Think about your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, their parents, their grandparents, their great-grandparents, your uncles, aunts, great aunts… Good. Now are/were any of those people famous? What about that second cousin of yours? Or is your niece a now-famous TikTok influencer?
It’s always fun to discover connections to well-known figures, whether they were historical leaders, famous entertainers, or even internet celebrities.
Maybe you’ve always known about a distant relative who made a mark in history, or perhaps a recent genealogy search uncovered a surprising link to someone well-known.
Some families have long-standing stories about being distantly related to presidents, inventors, or even Wild West outlaws. Others might have a modern-day claim to fame—like a cousin who starred in a hit TV show or a sibling who went viral overnight.
Even if you don’t have a celebrity relative, family history is full of fascinating characters. Maybe your great-grandfather wasn’t famous worldwide, but he was a local legend in his small town. Perhaps your grandmother was a groundbreaking scientist in her field, even if her name never made the headlines.
And who knows—maybe your own adventures on the road will make you the famous one someday!
Are you related to someone famous, past or present? If you answer yes, make sure you leave a comment and tell us about them! We can’t wait to hear.
MORE FUN/INTERESTING POLLS
- Have you ever seen a ghost?
- Do you swim in campground pools?
- Do you like pickles?
- What would you fear stumbling upon most in the wild — a bear, rattlesnake or alligator?
- Growing up, were your parents good role models?
##RVDT2614
Miles Standish, John Alden, and Aaron Burr
Belle Starr
I could answer’yes’ if it were infamous. My ancestors were moonshiners!
John Alden. Hi cuz,
Antonio Dvořàk
Antonin!
His New World Symphony, and many other of his works, are favorites of mine.
Annually, every Good Friday, I take time to listen to his Sabat Mater (Sorrowful Mother). He was a true musical master!
Maybe 47 times twice removed if I could find the paper trail.
He may have eaten it.
my great great great uncle is buried in Westminster. He wrote queen Elizabeth the first wedding song and many bible songs.
Mary Todd Lincoln (Abraham Lincolns wife) on my father’s side and on my mothers side Tadeusz Kosciuszko (Polish general who helped the Continnental Army during the Revolutionary War)
We have Booth in our lineage, not sure if it’s the infamous or not….
A town nearby to me, Winona, MN, has a large Polish heritage and a school named after Kosciuszko. 🙂
Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill
My great-uncle played for the Detroit Tigers in 1913.
Jesse James
He was my 8th cousin 4 times removed.
Adam and Eve.
👍😁
Captain John Locke (1627-1696) a very early settler in New Hampshire and on the other side of the coin (criminal wise) a cousin (3rd or 4th) who was part of Al Capone’s gang although my grandfather got irate when we as teens discovered this and were bragging. Pap was embarrassed by it and lost his cookies, I feel as though I’m not accountable for others actions so if he’s burning in hell its on him! 😂
My 5th great grandfather was Eleazer Wheelock, the founder of Dartmouth College. His father, my 6th great grandfather, was Col. Silas Wheelock who fought in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
King of Norway centuries ago!
Our family doesn’t have a family tree, it is more like a ground crawling bush. I’m not sure I need, or want to know where or when it shows up.
Daniel Boone!
He was my 5th great uncle as his younger brother Squire Boone was my 5th great grandfather , So we are around 6th or 7th cousins.
Said ‘yes’, but only applying Andy Warhol’s comment that everyone achieves 15 minutes of fame in their lifetime. 🙂
My wife is the 5th great-granddaughter of John Coulter, who worked with Lewis and Clark and is believed to be the first white man to discover the Tetons and Yellowstone. I am related to the bass player for Michael Martin Murphy. He is also an artist in Santa Fe, NM.
One of my past relatives on my mothers side (a judge) wrote the words to O’Canada – It started out as a poem.
Patrick Henry and General Joseph E Johnston
Did a little ancestry search with a family tree and found out I’m related to Ben Franklin! Still trying to decide whether to be proud (great countryman and inventor) or embarrassed (in his personal life he could be a stinker!). Whatever, we don’t pick our relatives.
William Butler Hickok aka Wild Bill Hickok.
Wild Bill was my 7th cousin 5 times removed.
John Wayne, the actor’s 5th great grandmother came from my family tree. Another distant relative would be Cornelius Bliss. He turned down an offer to appear on the Republican ticket as McKinley’s running mate in 1900. Had he accepted, he would have become the U.S. President when McKinley was assassinated in 1901 instead of Theodore Roosevelt, although he did run Roosevelt’s campaign for election in 1904.
John Wayne is my 10th cousin.
