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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Bellejazz on Saturday 12 January 08 14:51 GMT (UK)

Title: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Saturday 12 January 08 14:51 GMT (UK)
I can't be sure yet, and won't be until later this year when I have got my hands on many more BDM certificates, but I think I may be (distantly) related to someone currently very famous.

Anyone else been in this position?

What did you do?

Keep you mouth shut and not tell a soul or tell everyone you know?

Attempt to contact the person or leave it be?

 :D

- Belinda.

*eta* It seems not so distant after all .................
I just used one of those "cousin calculator" charts and if my research is right then the person in question is my third cousin!

(http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/6389/jawdrop7rg.gif)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: behindthefrogs on Saturday 12 January 08 15:38 GMT (UK)
My wife is descended from William the Conqueror's mother.

This means she is related to the queen.  Not only that because William was illegitimate while her descent is legitimate she can claim to be one better!!!

David
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: aghadowey on Saturday 12 January 08 16:42 GMT (UK)
My grandmother said we are related to a famous actress who's appeared in numerous movies, etc. over the last 30 years but I can't find enough of her background to make the connection. However, her surname is the same as our family (fairly uncommon), her 1st name is the feminine version our immigrant ancestor (and handed down in each branch ever since) and last but not least she looks exactly like my great-aunt and 2nd cousin. Maybe someday we'll see whether the story is true or not.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LizzieW on Saturday 12 January 08 17:59 GMT (UK)
The answer is "No!".  Apart from the fact that one of my uncles was Mayor of Blackpool many moons ago.  My mum always said we were related to Nelson's mistress, but I can't find any connection. 

My uncle might have become famous but for the war, in fact I have a letter from a friend of my dad to him during the war where he says:

W had a concert arranged on a big scale in Glasgow for the troops and was going along splendidly till an air raid warning smashed it up.  This was downright rotten luck - for the real stuff was there and he would have made his mark, but I'm hoping he will get another chance.

Unfortunately, he never made it big, although he did used to work in the clubs around Manchester.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Lady Di on Saturday 12 January 08 21:02 GMT (UK)
My wife is descended from William the Conqueror's mother.

This means she is related to the queen.  Not only that because William was illegitimate while her descent is legitimate she can claim to be one better!!!

David

Ohhh David, we must be related as I have a direct line to William the Conqueror's sister  ;D ;) - and I tell the world about that one!!

I mention our connection to another living VIP to a select few (family members) but generally keep my mouth shut about that one.

Good luck Bellejazz - hope your search is successful

Di
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: AnneMc on Saturday 12 January 08 21:33 GMT (UK)
Can't find anyone famous still living in my family lines.  But my aunt was the Mayor of Bridlington, Yks. and she is still on the council now.

Cheers
Anne
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: stoney on Saturday 12 January 08 23:10 GMT (UK)
Nah! We're all dead common, us! (wiping snotty nose along sleeve....)

OH's family are a bit posher - one of them was on first-name terms with Holst (wrote "The Planets" suite) and of course they lived in India (days of the Raj and all that....)

....excuse me, I need to remember my place (wipe snotty nose, again!)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: madpants on Saturday 12 January 08 23:58 GMT (UK)
I'm just soooo nosey, it's really frustrating not knowing WHO you're related to, who you're talking about  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: meles on Sunday 13 January 08 00:07 GMT (UK)
Nah! Sniff. Wipe nose on sleeve.

Like stoney, we're dead common.

The closest I come to gentry is that my great aunt was nanny to a posh family, one of whom had a species of snowdrop named after him. He's dead famous in horticultural circles... :)

meles (who actually loves snowdrops and was delighted with the connection  ;D)

Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Sunday 13 January 08 03:45 GMT (UK)
Nah! We're all dead common, us! (wiping snotty nose along sleeve....)

