List of people from Yorkshire
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This is a list of people from Yorkshire. Yorkshire is the largest historic county in both England and the United Kingdom. Efforts have been made in the past to compile lists of the most noted people from Yorkshire, such as the Yorkshire Greats book by Sir Bernard Ingham which listed fifty Yorkshiremen and women.[1] Some of the most notable figures from the county are:
Saints
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John Fisher
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Margaret Clitherow | born in York | 1556–1586 | saint, martyr | [2] |
Edwin of Northumbria | Not born in Yorkshire | 585–633 | saint, King of Northumbria | [1] |
John of Beverley | Harpham and Beverley | d. 721 | bishop, founder and patron saint of Beverley | [3] |
John Fisher | Beverley | 1469–1535 | bishop, cardinal, saint, martyr | [4] |
Hilda of Whitby | 614–680 | princess, nun, nurse, founding abbess of Whitby Abbey and patron saint of Whitby | [5][6] | |
Blessed Nicholas Postgate | Egton | 1596–1679 | martyr | [7] |
Inventors, explorers, scientists and pioneers

Captain James Cook

Amy Johnson

Sir George Cayley
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edward Victor Appleton | 1892–1965 | Nobel Prize in Physics in 1947 | [8] | |
James Henry Atkinson | Leeds | 1849–1942 | inventor of the mousetrap | [9][10] |
Donald Bailey | 1901–1985 | inventor of the Bailey Bridge | [11] | |
William Bateson | 1861–1926 | geneticist; first to use term "genetics" | [1][12] | |
George Birkbeck | 1776–1841 | doctor, philanthropist, founder of Birkbeck College | [13] | |
Joseph Bramah | Barnsley | 1748–1814 | invented hydraulic press; one of two founders of hydraulic engineering | [1][14] |
Harry Brearley | 1871–1948 | Sheffield inventor of stainless steel | [15] | |
Henry Briggs | 1561–1630 | perfected system of logarithms used today by astronomers, navigators | [16] | |
Phil Burgan | 1951– | pharmacist; CEO and Chairman of MMCG | ||
Ralph Burton | d.1768 | British soldier and Canadian settler | [17] | |
Sir George Cayley | born in Scarborough | 1773–1857 | engineer, one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics | [1] |
Capt. James Cook | Marton, Middlesbrough | 1728–79 | Georgian oceanic explorer | [1] |
Rick Dickinson | 1956(?) | industrial designer responsible for the ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum and Sinclair QL keyboards and cases | [18] | |
John Harrison | Foulby | 1693–1776 | horologist and mathematician | [1] |
Amy Johnson | born in Hull | 1903–41 | aviator | [1][19] |
Joseph Priestley | born in Birstall | 1733–1804 | physicist and chemist | [20] |
Augustus Pitt Rivers | 1827–1900 | British Army officer, ethnologist, anthropologist and archaeologist | [1] | |
Nicholas Saunderson | Thurlstone | 1682–1739 | Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, University of Cambridge | [21] |
Helen Sharman | born in Sheffield | 1963– | first British astronaut | [1] |
Percy Shaw | born in Halifax | 1889–1975 | inventor of the cat's eyes reflecting roadstuds | [22] |
John Smeaton | 1724–92 | civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses | [1] | |
John Wycliffe | 1330–84 | theologian, reformist, pioneering translator | [1] | |
Politicians and activists

William Wilberforce
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Herbert Henry Asquith | born in Morley | 1852–1928 | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1908–16 | [23] |
William Bradford | born in Austerfield | 1590–1657 | Plymouth governor, pilgrim father | [1] |
Guy Fawkes | York | 1570–1606 | Yorkshire-born soldier, part of the Gunpowder Plot | [1][24] |
William Wilberforce | born in Kingston upon Hull | 1759–1833 | social campaigner who brought about the abolition of slavery | [1][25] |
Harold Wilson | born in Huddersfield | 1916–1995 | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1964–70 and 1974–76 | [26] |
