After my grandpa Bill died, it was my great-uncle Buck who held everything together. He had this warm, rumbling voice made for storytelling — the kind of voice you’d stop to listen to at any family reunion. During prayers or small speeches celebrating just about anything, everyone went quiet when he spoke, smiling as they listened.
He also made famous phone calls: he never missed a birthday or anniversary of anyone in the family. Not many people seem to have the time nowadays to make those calls, but he always did and made us feel special because of it. He made us feel worth celebrating. And, if you didn’t answer, you’d get a voicemail in his warm, rumbling voice and cheerful tone with a heartfelt “happy birthday” or “congratulations.” It made those days extra meaningful, and even years after he passed, I keep those voicemails saved on my phone. They’ve become an important memento to me of who he was and a reminder of the kind of person I want to be for my family.
Uncle Buck was a bridge between generations, strong enough to keep us all together. He remembered the old stories, welcomed the new babies, and made sure the reunions still happened. Officially, he was my great-uncle — my paternal grandfather’s brother. But “great” doesn’t quite cover it.
Key takeaways on great-uncles
- A great-uncle is the brother of one of your grandparents.
- While not a direct ancestor, great-uncles often serve as vital family historians, connectors, and sources of tradition.
- In genealogy, including great-uncles can help illuminate sibling relationships, family movement patterns, and generational traits.
- Cultural and emotional bonds with great-uncles often go deeper than what a family tree diagram can show.
- Tracing your great-uncles can uncover stories that never made it into official records but shaped your family all the same.
What does “great-uncle” mean?
A great-uncle is one of your grandparents’ brothers. In other words, he’s one generation above your parents, and while not a direct ancestor, he’s a close collateral relative. The same way your aunt or uncle might share family stories, a great-uncle often has even more historical context, remembering names, events, and traditions from a generation before.
Some families also refer to great-uncles as granduncles, though “great-uncle” is more common in modern usage. For our family, it was simply “Uncle Buck.” Regardless of title, their role can be meaningful — especially when they step into the role of connector or mentor, as Uncle Buck did for my family.
Why great-uncles matter in genealogy
When building a family tree, it’s easy to focus only on direct ancestors. But great-uncles and other collateral relatives often hold the missing pieces of the story:
- Family bibles or heirlooms may pass through their hands.
- Photographs, letters, and documents from your grandparents’ childhood may be in their collection.
- They may have done their own genealogical research or be able to point you to family cemeteries or records.
- Or, like my Uncle Buck, they may just be remarkable storytellers, offering hints of the past that encourage curiosity and investigation.
Understanding how great-uncles connect to the broader tree also helps when reading older documents where extended family lived together, worked on shared land, or sometimes even served as witnesses in marriage and land records.
How to trace a great-uncle in your family tree
If you’re trying to identify or learn more about a great-uncle in your tree, here are a few practical steps:
Step 1: Start with your grandparents
- Look for their siblings in census records, birth certificates, or obituaries.
- You can usually find these in the same household during early censuses.
Step 2: Search marriage and military records
- Great-uncles may appear as witnesses or next of kin.
- Draft records, enlistment papers, and pension files often list family relationships.
Step 3: Check for shared addresses
- City directories and censuses may show great-uncles living nearby or under the same roof.
Step 4: Ask about personal stories
- If relatives remember someone with a storytelling voice or a strong family presence, dig into that. It might lead you to a great-uncle who played a pivotal role.
Step 5: Use family trees and DNA tools on MyHeritage
- Great-uncles may already be mapped on a cousin’s tree. Shared DNA matches may also link to collateral relatives.
Final thoughts: great in more ways than one
Great-uncles, like my Uncle Buck, can serve as a connector, mentor, and the living memory of your family, even after they pass. My great-uncle, like so many others, was the glue that bound generations, connecting us to the love and stories that might otherwise be lost, and the heart that keeps traditions alive. Whether a great-uncle was a guiding force in your life or someone you’re just now discovering through records, it’s worth the effort to learn their story.
They might just be the key to understanding your own.
Ready to explore the family connections that shaped your story? Start building your family tree and discover the unforgettable relatives who helped hold it all together.
FAQs about great-uncles
What is the exact relationship of a great-uncle?
A great-uncle is the brother of one of your grandparents. That means he is one generation above your parents and a sibling to one of your direct ancestors (either your grandmother or grandfather).
Why are great-uncles important in genealogy research?
Great-uncles can open up valuable collateral lines in your family tree. They may have preserved family stories, photographs, or heirlooms, and often appear in records that help you trace the broader family network, especially when parents or grandparents are harder to trace directly.
What’s the difference between a great-uncle and a granduncle?
They are both term describing the same relationship. However, “great-uncle” is far more common in everyday language.
Can I use DNA testing to find information about a great-uncle?
Yes. The amount of shared DNA between a great-uncle and great-nephew or -niece can vary a great deal for the same reason that siblings’ shared DNA can vary a lot, but it’s generally around 12.5%. If he’s not available for testing, you may find second cousins or their descendants who can connect you back to his branch.
How can I include great-uncles in my family tree?
Start by documenting your grandparents and their siblings. Use census records, obituaries, birth and marriage certificates, and any family documents available. Many online tree-building tools allow for adding collateral relatives like great-uncles with full profiles and relationship mapping.