Just because this person is famous, does not mean they aren't common!
We don't get much royalty in Australia  ;)

And famous is such a subjective word ......
Maybe saying the person is famous gives the wrong impression (makes you think of movie stars and the like) but there certainly wouldn't be one person (in Australia at least) that doesn't know this persons name.  :D

I'm just soooo nosey, it's really frustrating not knowing WHO you're related to, who you're talking about  :'( :'( :'(

Madpants if you have to know that badly you can PM me ... PM *chuckle*

 ;)

- Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Lynn H on Sunday 13 January 08 13:45 GMT (UK)
Hi Belinda. Can't you give us some clue's without mentioning a name?
I think we would all like to know ;D ;D ;D

                    Lynn.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Sunday 13 January 08 14:29 GMT (UK)
Hi Lynn
there is a clue in the post above yours ... read it again, carefully

 ;) :D

- Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: ChasH on Sunday 13 January 08 15:53 GMT (UK)
Not yet but as Adam's there in the past, there must be thousands :)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Sunday 13 January 08 16:05 GMT (UK)
My dad always said we were related to Maureen O'Sullivan, which would have us related to Mia Farrow, who is still alive, but I have not found any connection, even remotely close. I have no idea how that one even started.

My husband's family claims a relation to the Clown Prince of Baseball, Al Schacht, who has a couple rather famous living authors in his tree. I haven't been able to find the connection, but my FIL and his father have an extremely striking resemblance to Al. My FIL and his sister remember Al coming to visit them in Brooklyn and learning he was their dad's second cousin or something. I just can't find it, although we have no idea what my husband's "real" last name was. It was changed at some point when his great-grandfather came from Russia to England.

And another branch of his family claims a link to Sholom Asch. I haven't found the definitive link and I have written to a couple of his relatives who have genealogy sites, but haven't heard back.

Always an if, but, or whatever.

Kath
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: chris_49 on Sunday 13 January 08 16:06 GMT (UK)
I'm related to the Queen of England by marriage. No, honestly!

A very distant relative (OK the link is before 1837 so can never be proved absolutely, but the name is a very rare one) married someone who had previously been married to someone whose son (by yet another marriage) married a very close relative of Her Maj. (Most of my family are common as muck - Ag Labs, hundreds of 'em.)

OK, it's not as good as being descended from Wm the Conq's mum. But it might prove useful if I'm ever thrown in the Tower.

Chris


Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Lynn H on Sunday 13 January 08 16:13 GMT (UK)
Thanx for the clue. Duh!!! i feel a bit stupid now ;D ;D

                               Lynn.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Sunday 13 January 08 16:17 GMT (UK)
That does remind me, I am somehow, by marriage, related to Camilla, through her husband. I have a link to Edward Treacher Collins, who is from that line.

Kath
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Windsor87 on Sunday 13 January 08 20:15 GMT (UK)
Like most, I am related to the Queen.
According to my software, she is my half 14th Cousin removed 4 times. Our common ancestor is King James IV of Scotland (reigned 1488-1513). She comes from the wife, whereas I come from the mistress.

I don't think I'm related to anyone famous by their own right. Not living anyway.
There was a half famous Scottish/Canadian Communist by the name of James Bryson McLachlan (J.B.McLachlan). He was my greatx2 grandfather's (who was James Bryson)first cousin. He did, however, die back in 1937.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Monday 14 January 08 01:37 GMT (UK)
Thanx for the clue. Duh!!! i feel a bit stupid now ;D ;D
Lynn.

Did you get it then?
I was wondering if it was a bit obscure ......

 ;D

Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Monday 14 January 08 02:23 GMT (UK)
Speaking of PM's, there's relations coming out of the RUDDY woodwork lately.
Cheers,
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Monday 14 January 08 02:25 GMT (UK)
 :P

 :D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: greenvalley on Monday 14 January 08 21:37 GMT (UK)
Stewart Granger, the actor. His stepmother was my hubbie's grannies sister  ;D ;D ;D Not sure whether that counts.


Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: cheshiremog on Tuesday 15 January 08 02:08 GMT (UK)
Bellejazz
Have to say I like your giggling mog avatar!

And everyone else!
Yes - you have guessed correctly !
I have no famous ancestors
Only famous associations.

My family of Master Mariners transported a Rev. Dodgson (brother of CS Lewis author Alice in Wonderland)  to Tristan Da Cuhna.  Rev. got there OK. But schooner wrecked in the bay - no casualties - but what a Bl***dy waste of good ship's timbers !
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Tuesday 15 January 08 12:44 GMT (UK)
I like the Mog too Cheshiremog :)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: 7igerby7he7ail on Tuesday 15 January 08 18:04 GMT (UK)
In the extended family [via marriages] I have connections to Rudyard Kipling, Edward Burne-Jones,Victorian artist,and one time PM Stanley Baldwin.

