Correct or acceptable terminology

[Mahala]

Hi everyone:

I'm curious if there's a more acceptable or standardized way of describing our ancestors.

eg.
Is it 4x great-grandfather or 4th-great-grandfather?
Would his sister be my 5x great-aunt, or 4x great-grandaunt?
Or 5th-great-aunt or 4th-great-grandaunt?? :confused:

Also, does the term 'ancestors' refer only to those from whom we are directly descended, or does it include their siblings?


Thank you for any help!
:)

[Jan1954]

Hello Mahala,

I refer to my "greats" as 4 x great grandmother etc.

Now, the sister of my grandmother I call my great aunt. However, I believe that in America, she would be known as my grand aunt. (Two nations split by a common language - again!) Not sure if this has migrated north to Canada, though...

The sister of my great grandmother, I call my great, great aunt but again in America, I believe she would be known as my great grand aunt. :confused:

I am sure that if I've got this wrong, someone will put me right...

As far as ancestors are concerned, mine all get lumped in as the same - ancestors. However, Mr P calls them all my DBs - dead bodies...:o

[Alan Welsford]

As far as ancestors are concerned, mine all get lumped in as the same - ancestors. However, Mr P calls them all my DBs - dead bodies...:o
I'd argue that my mum is a definite ancestor, but she wasn't dead enough to stop me speaking to her this afternoon. :o

Alan

[Jan1954]

I'd argue that my mum is a definite ancestor, but she wasn't dead enough to stop me speaking to her this afternoon. :o

Alan

Mr P calls them all DBs - even the live ones!
Mind you, I have only one of those but I don't think this is the place to say what he calls my father... |oopsredfa

[Mary Anne]

Now, the sister of my grandmother I call my great aunt. However, I believe that in America, she would be known as my grand aunt. (Two nations split by a common language - again!) Not sure if this has migrated north to Canada, though...



Nope, we still speak English here in Canada! ;) my grandmother's sister is my great aunt.

I usually use "gg grandfather" or "ancestor" (esp. if I am talking to a non-genealogist) -- or when I want to use *shorthand* - after all, it really doesn't matter to the person to whom I am speaking if it is my gg grandfather or my ggg grandfather, only to me...and I find it |snore|to try and follow when soemone is being that precise (unless they are related to me, of course :D)


Mary Anne

[Mahala]

Thank you for the replies!

:)

[KateJones]

I have various people who I contact over the Internet to discuss our common ancestry. But I really cannot be a***d to work out just what degree of relationship I have to them. Does it actually matter if it someone is my 2nd, 3rd or 4th cousin? And as for working out how far "removed" I am! I generally think in terms of about 5 miles, or perhaps 200 miles, or even 12,000 miles. I'm starting to vote for "nth cousin", to signify anyone who is related to me in any degree further than aunt or uncle or their children (ie 1st cousin). Any takers? Or is it important to know the degree of relationship and how far removed someone is?
Love and kisses
KJ

[Jan1954]

I sometimes get my genealogy software to work it out for me, just to be annoying to whoever's asking |biggrin|