#1Writing & Arts
C. S. Lewis
1898–1963British writer, lay theologian, and scholar (1898–1963)
132 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Belfast, Belfast
Of the 1,511 famous people born in Belfast, none is better known than C. S. Lewis
132 languages have an article about C. S. Lewis. Second place goes to the British physicist and engineer William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, third to George Best. Leaders are unusually common here: 267, 2 times the usual share. In the 20th century, 859 were born, the most of any period.
Born here
1,511
notable people
Best known
C. S. Lewis
in 132 Wikipedia languages
First
1660
George Maccartney
Youngest
2008
Milo Beimers
Most common field
Sports
573 people
What stands out about Belfast’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Belfast
C. S. Lewis, William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin and George Best are written about in 132, 99 and 88 languages.
#1
#2Science & Medicine
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
1825–1907British physicist and engineer (1824–1907)
99 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Known for
What Belfast is known for
Leaders stand out most, at 2 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When Belfast’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1950s come out on top, with 197 births.
SportsPolitics & LawWriting & ArtsFilm, TV & StageScience & MedicineNotableMusicMilitaryFaithBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born. The 400 best known are plotted.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Belfast
1,508 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Sammy McIlroy
born 1954Northern Irish association football manager and former player
SportsWikipedia ↗
Benjamin Glazer
1887–1956Screenwriter, producer, foley artist, and director of American films (1887-1956)
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Alister McGrath
born 1953Northern Irish theologian, Anglican priest, and academic (born 1953)
FaithWikipedia ↗
Brian Moore
1921–1999Novelist and screenwriter from Northern Ireland (1921-1999)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Michael Duff
born 1978Northern Irish association football player and manager (born 1978)
SportsWikipedia ↗
Grant McCann
born 1980Northern Irish association football player and manager (born 1980)
SportsWikipedia ↗
Pat Finucane
1949–1989Irish human rights lawyer and murder victim (1949-1989)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Eileen Percy
1900–1973Irish-born American actress of the silent era (1900-1973)
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Kiera Chaplin
born 1982Model, entrepreneur and actress from Northern Ireland
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
William Mulholland
1855–1935Engineer and builder of the Los Angeles Aqueduct (1855-1935)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Bulmer Hobson
1883–1969Leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (1883–1969)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Philippa Whitford
born 1958Scottish physician and politician (born 1958)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Billy McKee
1921–2019Founding member and former leader of the Provisional IRA (1921-2019)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Margaret Matilda White
1868–1910New Zealand photographer and nurse (1868-1910)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, Lisburn lists the most people: 93.
Lisburn · 7 miRay Stevenson & 92 more
Newtownards · 10 miEddie Irvine & 44 more
Holywood · 5 miJamie Dornan & 23 moreCMMetropolitan Newtownabbey · 6 miCallum Marshall & 18 more
Comber · 8 miThomas Andrews & 16 moreNBMetropolitan Castlereagh · 3 miNoel Brotherston & 11 more
Hillsborough and Culcavy · 11 miHamilton Harty & 9 more
Saintfield · 10 miFrancis Hutcheson & 4 moreQuestions about famous people from Belfast
Who is the most famous person from Belfast?
C. S. Lewis (British writer, lay theologian, and scholar (1898–1963)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 132 languages. Next come William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin and George Best.
How many famous people were born in Belfast?
1,511 people born in Belfast have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 1,705 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Belfast known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 573 of the 1,511. That is 38% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Belfast?
George Maccartney, born in 1660. The youngest on the list was born in 2008.
Who counts as from Belfast?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Belfast’s settlement (NISRA’s settlement development limit), a hospital or district within it included, whose English Wikipedia article agrees. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.
Why is someone missing?
Their Wikidata birthplace may be a bigger area (“London”), another town, or missing, or their article may give no birthplace. We only list people both sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.
