The South West of England has been the birthplace and inspiration to so many people throughout history.

Explorers, inventors, artists and writers, politicians and sporting heroes. From Sir Francis Drake to Sir Francis Chichester. From Thomas Hardy to JK Rowling. From King Arthur to Nancy Astor. From W G Grace to Ellen McArthur.

This list is by no means definitive. Why not email us if you know of a famous person from the South West?

Famous People of South West England

• Famous Adventurers & Explorers
• Ancient History
• Religious Connections
• Military History
• Inventors & Innovators
• The Arts
• Literary Connections
• Political Figures
• Sporting Heroes

If you are interested in tracing your family roots and would like to build your own family tree, here are some useful websites to help you start the search. You never know, you might be related to one of these famous people!

General Sites UK

These sites give you tips on how to start tracing your family history.

• www.familyrecords.gov.uk/
• www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Regional Record Offices

• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bristol
• Cornwall
• Dorset History Centre
• Gloucestershire
• Somerset
• Wiltshire