In my direct line many years ago there were two brothers. One went off to seek his fortune, the other stayed at home. The one who went to seek his fortune has descendents to this day who are or have been politicians, successful businessmen, lawyers, one even a high court judge,
The brother who stayed at home had descendents who were cordwainers, blacksmiths, ag labs, indusrial labourers, railway navvies etc etc. Guess which one I am descended from.

Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 15 January 08 18:45 GMT (UK)
In the extended family [via marriages] I have connections to Rudyard Kipling, Edward Burne-Jones,Victorian artist,and one time PM Stanley Baldwin.

In my direct line many years ago there were two brothers. One went off to seek his fortune, the other stayed at home. The one who went to seek his fortune has descendents to this day who are or have been politicians, successful businessmen, lawyers, one even a high court judge,
The brother who stayed at home had descendents who were cordwainers, blacksmiths, ag labs, indusrial labourers, railway navvies etc etc. Guess which one I am descended from.



Oh, I know that feeling. Shakespeare's lawyer was my 9x great-grandfather. Also directly descended from architects on castles and churches, and then somehow my line goes on to be silk ribbon weavers, while another line goes on to become prominent doctors.

My husband is a from the Manischewitz line. When his great-grandmother came over, so the story goes, she went to visit her relatives and they essentially slammed the door in her face.

Kath
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: littleclaire on Tuesday 15 January 08 18:54 GMT (UK)
I could be descended actually from William the Conqueror - apparently he had a mistress (Maud) who he had a child with who is my direct ancestor. It's all a but heresay but these things often are!
My family who are descended from him became bootmakers. We are all well shod.

Claire
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Tony Payne on Tuesday 15 January 08 19:18 GMT (UK)
Nobody living, but...

My maternal great grandfather married the wife of Thomas Hardy's cousin George Hardy after he died.  They took care of the 2 daughters from the first marriage.

My paternal grandfather's sister was married to an artist who did a lot of paintings of Kew Gardens and was also well known in the 1920's for illustrating detective comics.   His daughter married a man who wrote a well known book on the detection and control of garden pests, which is still respected today.

But apart from that... nobody...
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: DebbieG on Tuesday 15 January 08 19:43 GMT (UK)
Oh Gensleuth,  its sounds as though you are distantly related to my stepdad as Stanley Baldwin and Rudyard Kipling also appear on his extended tree,  something to do with the Duttons and the Livesays,  in which case you would also be related by marriage to a present day Coronation Street actor    ;D

Debbie
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KarenM on Tuesday 15 January 08 20:00 GMT (UK)
My 2nd or 3rd  :-\ cousin was a well known author (he died in 1997), and he wrote a tv show called The XYY Man and Bulman based on his books.

One of his last books he based it on my snippits of my gr grandfather's life  and used names from our family, even the town where I live  8) 

Karen
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Wednesday 16 January 08 00:37 GMT (UK)
We seem to have got away from living famous people, I'm the only  famous person (living) any of my relations have.
But famous dead people abound.
There is James Bonnin who built half of London in the early 1800's.
Then there's Captain John Cooper who was a whaling captain. Lady Blackwood. (possibly 3rd mate on the infamous attack of the Lady Rowena on a Japanese whaling village, 1830)
There must be more, but I just can't find them!  ;D  ;D  ;D
Cheers,
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: alisonbcd on Wednesday 16 January 08 00:59 GMT (UK)
Absolutely no one living, just average people. However, I do have Winston Churchill in my tree. He was connected through marriages on my paternal grandmother's side of the family.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Wednesday 16 January 08 01:28 GMT (UK)
(possibly 3rd mate on the infamous attack of the Lady Rowena on a Japanese whaling village, 1830)

I've never heard of this Leonie.
Sounds .... interesting.
:)

Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Wednesday 16 January 08 02:16 GMT (UK)
Of course you have! I'm here aren't I??  ;D
Isn't on the internet as famous as on the telly?
I even have an invitation from the Queen of England Herself! (no relation)
And all the neighbors know me!
When I walk down the street lots of people say g'day to me.
What more do you want?
Cheers,
Leonie.
PS. google LoneyBones.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Wednesday 16 January 08 02:18 GMT (UK)
OOPS, don't google  :-[
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Wednesday 16 January 08 02:25 GMT (UK)
OOPS again.
Um, Sydney Newspaper, sometime in Decamber 2007, re; Rudd's war against Japanese whalers. Whaling War ll.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22962070-5013404,00.html
there we go, try that.
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Wednesday 16 January 08 02:57 GMT (UK)
oh my.

