178 famous people were born in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, more of them soldiers and sailors than in most towns

Roland Barthes (French philosopher and essayist (1915–1980)) is the best known by our measure: 84 Wikipedia and sister-site articles in different languages. Next come Victor Grignard and Jean Marais.

178 people born in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin have a French Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace (and an English one that agrees, when there is one). Wikidata places 252 people here; the rest aren’t listed because an article names somewhere else or no town, or a check couldn’t be completed.

Among its famous people, writers and artists: 42 of the 178. That is 24% of the town’s list, against 25% across French towns.

Jean Nicolet, born in 1598. The youngest on the list was born in 2004.

People whose Wikidata birthplace is Cherbourg-en-Cotentin itself, matched by its INSEE code (a commune merged into it counts when the dates allow), whose French Wikipedia article agrees, and their English article too when they have one. A hospital or neighbourhood recorded without its commune isn’t matched. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.

Their Wikidata birthplace may be a hospital, a neighbourhood or a wider area, another commune, or missing, or their articles may not name a birthplace. We only list people the sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.