From Wikidata (CC0: birthplaces, descriptions, years, occupations) and English Wikipedia (each person’s article confirms the birthplace; linked, not quoted). Birthplaces are placed in the town by NISRA’s Settlement Development Limits 2015 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Fields are read from Wikidata’s description and occupations. “The usual town”: everyone listed across UK towns. Portraits: each person’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (132)
- C. S. Lewis: John S. Murray, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin: T. & R. Annan & Sons; restored by Adam Cuerden[1], Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Best: Hans Peters for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mairead Maguire: Free Gaza movement, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Betty Williams: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Branagh: K6ka, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Trimble: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gary Moore: Tibban99, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chaim Herzog: Knesset photographer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jonny Evans: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Osborne Reynolds: John Collier, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Van Morrison: Art Siegel (artolog on flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gerry Adams: Sinn Féin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ciarán Hinds: WelcomeScreenUK, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Stewart Bell: CERN, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Rea: BackPacKer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alex Higgins: Bigpad, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Brunt: The original uploader was Dan1980 at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Danny Blanchflower: NL-HaNA, ANEFO / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Norman Whiteside: apasciuto, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Craig Cathcart: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce: Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Andrews: Peter Guthrie Tait and Alexander Crum Brown, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Galway: Shtue, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Anna Burns: DublinLibrarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Corry Evans: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Marshall Watson: Chris Bloom from Durban, South Africa, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Pat Rice: joshjdss, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Conor McLaughlin: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Robinson: Scottish Government, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paddy Barnes: Boxing AIBA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sammy McIlroy: Stew jones, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Owen Nolan: Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paula Malcomson: Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Una O'Connor: film screenshot (Selznick Studio - United Artists), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Glazer: Unknown; publicity shot, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lyra McKee: International Journalism Festival from Perugia, Italia, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Donnelly: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Conlan: Web Summit, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alister McGrath: Matthias Asgeirsson from Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George McCartney: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian McElhinney: Sam from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan McLaughlin: md.faisalzaman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Laura Donnelly: The Tony Awards, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Liam Boyce: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bob Bell: http://formula1photos.tn38.net/, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Brian Kennedy: William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David McCreery: RyanH17, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jackie Blanchflower: Eskil Malmberg, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John McNally: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Patricia Quinn: steve cranston, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ronnie Carroll: Harry Pot for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alan McDonald: Original uploaded by P mcveigh (Transferred by Camw), CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barry Douglas: Send by Pdeege, picture originates from IMG Artists, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elisha Scott: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jenn Murray: Siobhannichi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Lavery: Unknown photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Duff: Tykes TV, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Warren Christie: LosCriticologos, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Derek Mahon: Marina Masinova, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Damian O'Connor: JJ Williams, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Thomson: The original uploader was Seanwal111111 at English Wikipedia., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Longley: Andrewincowtown, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rebecca Shorten: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert McLiam Wilson: StephenDedalus2018, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Siobhán McKenna: Photo by Talbot, NY, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gavin Whyte: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Grant McCann: Nicole towler, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon: John Lavery, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ralph Bryans: Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wayne McCullough: Vintagekits, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Anthony Boyle: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gerry Taggart: Stew jones, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Douglas Ogilby: Неизвестен, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jim Magilton: Nick from Chelmsford, Essex, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jordan Thompson: Tadeáš Bednarz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Karen Hassan: Sarah Winterman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Smiley: GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Pat Finucane: Sinn Féin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Reg Empey: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Samuel Ferguson: Mary Catharine Ferguson, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Brian Desmond Hurst: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David McCann: Mogens Engelund, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eileen Percy: Fox Film Corporation, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Cassidy: Joan McCommiskey, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Geraldine Hughes: Wimps.tv, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack McMillan: National Lottery Good Causes, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Moore: Keith Edkins, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Moyna Macgill: Clarence Sinclair Bull (MGM), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Stirling: Harrias, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Simon McBride: Stefan Brending (2eight), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Morrow: Jason Gulledge, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Burns: MilfordBoy1991, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- W. Brian Arthur: World Economic Forum, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William McGuckin de Slane: Charles Reutlinger, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Danny Morrison: Sinn Féin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kiera Chaplin: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lola Petticrew: AMFM STUDIOS LLC, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Sykes: Irish Football Fan TV, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Mulholland: Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Thompson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bulmer Hobson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Carl Frampton: Sinn Féin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Kyle: Unknown (Crown Studios of Wellington), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Galway: Michendo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin McCann: Martinmccann83, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathan Connolly: Sven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paddy Hopkirk: Geofones, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Philippa Whitford: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rosemary Coogan: Sebastiaan ter Burg from Utrecht, The Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Warren Feeney: Jon Candy from Cardiff, Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bap Kennedy: brenda kennedy, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy McKee: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bobby Storey: Sinn Féin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bríd Brennan: Dublin International Film Festival, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Eastwood: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Conor Burns: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Humphreys: Alastair Crease, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elizabeth Dowdeswell: LGOntario from Ontario, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Joy McCracken: Original uploader was Fawcett5 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Beattie: Evamaria from Basel, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Iris Robinson: Titanic Belfast, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Emerson Tennent: Andrew Nicholl, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John McCrea: Mvuijlst at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Margaret Matilda White: Margaret Matilda White, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Marissa Callaghan: Anders Henrikson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ray Stevenson: Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eddie Irvine: Franmarjos, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Dornan: Dublin International Film Festival, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Andrews: Original uploader was User:Gelosia at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hamilton Harty: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Hutcheson: Allan Ramsay, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.