Davey Crockett
Yes, Betsy Ross. My 2nd cousin, 16 times removed.
According to the family tree my mother and her brother compiled, Betsy Ross is my 5th great grandmother. From her and her third husband.
I’ve been told by my much older relatives that my great, great, great, great grandfather was Robert E. Lee.
Robert E. Lee was my 6th cousin 7 times removed.
That’s pretty cool. I wrote great 4 times, but I think it’s probably more like 5 great grandfathers.
Luther Burbank is my great uncle. Famous horticulturist.
Charles Hatfield aka The Rainmaker, was a great, great uncle. Also had another great uncle who was an accomplished western artist in his time, Robert Strathearn.
Yes, many, I belong to a family tree site, wikitree.com and it sends me a connection list every week. The connections range from 14 to upper 20’s. Many are from births in the 1700’s or earlier. Fun to see.
President John Adams, Ty Cobb and Ted Williams
President Adams was my 5th cousin 7 times removed.
I’m distant cousin to all but 2 of the U.S. Presidents (Polk and Clinton are the two I’m not related to.) Also related to Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill both distant cousins. My 5th Great Grandfather was Squire Boone, the younger brother to Daniel Boone, My 8th cousins once removed are Walt Disney, Lucille Ball, DeForest Kell, and Greg “Pappy” Boyington,and lots more famous persons are distant cousins.. The Allertons that came over on the Mayflower are my 10th Great Grandparents. Also Rosa Parks was my 10th cousin twice removed. I am on familysearch.org which is where I was able to trace all this info.
Apparently to Madonna, from my mom’s side. Funny thing is I’m from Quebec, but my kids went to the same high school as her in Michigan
My sister-in-law is also related to Madonna. Strange thing is a pic of my SIL’s mother’s wedding pic. She is a spitting image of Madonna. Family also has the name Cicone. Nobody talks about her though!
My cousin is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 1950’s Baltimore Colts. He was a “split end” before the position became better known as “wide receiver” and was Johnny Unitas’ favorite receiver. His name: Raymond Berry.
I’m related to Laura Ingalls Wilder on my dad’s side. The “covered wagon” I travel in is a Grand Design fifth wheel and a lot more comfortable.
According to ancestry.com I’m related to 31 famous people. My fave is Adam West!!!
Oops that is actually through family search…
Dick Dunlap directed early years of the Oscars. (Cousin of mine.)
Based on the best info Ancestry has I am related to a guy named “Bathhouse John Coughlin”. An Alderman in Chicago 1st ward. Ranked as the 3rd most corrupt politician in Chicago history. On the good side he founded the Zoo in Colorado Springs CO. He was a distant Uncle or cousin (nobody talked about him).
Josef Strauss, designed and built the Golden Gate bridge. His wife was my great great aunt.
Not sure if I am related to a famous person – but my name is Jimmy Carter
Famous is “relative”. Uncle to my mother’s father was Elzy Lay, best friend of Butch Cassidy.
All of the presidents except Van Buren. All of the present-day monarchs in Europe, from the Grimaldis in Monaco to Norway and Sweden. All of this is according to FamilySearch.org.
No, but my wife is related to George Washington.
Daniel Boone’s sister is my 5 or 6th grandmother. Making Daniel a great grand uncle.
Squire Boone ( Daniel Boone’s younger brother) is my 5th great grandfather.
My cousin was PATSY CLINE
Music great of the 1950’s
Merriweather Lewis of Lewis and Clark. Am a direct descendant
I didn’t answer because I don’t know. I was adopted. In my adopted family the answer is no to my knowledge
Responding as requested. I’m related to a famous movie actor and a MLB baseball player. Both are long deceased now.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel! I have met and know some famous people, but none are directly or distantly related. Have a great week and safe travels!
One of my great-great-great? uncles was Captain Jacob Gearhart, an officer assigned by George Washington to procure boats for the now famous crossing of the Delaware.
Related to someone famous? For me that would be actress Sally Ann Howes and President Herbert Hoover.
James Beauregard Beam was my Maternal Grandma’s uncle and sold Kentucky bourbon under the name “Old Tub”, but was later changed to “Jim Beam”. Never saw a penny of that money…
My uncle was the famous and beloved NFL coach of the Houston Oilers: O.A. “Bum” Phillips. Luv Ya, Blue! He also coached the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints. Uncle Bum was humble and always grateful for his fortunate (and famous) life.
Centuries back, English kings, nobility, founder of Hartford, CT, Thomas Jefferson, & other lesser known. I just have wondered….what happened later…no money, no large properties, etc.😂