Indeed, Paul, I'm from Maryland originally, and grandaunts and granduncles are what I always called (and still call) my grandfather's numerous siblings.  I noted in  my e-mail that it was a slightly archaic usage since you don't hear the terms grandaunt and granduncle much any more, even in the south.  I don't know why not, they are certainly more descriptive and less confusing -- and with more people living longer there are more of them around!

kathy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Drake 
  To: westview ; [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 3:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [DRAKE] RE: That "Removed Stuff"


  Hi, Kathy.  The terms "grand-aunt" and "grand-uncle" have been used for several centuries as designators for the sibling of grandparents and as a substitute for the single "great uncle" or "great aunt".  I once thought the term was rather peculiar to the South, but have since found it virtually everywhere.  It derives from the terms GRANDfather and GRANDmother.  Paul

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