Writers

Emily Brontë
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alcuin of York | born near York | 732–804 | Early Middle Ages scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher | [1][27] |
Alan Bennett | born in Leeds | 1934– | playwright and actor | ,[1] |
Anne Brontë | born in Thornton | 1820–49 | writer, author of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall | [28] |
Branwell Brontë | born in Thornton | 1817–48 | writer and artist | [28] |
Charlotte Brontë | born in Thornton | 1816–55 | writer, author of Jane Eyre | [28] |
Emily Brontë | born in Thornton | 1818–48 | writer, author of Wuthering Heights | [1][28] |
Ted Hughes | born in Mytholmroyd | 1930–98 | poet laureate of United Kingdom | [1] |
Andrew Marvell | born in Winestead-in-Holderness, East Riding of Yorkshire | 1621–78 | poet | [1] |
J. B. Priestley | born in Bradford | 1894–1984 | writer, novelist and broadcaster | [1] |
Entertainers
Actors and actresses
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Addy | York | actor | [29] | |
Julian Barratt | Leeds | actor, comedian | ||
Keith Barron | Mexborough | actor | [30] | |
Sean Bean | Sheffield | actor | [31] | |
Brian Blessed | Mexborough | actor | [32] | |
Chuckle Brothers | Rotherham | 1944–, 1947– | TV actors | |
Tom Courtenay | Hull, East Riding | actor | [33] | |
Dame Judi Dench | York | actress | [1] | |
Peter Firth | Bradford | actor | [1] | |
James Frain | Leeds | actor | [1] | |
Brian Glover | Sheffield (raised in Barnsley) | actor, comedian | [34] | |
Sir Ben Kingsley | Scarborough | actor | [1] | |
Charles Laughton | Scarborough | 1899–1962 | actor, screenwriter, and director of the film The Night of The Hunter | [1] |
Matthew Lewis | Leeds | actor | [35] | |
James Mason | Huddersfield | 1909–1984 | actor | [36] |
Michael Palin | Sheffield | 1943– | actor, comedian | [37] |
Andrew-Lee Potts | Bradford | actor | [38] | |
Paul Shane | Thrybergh | 1940–2013 | actor | [39] |
Jack Shepherd | Leeds | actor | [40] | |
Sir Patrick Stewart | Mirfield | actor | [41] | |
Elizabeth White | Rotherham | 1979– | actress | [42] |
Tom Wilkinson | Leeds | actor | [43][44] | |
Television performers
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jeremy Clarkson | Doncaster | presenter and former host of BBC TV's Top Gear | [45] | |
Paul Daniels | South Bank, Middlesbrough | 1938–2016 | illusionist, quiz show host | [46] |
Leigh Francis (Keith Lemon) | Beeston, Leeds | 1973–present | comedian, entertainer | |
Gorden Kaye | Huddersfield | 1941–present | actor | [47] |
Bob Mortimer | Acklam, Middlesbrough | 1959–present | comedian, entertainer | [48] |
Vic Reeves | Leeds | 1959–present | comedian, entertainer | [49] |
Ernie Wise | Bramley | 1925–1999 | comedian | [50] |
Musicians and bands
Melanie Brown
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arctic Monkeys | formed in Sheffield | indie band | [51] | |
James Arthur | born in Middlesbrough | 1988–present | singer | |
Asking Alexandria | formed in York | metalcore band | [52] | |
Dame Janet Baker | opera singer | [52] | ||
John Barry | best known for his soundtracks for James Bond films and Midnight Cowboy | [52] | ||
The Beautiful South | formed in Hull | popular music band | [52] | |
Bring Me The Horizon | formed in Sheffield | metalcore band | [52] | |
Arthur Brown | rock singer | [52] | ||
Melanie Brown | Leeds | member of the Spice Girls | [52] | |
Dewey Bunnell | folk rock singer/songwriter with band America | [52] | ||
Tony Christie | singer | [52] | ||
Joe Cocker | rock singer | [52] | ||
David Coverdale | born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea | lead vocalist for Deep Purple and Whitesnake | [53] | |
The Cribs | formed in Wakefield | indie band | [54] | |
Kiki Dee | singer/songwriter | [52] | ||
Def Leppard | formed in Sheffield | hard rock group | [52] | |
Frederick Delius | composer | [52] | ||
