13 Historical Figures You Didn’t Know Were Related

History often seems like a closed chapter with the names and faces of people fixed for all eternity, far removed from today’s news and headlines. But unsuspectingly, there are many more celebrities related to historical figures than we realize, with family trees full of surprises. The lines connecting these celebs and their famous ancestors can get blurred, but it makes for an interesting perspective when you realize that there is a common bloodline between them. 

Some of these connections are of a royal nature, with the modern-day icons tracing their roots back to Kings, Queens, or even minor royalty. In other cases, it could be a bloodline that is shared with presidents, poets, scientists, and revolutionaries that reminds us that fame and influence can spread across the centuries. These unexpected twists in the family tree, whether it is by accident of birth or marriage, offer us a glimpse into how the legacies of the past continue to shape the present.

This isn’t just trivia. It is a reminder of how interconnected human history is. There is something quite awe-inspiring about realizing that the celebrity you admire is the descendant of someone who helped shape today’s world. So here is a list of 13 celebrities related to historical figures whose stories continue to inspire us today.

Bloodlines Beyond The Books

Here we discover some of the hidden family ties in history between modern-day celebrities and their ancestors, people who once held power and prestige. That these celebrities, famous in their own right, possess noble or royal roots may come as a surprise to many. Their genealogies highlight the enduring nature of dynasties and demonstrate how those threads are woven into today’s culture. 

1. Brooke Shields & King Henry IV of France

French Bourbon blood runs through the veins of Brooke Shields. Few people realize that this quintessential American celebrity can trace her bloodline far beyond Hollywood all the way to King Henry IV of France. The Pretty Baby and Blue Lagoon star can trace her lineage through her paternal grandmother, Marina Torlonia, to King Henry IV of France, the first Bourbon King who converted to Catholicism to solidify his reign.

The connection is quite profound, a glamorous star who is a blood relative of the King who won France by the sword. It has politics, religion, and modern-day entertainment woven into the fabric of history.

2. Maggie Gyllenhaal & Queen Victoria

Maggie Gyllenhaal has always balanced her introspective roles with a quiet and powerful presence such as her role as a submissive secretary in Secretary. Her background narrates an even more powerful connection to the past. Through her father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, she is a descendant of the noble Gyllenhaal family whose lineage links her to King Edward III of England. This makes her a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, both descendants of Queen Victoria.

Their relationship makes for quite a compelling contrast. An actress known for her creative spirit related to a Queen who symbolized endurance and transformation. 

Royal Roots And Revolutionary Minds

When we speak about famous people in history with surprising family ties, none are more unexpected than bloodlines that bridge royalty and a visionary mindset. These ties matter as they bring a deeper perspective to a historical legacy. Their influence is shared across time and different areas, showing how power isn’t only restricted to palaces and battlefields, but also very much present in cultural leadership.

3. Benedict Cumberbatch & King Richard III

Benedict Cumberbatch has captivated audiences portraying characters as varied as Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Strange. In a strange twist of fate, this visionary actor is a direct descendant of King Richard III. Said to be a second cousin 16 times removed, he actually plays the role of the Plantagenet King in the BBC series, Hollow Crown.

He was also involved in the reburial of Richard III in 2015, where he poignantly read a poem at the service. History came full circle at that event. The symmetry was telling, with one of the most celebrated actors in England embracing his roots as a distant cousin of one of England’s most controversial kings.

4. Madonna & Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Madonna’s historical family tree revealed a surprising link to royalty, with the Queen of Pop being a ninth cousin of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The irony is not lost on many if one were to consider some of her raunchy music videos as being performed by a member of the royal family.

The link serves as a reminder that while both Madonna and Camilla come from vastly different backgrounds, there is a common thread that unites them both, their shared ancestry.

5. Meghan Markle & Winston Churchill

Meghan Markle rose to fame as an actress in the hit series, Suits. Later, she became even more famous and controversial with her marriage to Prince Harry and their subsequent estrangement from the royal family. Now it comes to light that she is also a distant relative of Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister.

Although their paths to fame differ considerably, their shared ancestry links Meghan to the firebrand leader who led England to victory in WWII. Their relationship shows us how leadership can transcend eras, with Meghan’s charisma, grit, and determination mirroring Churchill’s hallmark traits.

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The Literary And Political Bloodline

Here we take a look at creativity and power that run alongside each other through the generations. They show us how intellectual prowess and political leadership can propagate through bloodlines, with similar traits and characteristics. The stories bridge the past and the present and are proof that creative and political influence go hand in hand and are passed down the generations.

6. Anderson Cooper & Cornelius Vanderbilt

Producer, writer, and actor Anderson Cooper is a broadcast journalist and TV anchor for CNN whose face is known the world over. His other claim to fame stems from his being a direct descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who is his great-great-great-grandfather.

Vanderbilt was a famous railroad and shipping tycoon who was the wealthiest man in the US at the time of his death in 1877. With that wealth, he wielded huge political power, and the qualities that made him wealthy, such as his ruthlessness and foresight, are very much present in his famous descendant.

Theirs is one of the examples of historical figures who were related to contemporary giants and how wealth, used wisely, can keep generating success through the generations. 

7. Bill Gates & Henry I

One of the wealthiest men in the world and the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, needs no introduction. He has achieved legendary status as an entrepreneur, business tycoon, investor, philanthropist, and visionary, a record few will ever come close to. Surprisingly, he is also a descendant of King Henry I, who became King of England in 1100 A.D.

