Telomere length in early life is predictive of longevity in many species and reduced early life telomere length in offspring of older mothers has been linked to the reduced longevity frequently found in offspring of older breeders (the Lansing Effect). It is currently unknown whether such telomere reduction may persist beyond a single generation, as would be the case if germline transmission is involved. To test this, we performed a within-grandmother, multi-generational study using zebra finches. Our results indicate that shorter telomeres persist in offspring whose grandmothers were old at the time of their mother´s birth, despite their mother having been a young breeder. Our data highlight the need to look beyond a single generation to explain the causes of inter-individual variation in ageing rates and optimal reproductive schedules.