Gang of Four | formed in Leeds | post-punk group | [52] | |
Vin Garbutt | born in South Bank, Middlesbrough | folk singer | [55] | |
Lesley Garrett | opera singer | [52] | ||
Gareth Gates | born in Bradford | singer | [52] | |
Heaven 17 | 80s band | [52] | ||
The Human League | formed in Sheffield | synthpop band | [52] | |
Kaiser Chiefs | formed in Leeds | indie band | [52] | |
Zayn Malik | born in Bradford | former member of One Direction | ||
Jane McDonald | born in Wakefield | singer | ||
John Newman | born in Settle | 1990–present | soul singer | |
Robert Palmer | Batley | 1949–2003 | singer | [52] |
Pulp | formed in Sheffield | popular music band | [52] | |
Corinne Bailey Rae | born in Leeds | singer | [52] | |
Chris Rea | born in Middlesbrough | singer | [52] | |
Paul Rodgers | born in Middlesbrough | 1949–present | rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company | [56] |
Kate Rusby | folk singer | [52] | ||
Shed Seven | formed in York | indie-rock band | [52] | |
Ed Sheeran | born in Hebden Bridge | singer | ||
Kimberley Walsh | born in Bradford | member of pop group Girls Aloud | ||
Christopher Wolstenholme | born in Rotherham | bassist of Muse | [57] | |
Louis William Tomlinson | born in Doncaster | Member of boy group One Direction |
Sport
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
David Bairstow | born in Bradford, Yorkshire | 1951–January 1998 | cricketer | [1] |
Jonathan Bairstow | born in Bradford | 1989- | Yorkshire CCC and England cricketer and son of David. (Above) | [58] |
Geoffrey Boycott | born in Fitzwilliam | 1940– | Yorkshire CCC and England cricketer | [59] |
Alistair Brownlee | born in Dewsbury | 1988– | Olympic gold medalist, world champion in triathlon | [60] |
Jonathan Brownlee | born in Leeds | 1990– | Olympic silver medalist, world champion in triathlon | [60] |
Brian Clough | born in Middlesbrough | 1935–2004 | footballer and football manager | [1] |
Jessica Ennis | born in Sheffield | 1986– | Olympic gold medalist, world champion in heptathlon | [61] |
Darren Gough | born in Barnsley | 1970– | cricketer | [1] |
Alan Hinkes | 1954– | mountaineer, first Briton to climb world's highest 14 peaks | [1] | |
Len Hutton | born in Pudsey | 1916–90 | cricketer, Ashes-winning captain | [1] |
Innes Ireland | born in Mytholmroyd | Formula One driver | ||
Kevin Keegan | born in Doncaster | 1951– | footballer, 2 x European footballer of the year | [1] |
Jamie Reeves | born in Sheffield | 1962– | world champion strength athlete, World's Strongest Man of '89 | |
Joe Root | Sheffield | 1990 | Cricketer for Yorkshire CCC and England | [62] |
Jane Tomlinson | 1964–2007 | amateur athlete and cancer charity fundraiser | [63] | |
Fred Trueman | 1931–July 2006 | cricketer | [1] | |
Danny Willett | born in Sheffield | 1987– | golfer, second Englishman to win The Masters | [64] |
Artists and sculptors
Furniture Maker Robert Thompsons trademark mouse
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gertrude Spurr Cutts | 1858–1941 | painter | [65] | |
John Atkinson Grimshaw | 1836–1893 | painter | [1] | |
Barbara Hepworth | Wakefield | 1903–1975 | artist | [66] |
David Hockney | Saltaire | 1937– | artist | [1] |
Henry Moore | Castleford | 1898–1986 | sculptor | [1] |
Robert Thompson | Kilburn | 1876–1955 | carpenter, furniture maker recognised for his mouseman furniture, exclusively using Yorkshire Oak | [1] |
Miscellaneous
Name | Place | Life | Comments | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mary Bateman | born in Asenby, worked in Thirsk | 1768–1809 | "Yorkshire Witch"; convicted of fraud and murder, hanged | [67] |
John Christie | born in Illingworth | 1899–1953 (Hanged) | serial killer, known as "The Rillington Place Strangler" | [68] |
Ian Clayton | born in Featherstone | 1959– | Writer and broadcaster | |
Stephen Griffiths | born in Dewsbury | 1969 – | serial killer, known as "The Crossbow Cannibal" | [69] |
