-aunt or grand-aunt?
Both mean the same person. "Great-aunt" is by far the more common everyday word. Many genealogists prefer "grand-aunt" because it lines up with grandparent: your grandparent's sibling is a grand-aunt, your great-grandparent's sibling is a great-grand-aunt. Everyday speech usually calls that older person a great-great-aunt. FamilyBonds shows both styles.
Their family and you
Your great-aunt's children are your parent's first cousins, so they are your first cousins once removed. Their grandchildren, in your generation, are your second cousins.
Shared DNA
A full great-aunt or great-uncle shares about 12.5% of your DNA on average, similar to a first cousin, around 850 centimorgans in the Shared cM Project.
Check your own relative
Not sure this is the right term? Enter your actual connection.
Find the most recent ancestor you both descend from, then say how each of you is connected to them.
- They call you
- their great-niece or great-nephew
- Expected shared DNA
- ≈ 12.5%
- Degree (civil / canon)
- 4 / 3
- Also called
- grand-aunt / grand-uncle (genealogy style)
Why a great-aunt or great-uncle?
You share great-grandparents. You are 3 generations below them; the other person is 1 generation below them.
They are a sibling of your grandparent, which makes them your great-aunt or great-uncle.
Questions people ask
What is my great-aunt's husband to me?
Your great-uncle by marriage. Most families simply call him great-uncle.
What is my grandparent's cousin to me?
Your first cousin twice removed.
What do I call my great-grandparent's sister?
Great-great-aunt in everyday speech, or great-grand-aunt in genealogy style.