I never knew that.

Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Tony Payne on Wednesday 16 January 08 13:10 GMT (UK)
All this mention of the Queen made me remember that I have 2 distant cousins, identical twins who were born on the Queens birthday (same year) and who were invited to Buck House for the Queens 80th birthday celebration.  One of them still lives in the Birmingham area, but the other has lived in New Zealand for 30 years or more.  They still look identical after all these years.  I only found out doing some family research a couple of years ago and saw the entries in the Daily Mail etc.  We lost touch with that side of the family years ago, when I get back to England I need to track my rellies down.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: g a r on Wednesday 16 January 08 22:38 GMT (UK)
no
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Andesine on Thursday 17 January 08 11:17 GMT (UK)
I recently discovered I'm a not so distant cousin of Paris Hilton.  :-\
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Thursday 17 January 08 13:38 GMT (UK)
I recently discovered I'm a not so distant cousin of Paris Hilton.  :-\

Lucky you :)

- Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Tony Payne on Thursday 17 January 08 14:36 GMT (UK)
Ha - so you don't get to inherit the fortune her daddy has just taken away either :(
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Wendy.M on Tuesday 22 January 08 04:03 GMT (UK)
Me again, All the above sound very nice, however I have possibly hundreds of living Famous people in my tree..Trouble is they are mainly famous for staying hidden from me !! The rest are just 'famous' for "hanging in there". I love 'em.
cheers Wendy M.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: XPhile2868 on Tuesday 22 January 08 12:00 GMT (UK)
I could be quite closely related to PNE footballer Paul McKenna, as McKenna is my mothers maiden name and we're from the same area (its not a very common name around here as far as I can tell).

My paternal grandad was a bassist in two bands during the 1970s and 1980s called Savannah (who were a jazz band) and the Nancy Rivers Country Band (who were a country band). They weren't famous, but they were probably well-known as local bands at the time.

I've found a few deceased people -

My 4x great grandfather was a landscape artist called Joseph Clegg, but I don't think he was famous (I think he painted pictures of peoples gardens for them rather than putting them in art galleries).

I'm descended from the Houghton family, so I suppose they could count as famous in their own times.

I'm a very distant relative of John "Osawatomie" Brown, the American abolitionist.

There's also a very distant link via a distant cousin to William Pitt the Younger through marriage.#

Stephen :)



Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: julie64 on Tuesday 22 January 08 12:45 GMT (UK)
I have been reliably informed that all people with the surname Cobner are quite closely related ... that means I'm a very distant cousin of Terry Cobner, who played rugby for Wales for many years ... apparently (I'm no sports expert!)

Regards Julie
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: toni* on Tuesday 22 January 08 12:48 GMT (UK)
no i havent found anyone famous in my tree not even remotley.
seems we were all hard working class type

i would be careful if you contact them they may think you are contacting them because they are famous, mind you you could show them all your research and they might be more welcoming, either that or they might think you are a crazed stalker who knows who their parents / siblings are etc etc and take out a restraining order on you!


good luck


Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: julieann1 on Monday 24 March 08 19:18 GMT (UK)
Ian Hislop!  My daughter and I watched WDYTYA and I said he must me related to us because my great grandad was a Hyslop from the same part of Ayr.  The 3rd time we watched it I actually did the research and it was true.

A previous Dean of Perth Cathedral, Australia, John Bell.

Several Australians called Dyson, who were artists and writers.

The last two are no longer living.

I wonder if anyone has any imfamous people in there family tree?  Notorious criminals etc...??
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: toni* on Monday 24 March 08 19:20 GMT (UK)


I wonder if anyone has any imfamous people in there family tree?  Notorious criminals etc...??

nope i dont have any of them either!
quite boring to anyone but me really!
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Duck on Monday 24 March 08 19:59 GMT (UK)
My OH has Mitt Romney, Presidential candidate who dropped out,  in her extended family, 7th cousin
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: liverpool annie on Monday 24 March 08 20:07 GMT (UK)
My OH has Mitt Romney, Presidential candidate who dropped out,  in her extended family, 7th cousin

Sorry to hear that Duck !!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

My second cousin used to date the sister of Alma Cogan ........  ::) ::) ::) .... does that count ??  :P

( reading through the replies ... looks like Leonie 's been reading her books again  ;D ;D ;D ;D )
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Monday 24 March 08 21:23 GMT (UK)