Mark Hobson | born in Wakefield | 1969– | 'spree killer' who murdered four people | |
Donald Neilson | born in Dewsbury | 1936–2011 | armed robber, serial killer, known as "The Black Panther" | [70] |
Jimmy Savile | born in West Riding | 1926–2011 | Prolific sex abuser of both adults and children, TV presenter, celebrity, charity fund-raiser | [71] |
Edward Simpson | born in Sleights | 1815–? | infamous forger of prehistoric flint tools, sold to many notable museums | [72] |
Peter Sutcliffe | born in Bingley | 1946– | serial killer, known as "The Yorkshire Ripper" | [73] |
People in fiction
- Dracula by Bram Stoker: A Russian ship, the Demeter, having weighed anchor at Varna, runs aground on the shores of Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, during a fierce tempest. Whitby continues to celebrate its link with Dracula, as well as its Victorian gothic past.[74]
- Beedle the Bard: In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter wizarding world, he is the fictional author of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Beedle was born in Yorkshire in the 15th century.[75][76]
- Robinson Crusoe: The title character from the novel by Daniel Defoe is from Yorkshire.
See also
- List of people from Kingston upon Hull
- List of people from Leeds
- List of people from Sheffield
- List of people from the East Riding of Yorkshire
- List of people from North Yorkshire
- List of people from South Yorkshire
- List of people from West Yorkshire
- List of Yorkshire County Cricket Club players
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Wainwright, Martin (13 October 2005). "The 50 greatest Yorkshire people?". London: Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- ↑ St Wilfrid's Church, York
- ↑ Catholic online
- ↑ New Advent
- ↑ The Celtic Resource Book by Martin Wallace, p. 101 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ The Story of Nursing by Jean McKinlay Calder, Roy Spencer, p. 28 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia; Ven. Nicholas Postgate
- ↑ Britannica.com
- ↑ "The Originating in Leeds". MyLearning.org. 24 October 2007.
- ↑ "The Patents". DiscoveringYorkshire.org. 24 October 2007.
- ↑ BBC
- ↑ Britannica
- ↑ Britannica
- ↑ Robinson Library
- ↑ Enjoyengland.com
- ↑ Britannica
- ↑ Curious Tales of Easy Yorkshire by Howard Peach, quoted at Google Books
- ↑ Claudia Cooke (August 1982). Sinclair User, ed. "Modest award winner sets the pace in micro design". Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ↑ "Amy Johnson pioneering aviator" (PDF). Hull Local Studies Library, Hull City Council. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
- ↑ "Joseph Priestley: Son of Birstall". Priestley Society. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ↑ The Royal Society Archives Retrieved: 28 March 2009
- ↑ Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology by Lance Day, Ian McNeil quoted at Google Books Retrieved: 5 January 2008.
- ↑ "Herbert Henry Asquith". Number10.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ↑ Shakespeare by Park Honan, p. 330 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ "William Wilberforce". Wilberforce 2007. 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- ↑ "Biography of Harold Wilson". National Cold War Exhibition. Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
- ↑ Anglo-Latin Literature, 600–899 By Michael Lapidge, p. 21 quoted at Google Books
- 1 2 3 4 The Life of Charlotte Bronte By Elizabeth Gaskell, p. 273 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ "Mark Addy Profile". Yahoo! UK & Ireland Movies. Yahoo!. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ↑ "TV Castings: Sydney Rae White Joins Sky1′s 'Starlings', Keith Barron To Reprise Role On BBC One's 'Lapland'". TVWise. p. 1. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ "Sean Bean Biography". Tiscali. p. 1. Retrieved 14 September 2006.