While his ancestor strengthened royal authority and advanced both government and law, history will probably view Bill Gates’ achievements as the greater of the two, with far-reaching effects. Truly a case where the bloodline has been boosted through the millennia. 

Fame Runs In The Veins – Artists, Thinkers, And Icons

When creative brilliance and visionary minds are passed down the generations, you can be sure it is more than just a matter of bloodlines or genetics at work. It shows the influence that historical figures can have over contemporary celebrities and how they can influence culture even beyond the grave. 

8. Tom Hanks & Abraham Lincoln

Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood’s iconic actors, famed for his authentic portrayals of various characters. From Saving Private Ryan to the award-winning Forrest Gump, he has wowed audiences the world over. It really should come as no surprise that this genius of modern-day cinema shares an intriguing genealogical connection with the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. 

This unexpected connection between them reveals the connection between two men, one who led the country through the fight against slavery and the other for brought events and characters to life on the screen.

9. Sharon Stone & Charlemagne

That Sharon Stone, the actress well known for playing the femme fatale and one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s, is a descendant of Charlemagne, seems almost unbelievable. Charlemagne was, after all, the great ruler who united most of Western Europe and laid the foundations for Europe’s monarchies. That the two of them, separated by a millennium and linked by blood, highlight a remarkable heritage, and Stone herself was awestruck by the revelation. 

Fame really does run in the veins, and this revelation goes to show how personal history can deepen one’s understanding of identity.

When Science Meets Aristocracy

The intersection of aristocracy and the scientific world was a fertile one. The beginnings of modern scientific thought as Europe emerged out of the Dark Ages, were initially limited to a small circle, and it is no surprise that many of the early scientific minds were a part of the nobility or wealthy. Their privilege provided them with the means to an education and resources to fund their intellectual pursuits. 

Their lives remind us that intellect and the privilege of lineage can form powerful legacies when combined.

10. Henry Cavendish & Lord Charles Cavendish

Born in 1731, Henry Cavendish was one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds, an experimental and theoretical chemist who measured the density of the Earth and discovered Hydrogen. His upbringing in an elite family of the Norman aristocracy gave him access to the realms of the Royal Society, a premier scientific collective. These facilitated his groundbreaking research on gases, electricity, and thermometry. 

He is the classic example of how nobility and the intellect could unite to advance human knowledge for the betterment of all. 

11. Louis de Broglie & Napoleonic general Philippe Paul comte de Ségur

A pioneering physicist of the early 20th century, Louis de Broglie won the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work on Quantum Theory and for predicting the wave nature of the electron. As a member of one of the oldest noble French families, whose forefathers included the Napoleonic general Philippe Paul comte de Ségur, it was expected that he would pursue letters or diplomacy. Broglie, however, was a keen intellect who gravitated towards physics and helped shape modern quantum theory. 

His is another example of how the aristocracy provided a privileged intellectual environment for individuals to advance on their own merit and for the greater good.

Unexpected Modern-Day Connections

The family ties of famous figures sometimes make history seem a lot more personal. These unexpected modern connections can illustrate how famous figures who are related can change our perception of fame and lineage. The connections serve as a reminder that personal histories can carry echoes of dynasties, reaching into today’s world in surprising ways.

12. Johnny Depp & Queen Elizabeth II

Johnny Depp is famous for his portrayal of characters such as Edward Scissorhands and the disreputable Captain Jack Sparrow. For many, he is the epitome of the disreputable character he portrays so brilliantly in Pirates of the Caribbean. But the fact that he shares a common ancestor with Queen Elizabeth II in King Edward III and that they are 20th cousins beggars belief!

The link underscores how the most improbable persons can actually be part of a centuries-old dynasty that traces back to royalty. Truly one of the most unexpected of modern-day connections.

13. Uma Thurman & Queen Elizabeth II

Another royal connection surfaces in the case of Uma Thurman, the famous Hollywood actress from the hit movie, Pulp Fiction. It turns out that she is another distant relative of Queen Elizabeth II. Both of them can trace their ancestry back to King Edward I of England and are 21st cousins, once removed. And while the Pulp Fiction star and the beloved monarch may have never met, their genealogical connection does provide another link between conventional royalty and Hollywood royalty.

Conclusion

At first glance, celebrity status and history can feel like two separate universes, one under the glare of the spotlight and the other hidden away in dusty archives. But as we’ve seen, the past and the present are more intertwined than we can imagine, with the past continuing to influence the present in many different ways. These stories of celebrities and famous persons who are related to famous historical figures remind us that the legacy of bloodlines still reaches out into the present.

Whether it is a pop star with royal bloodlines or a scientist or literary giant with noble roots, we are constantly reminded that these personalities also possess a weighty ancestry in their genetic makeup. Sometimes, the fascinating stories are more about who these celebrities are, but also where they come from. 

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Sunil Kirpalani
Sunil Kirpalani

Sunil Kirpalani is a lifelong learner with a passion for exploring the world—both physically and intellectually. With a background that spans counseling, investment management, and even running his own café, Sunil brings a grounded, eclectic perspective to his writing. His work covers a wide range of topics, including psychology, medicine, food, travel, and finance. A fan of sci-fi, physics, music, and history, Sunil’s writing reflects his deep curiosity about the human experience and the systems that shape it. What began as freelance assignments soon evolved into a meaningful pursuit—crafting thoughtful, engaging content that informs, inspires, and sparks reflection.

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