My second cousin used to date the sister of Alma Cogan ........  ::) ::) ::) .... does that count ??  :P

( reading through the replies ... looks like Leonie 's been reading her books again  ;D ;D ;D ;D )

If we can go there, my sister-in-laws sister used to date Ben Stiller.  ;D ;D ;D

Kath
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: liverpool annie on Monday 24 March 08 21:28 GMT (UK)


Well the title said "extended family " Kath !!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

(  ... I'll get my coat now !!  ::) )
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Monday 24 March 08 22:30 GMT (UK)
Well, my brother had his first case of (underage) beer bought for him by Viggo Mortensen. I am sure I am not spelling that right. Guess he's not really in my tree though, that's just an extended brush with fame.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: stoney on Monday 24 March 08 23:05 GMT (UK)
Depends how you categorise "famous" - my cousin's wife has a cookery show on American TV; Hubby's G Aunt knew the composer Holst; and Hubby's in "Who's Who".......
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: KathMc on Monday 24 March 08 23:17 GMT (UK)
Depends how you categorise "famous" - my cousin's wife has a cookery show on American TV; Hubby's G Aunt knew the composer Holst; and Hubby's in "Who's Who".......

Will you share who has the cooking show? Is it on the Food Network. I love that channel.  ;D

Kath
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: carol8353 on Monday 24 March 08 23:25 GMT (UK)
My husbands cousin is the mum of Gary Breen-footballer for Ireland and Wolves.

A friend of mine recently discovered he is related by marriage to Ann Shelton.

Carol
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: stockman fred on Tuesday 25 March 08 00:17 GMT (UK)
Mum  used to travel home on the bus with Dylan Thomas (and sometimes had to help him find his front door  ::) ). He used to stay at a house next to Dad's.
I discovered I'm related to a well-known race horse trainer- we share the same great-great grandad but I don't know if he would be as excited about it as I was.  :-[
Fred
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Tuesday 25 March 08 04:35 GMT (UK)
I am related to Tom Jones tho'.  ;D
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: julieann1 on Tuesday 25 March 08 07:42 GMT (UK)
Tom Jones!!! now that's a proper famous person!  (no insult intended to anyone else)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: howdee on Tuesday 25 March 08 09:21 GMT (UK)
My OH's first cousin once removed (I think that's right) is a famous comedy actress and tea pusher. Mine was luckier, she got the looks and me.

Our boys are mad about this relation but we would'nt make contact as it could be misconstrudled.

Don't they say "if you go back six generations we're all related"?

Howard
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Tuesday 25 March 08 12:01 GMT (UK)
Well my Tom Jones isn't famous yet, he's only 9. But he might be one day.
 ;D
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: toni* on Tuesday 25 March 08 13:07 GMT (UK)
i have an 12 year old Tom Jones in my tree too!
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Tony Payne on Tuesday 25 March 08 19:15 GMT (UK)
My Dad was a musician in Bournemouth, I had a relative who was a well known illustrator of Detective Comics in the 1920's and whose work is still collectable, but I can't think of anyone famous who is living unfortunately.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: little meg on Wednesday 26 March 08 07:51 GMT (UK)
I got  prematurely excited when I discovered that John Jarrett, aussie actor, was a relo. 
Turned out that he was related to my distant cousins and not me.
Close but no cigars :'(

John Jarrett, for those not in the know, played Ned Kelly after Mick Jagger and before Heath Ledger.  ;D ;D

Margaret
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Windsor87 on Wednesday 26 March 08 21:20 GMT (UK)
Rupert Murdoch descends from a Garden family of Rosehearty.
I descend from a Garden family of Aberdour (just down the road from Rosehearty).

Unfortunately I have been unable to prove a link, but I'm working on it.  ;)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: stoney on Wednesday 26 March 08 22:28 GMT (UK)
Depends how you categorise "famous" - my cousin's wife has a cookery show on American TV; Hubby's G Aunt knew the composer Holst; and Hubby's in "Who's Who".......

Will you share who has the cooking show? Is it on the Food Network. I love that channel.  ;D

Kath

Have no idea what channel - given they have so many stations there! They live in New Hampshire so it may be just a local thing - think I'd have heard if they'd networked it! I think the programme's called "Cooking with Oonagh".
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: kateblogs on Wednesday 26 March 08 22:36 GMT (UK)
Apparently, I'm related to someone who canoodled with Princess Diana, but I have never met him.