- ↑ "Brian Blessed". NNDB. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
- ↑ http://www.filmreference.com/film/28/Tom-Courtenay.html
- ↑ Vallance, Tom (25 July 1997). "Obituary: Brian Glover". London: The Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
- ↑ Biography for Matthew Lewis at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "James Mason". Find a Grave. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ↑ Michael Palin at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Andrew-Lee Potts Biography".
- ↑ "Paul Shane profile at AllMovie". www.allmovie.com. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ↑ http://www.gbtheatrecompany.com/cast2012.html
- ↑ Chadwick, Lauren (26 October 2007). "Stewart honoured". Mirfield Reporter. Dewsbury, England. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
- ↑ Liz White at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Tom Wilkinson – Biography". Talk Talk. Tiscali UK Limited. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ↑ "Tom Wilkinson". Yahoo! Movies. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ↑ "Doncaster's Jeremy Clarkson to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral". Doncaster Free Press. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ↑ Paul Daniels at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Gorden Kaye at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Bob Mortimer at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Vic Reeves at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Ernie Wise at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Aizlewood, John (27 January 2006). "Monkeys are top of the tree". Evening Standard. ES London Limited. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 A Yorkshire Miscellany By Tom Holman, p. 168 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ Prato, Greg. "David Coverdale: Biography". MSN Music. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ↑ Weiss, Rebecca (10 September 2007). "Spotlight On The Cribs". The Sun Online. The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ↑ Vin Garbutt Website: biography
- ↑ Middlesbrough Evening Gazette: Paul Rodgers honoured by Teesside University
- ↑ Muse Wiki: Christopher Wolstenholme
- ↑ "Jonathan M Bairstow". Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ↑ Arlott, John (1979). John Arlott's Book of Cricketers. 25 Favourites – Past and Present. Sphere Books Limited. p. 124. ISBN 0-7221-1277-7.
- 1 2 "Olympics triathlon: Alistair Brownlee wins Britain's 19th gold". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ Hart, Simon (4 August 2012). "Jessica Ennis crowns stunning Olympic gold medal heptathlon victory with blistering 800m run". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ↑ "Joe E Root". Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ↑ "Obituary – Jane Tomlinson". The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 December 2008.
- ↑ "Danny Willett secures first European Tour victory in Cologne". BBC Sport. 24 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ↑ "CUTTS, Gertrude E Spurr". Canadian Women Artists History Initiative. Concordia. 2012.
- ↑ Women Artists in the 20th and 21st Century by Uta Grosenick, Ilka Becker, p. 190 quoted at Google Books
- ↑ Davies, Owen (2004). "Bateman , Mary (1768–1809)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ↑ Simpson, Keith (1978). Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography. London: Harrap. ISBN 0-245-53198-X.
- ↑ "Stephen Griffiths charged with murder of three prostitutes – Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph (London). 27 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ Black Panther murderer Donald Neilson dying from Motor Neurone Disease – mirror.co.uk
- ↑ "West Yorkshire police to publish findings of Jimmy Savile report". The Guardian (London). Press Association. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ↑ Locker, R. 2011 Flint Jack: Prince of Forgershttp://whitbypopwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/flint-jack-prince-of-counterfeiters.html
- ↑ "1981: Yorkshire Ripper jailed for life", BBC On This Day, 22 May
- ↑ Dracula : the Gutenburg Project
- ↑ Rowling, J. K. (4 December 2008). The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition. Children's High Level Group. ISBN 0-545-12828-5. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
- ↑ Rowling, J. K. (4 December 2008). The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition. Children's High Level Group. ISBN 0-9560109-0-3. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
External links
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