8 Descendants of Famous People From History
Many of us tend to wonder about our ancestors, the time they lived in, and what their lives looked like. And even though most people don’t have a lot of information about their relatives from the past, some actually share a unique connection, as they come from the lines of very famous people.
We wondered how descendants of some famous people from history look today and if their lives are similar to their predecessors, so we made this list of them.
1. Elvis Presley and Riley Keough
The King of Rock ’n’ Roll was married to Priscilla Presley, and they had one daughter together, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie’s daughter from her first marriage is Riley Keough who inherited her grandparents’ genes, as she is also an actress.
2. Jane Austen and Anna Chancellor
The actress, Anna Chancellor, who played Caroline Bingley in the 1995 film, Pride and Prejudice, is a descendant of Jane Austen. She can trace her maternal genealogy down to Edward Austen Knight of Chawton.
3. Charles Dickens and Harry Lloyd
The English actor who is famous for his portrayal of Viserys Targaryen in the first season of the HBO series, Game of Thrones, is a great-great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens. Dickens was one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era, and his books are still read today.
4. Leonardo da Vinci and Franco Zeffirelli
Leonardo da Vinci was and still is one of the most influential people that ever lived. He was an artist, painter, sculptor, engineer, and scientist. Even though he didn’t have children of his own, historians did find people today who have a direct genetic link to the Renaissance polymath. One of them is director and opera designer Franco Zeffirelli.
5. Alain Delon and Alyson Le Borges
Alain Delon is one of the most prominent actors who rose to fame during the 1960s and 1970s. He won many prestigious awards for his work, and his granddaughter, Alyson Le Borges, is following in his footsteps, as she is also an actress.
6. Sigmund Freud and Matthew Freud
Sigmund Freud was known for his work as a neurologist, and he was also the founder of psychoanalysis. His great-grandson, Matthew Freud, is a businessman and a public relations executive.
7. William Shakespeare and Meghan Markle
Shakespeare, the legendary playwright, and Meghan Markle are fifth cousins 13 times removed, according to the genealogical website. She is related to the poet on her mother’s side.
8. F. B. Fetherstonhaugh and Christopher Plummer
Frederick Barnard Fetherstonhaugh was an agent and patent attorney and had an impressive law career. Fetherstonhaugh is also a great-uncle to famous and legendary actor Christopher Plummer whose career lasted for 65 years.
Were you surprised to find that there are living descendants of famous people from history? Do you know about some other examples?