We are also supposed to be related to the actor Ian McShane, but I have never found the connection. Having said, I can see a resemblance to some members of my family.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: suffolk*sue on Wednesday 26 March 08 23:40 GMT (UK)
A direct descendant of Edwin Sandys who was Archbishop of York in the 1500s.

Also a link to Mr Boon who started the publishing company Mills and Boon.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Josee on Thursday 27 March 08 00:26 GMT (UK)
On my fathers side we are supposed to be related to the actor who used to play Vince in Crossroads, 8) 8)
 I think he's stll alive ;D

Jo
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: nickgc on Thursday 27 March 08 10:46 GMT (UK)
Yes!  I am no more than the 50th cousin of every living famous person, regardless of how you define "fame" (and Paris Hilton doesn't count... in fact, she probably CAN'T count).  And so are all of you.

And so are we no more than that far distant in relation to all the dead famous people.   It is estimated that the common ancestor of everyone now living was alive 1000 years ago (30 generations).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Thursday 27 March 08 11:55 GMT (UK)
Yeah, well thay can say that can't they. How many people do you know who has a family tree that goes back 30 generations?  :o
The most I can claim is a doubtful 9th generation. :-\
Leonie.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: behindthefrogs on Thursday 27 March 08 13:32 GMT (UK)
Yes!  I am no more than the 50th cousin of every living famous person, regardless of how you define "fame" (and Paris Hilton doesn't count... in fact, she probably CAN'T count).  And so are all of you.

And so are we no more than that far distant in relation to all the dead famous people.   It is estimated that the common ancestor of everyone now living was alive 1000 years ago (30 generations).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin

That should read a common ancestor.  This is hardly surprising since 30 generations ago you will have had up to two to the power of thirty ancestors.  This is in the order of one billion ancestors.  I say "up to"  because many of them will be ancestors on more than one line.  A tree which shows just your direct ancestors will be a little large.

David
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Bellejazz on Friday 28 March 08 12:32 GMT (UK)
That should read a common ancestor.  This is hardly surprising since 30 generations ago you will have had up to two to the power of thirty ancestors.  This is in the order of one billion ancestors.  I say "up to"  because many of them will be ancestors on more than one line.  A tree which shows just your direct ancestors will be a little large.

This gives me a headache  :o

 ;)

- Belinda.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: trish1120 on Friday 28 March 08 13:28 GMT (UK)

hi everyone,

Hopefully yes, just waiting to receive a marriage cert. from N.Z. that my grandmothers sister was the grandmother of a very famous novelist. She married an Irishman and went to Ireland. Her grand-daughter if correct , the writer, was born in England early 1900's, and died a few years ago.

This has been a family fact/myth for several generations and will soon prove or disprove it.

Trish ( can't wait till I receive cert!!)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: toni* on Friday 28 March 08 13:52 GMT (UK)
Catherine Cookson ?
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: WHS1899 on Friday 28 March 08 13:52 GMT (UK)
Distantly, to Sophie Stewart, the Scottish actress, and her brother James, who was an MP and later became Sir James Henderson Stewart. Both now dead. I'm also told we have a family connection to the Australian actress Lesley Pearce (alive).....same side of the family as the Stewarts.
Beverley
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Burrow Digger on Saturday 05 April 08 01:07 BST (UK)
I have a distant connection to Paul MacDonald.
He's "world famous, in New Zealand".

Paul McDonald, one of New Zealand's canoeists at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics who won several gold medals, is distantly related to my family only by marriage. Two of Paul's uncles married two of my fathers cousins. :)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_MacDonald

http://www.olympic.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?Print=&ContactID=1248&id=3774
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Comosus on Saturday 05 April 08 02:08 BST (UK)
Nope - common as muck!
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Musicman on Saturday 05 April 08 13:24 BST (UK)
Digressing ever-so-slightly (‘cos I don’t have anyone famous in my ancestry - and I feel left out!):  about 20-years-ago, there was a young lady working in the office next to me whose surname was Pinsent.  Facially, she had the same high cheek red colouring that Matthew has.  She told me that her father and Matthew’s father are cousins.

John
Title: Slight Claim to Fame
Post by: Magrat on Sunday 04 May 08 13:46 BST (UK)
Do any of you have famous ancestors?

