Have you discovered a (living) famous person in your extended family?

[Paul Caswell]

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

[stoney]

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!)

[macphail]

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

[Matt R]

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!

[Deb D]

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.

 

[Windsor87]

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. 

[jc26red]

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
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

[keebleancestors]

Not living, as far as I know, although if everyone of the same surname is related I could speculate my relationship to Johnny Depp    (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.

[Burrow Digger]

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