I thought all mine were completely infamous, sorry, not famous for anything and it was true.  However I did discover that one of my ancestors is shown on the 1851 census as the cook to Henry Newton, artists colourman.  He is the very same Henry Newton who with William Winsor started the Winsor and Newton company, still one of the most famous of the paint and art supply companies in existence.  So ok my ancestor wasn't famous but she worked for a famous person!

Cheers
Magrat
Title: Re: Slight Claim to Fame
Post by: Matt R on Sunday 04 May 08 14:09 BST (UK)
Hi Magrat, how interesting!!

My 6x great granduncle was the famous huntsman John Peel (Dye ken John Peel), from Greenrigg in Caldbeck. Sad to say, nobody up in Cumbria knows we are related yet!

Wonder what he would've though about the hunting ban :o

Reaybo.
Title: Re: Slight Claim to Fame
Post by: Paul Caswell on Sunday 04 May 08 15:14 BST (UK)
Hi Magrat,

My second gt grandfather was a Stud Groom/Huntsman to Viscount (later Lord) Booth of Booths Gin fame.

Two of my great aunts were visiting Lady Lucy Portman at census time on two successive takings. Lucy can trace her line back a looong way.

My mother tells me that I have other great aunts who 'did for the royals' - or at least their extended family -  in Kensington but I am yet to find proof of this.

Paul
Title: Re: Slight Claim to Fame
Post by: stoney on Sunday 04 May 08 15:30 BST (UK)
My grandfather and his brother (Beattie) ran a stonemason's business with someone called Willie Laing. Eventually they bought out Mr Laing - family rumour has it that he went on to found the Laing construction company.

My G-Grandfather was (supposedly) one of a hand-picked crew sent to escort Princess Alexandra to England for her marriage to the (then) Prince of Wales.

An ancestor on my side of the family worked on the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge; someone on hubby's side worked on the construction of london's Tower Bridge - bit of a coincidence!

So far, I have uncovered no millionaires (or axe-murderers, for that matter!)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: macphail on Tuesday 20 May 08 21:58 BST (UK)
My gt-gt gran was apparently a 'cousin' to William Rimmer the bandmaster. If proven from what I've found so far, they were 2nd cousins.
My dad was the last Mayor of Swinton & Pendlebury, Lancs and the youngest.

Pete
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Matt R on Wednesday 21 May 08 07:44 BST (UK)
My nan tells me she used to date the poet Ted Hughes, and I am apparently distantly related to Howard Hughes. Havent found anything on that though.

I think she must collect every famous Hughes and bung them into t he family story!!

I am very distantly related to the Queen however. A distant rellie waaaaay back married the sister of Henry VIII, Margaret Tudor.

My mum's 2nd cousin twice removed (I think) was the very first person to cook for the Queen. He served her up dinner when she was in Africa, and heard of her father's death. Her first meal as Queen was served up my her 2nd cus! Now there's a story!
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Deb D on Wednesday 21 May 08 10:50 BST (UK)
Not entirely sure about this ... but my grandfather's surname (Kinnear) is supposed to be an alternate spelling for the "root" name "Connaire" - which later became "Connery".

*sigh* ... i wish!

Way back, tho ... the first wife of one of my gt-grandfathers was the sister of Duncan Dunbar, "the Aristotle Onassis" of the 19th century.

 ;D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Windsor87 on Wednesday 21 May 08 12:50 BST (UK)
I am very distantly related to the Queen however. A distant rellie waaaaay back married the sister of Henry VIII, Margaret Tudor.


I'm connected to Margaret Tudor as I descend from her husband, King James IV of Scotland (1488-1513).
Margaret tried to divorce her husband after he was killed in battle because she believed he escaped from the battle alive.

Thus I'm related to both the Queen and yourself.  ;D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: jc26red on Wednesday 21 May 08 14:34 BST (UK)
my god-daughter, who is also my cousin's daughter went out with a very famous current footballer. I should say this was BEFORE he married, so no kiss and tells :P
She's been the partner of the ex-husband of his "wife's" mate for years and now lives in LA (oops...a bit close to all famous exes)

OH has a few in his tree.. but not close
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: keebleancestors on Wednesday 04 June 08 15:10 BST (UK)
Not living, as far as I know, although if everyone of the same surname is related I could speculate my relationship to Johnny Depp  ;D  (Both he and I have an ancestor named Thurman. Look............it was worth a try...............and yes, I know, maybe therefore Uma Thurman,  who is nowhere near as interesting as Johnny Depp).

But my husband has a distant cousin who is related by marriage to Chopin. That's the poshest one I've found anyway.

My grandma knew Keith Richard's Mum. Does that count?

Oh no, wait I've thought of another one. My cousin's first wife was the niece of Sylvia Sims, the actress. It's still through marriage and not blood dammit.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Burrow Digger on Sunday 30 May 10 01:09 BST (UK)
For those of you who live down under (Australia and NZ) I am proud to report that Jessica Watson (who recently completed a record to be the youngest ever to sail non-stop unassisted around the world) is my second cousin once removed.

Jessica Watson was 16 while she was sailing. She turned 17 just 3 days after she arrived back in Sydney, NSW. Both of Jessica's parents are Kiwis from NZ. Jessica's mother is my second cousin.

BD

Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: alftabor on Sunday 30 May 10 06:28 BST (UK)
my third Cousin,s cousin married Bernard law Montgomery's Son
Alf
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: trish1120 on Sunday 30 May 10 14:44 BST (UK)
I had posted earlier in this thread but have done more research since.

What amazes me is that through my Shaw line ( From Slaithewaite/Lingards area of Yorks) and the one who went to NZ we have;

Iris Murdoch,
My Grandmother was her Grandmothers Sister ( yes Iris's Grandmother married in NZ)

Sir Michael .... ( I never promised you a .... garden)
Married a Shaw from the same NZ family but a later generation.

Humble beginnings from Yorks to working in Manchester Cotton Mills to owning Farms in NZ and some interesting descendants later on.

Trish :)

And three cheers for Jessica Watson ;D

Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: loandy on Monday 31 May 10 02:36 BST (UK)
My GGrandmother & Geoffrey Robertsons GGrandmother were sisters,so I guess that makes us 2nd cousins. Might be handy to know a good lawyer one day :o :o :o
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Morganllan on Monday 31 May 10 04:27 BST (UK)
3rd cousin to Miss World  8)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: aghadowey on Monday 31 May 10 08:08 BST (UK)
My GGrandmother & Geoffrey Robertsons GGrandmother were sisters,so I guess that makes us 2nd cousins. Might be handy to know a good lawyer one day :o :o :o
Actually that makes you 3rd cousins.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Monday 31 May 10 10:58 BST (UK)
I have any number of Tom Jones's....
But otherwise, the only famous person I'm related to is my Mum's only daughter.  ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: trish1120 on Monday 31 May 10 11:01 BST (UK)
HEHEHE ;D
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: LoneyBones on Monday 31 May 10 11:11 BST (UK)
I had my photo on the front page of the newspaper I'll have you know.   I was part of the crowd... ::)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Sandgrounder1 on Monday 31 May 10 15:13 BST (UK)
Hello

I have just found out that I have a link to Leonardo di Caprio via my nephew's wife.  She is his 2nd cousin.

Sandgrounder
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: loandy on Monday 31 May 10 22:43 BST (UK)
Hi Agaha, You are right . 3rd cousins it is. O well , there goes free accommodation next time I get to London.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: iceni44 on Tuesday 01 June 10 19:07 BST (UK)
I am of firm conviction that my mother-in-law was a direct descendant of the devil, happily ,if true, then she is now back with her ancestor ;)
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Redroger on Saturday 05 June 10 19:56 BST (UK)
Interestingly I find the surname Walsh in my father's tree at about the right time for the indiscretions of George III with a lady of this name. Many years ago I decided that the only way to get fame was to do it myself! Got some way up the ladder then fell off!! Reckon I got 25 minutes of fame instead of 15, but I was told at the time I was a natural for TV. With my looks I think sarcasm was intended.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Sharon01 on Saturday 05 June 10 20:19 BST (UK)
My mother has always told me that somehow my g grandmother was related to Johnny Weissmuller. Have never found the connection though, might show up one day. Then again family rumours are hard to prove!!!

Sharon.

Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: Simon G. on Sunday 06 June 10 00:50 BST (UK)
It's relatively distant (we're 6th cousins, or something like that), but I'm related to David Suchet through his Jezzard ancestors.  Was quite interesting when WDYTYA had that episode about him a few years ago...quite a shock to see names you know from you own research mentioned on the tele.
Title: Re: Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?
Post by: dusty_streets on Monday 07 June 10 17:01 BST (UK)
Stewart Granger, the actor. His stepmother was my hubbie's grannies sister  ;D ;D ;D Not sure whether that counts.

Is that another Country song?  ;D