#1Famous people · Dundee, Dundee City
Dundee counts 627 famous people, first among them Brian Cox
The best known is the Scottish actor Brian Cox, with articles in 48 languages. The largest group, 258, was born in the 20th century. The list is still growing: 141 were born since 1970. Charley Oosenbrugh, born in 2009, is the youngest, and Hector Boece, born in 1465, the first on record.
Born here
627
notable people
Best known
Brian Cox
in 48 Wikipedia languages
First
1465
Hector Boece
Youngest
2009
Charley Oosenbrugh
Most common field
Sports
331 people
What stands out about Dundee’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Dundee
First, Brian Cox (48 languages), then Williamina Fleming (48) and Katie Leung (43).
#1
#2Science & Medicine
Williamina Fleming
1857–1911Astronoma escocesa (1857-1911)
48 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Through the years
When Dundee’s famous people were born
More of them were born in the 1980s than in any other ten years, 57 in all.
SportsPolitics & LawScience & MedicineWriting & ArtsFilm, TV & StageMusicMilitaryBusinessNotableFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born. The 400 best known are plotted.
Known for
What Dundee is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as scientists and doctors, at 1.4 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Dundee
624 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
William Kidd
1645–1701Scottish sailor who was tried and executed for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
George Galloway
born 1954British politician, broadcaster, and writer (born 1954)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Peter Lorimer
1946–2021Scottish footballer, closely associated with the Leeds United football club (1946–2021)
SportsWikipedia ↗
Thomas James Henderson
1798–1844Scottish lawyer, astronomer and mathematician (1798-1844)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
William Lyon Mackenzie
1795–1861Scottish-born Canadian-American journalist and politician (1795–1861)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Richard Claverhouse Jebb
1841–1905British classical scholar and politician (1841–1905)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee
1838–1906British politician (1838–1906)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
George Mackenzie
1636–1691Scottish lawyer, Lord Advocate, essayist and legal writer (1636 – 1691)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Patrick Blair
1680–1728Scottish surgeon, anatomist and botanist (1680-1728)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Wilhelmina Hay Abbott
1884–1957Scottish suffragist, editor and feminist lecturer
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Claire McLintock
1965–2022New Zealand haematologist and obstetric physician
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
David Moore
1808–1879Scottish botanist born 1808, and director of the National Botanic Gardens, Ireland (1808–1879)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Alexander Colville, 7th Lord Colville of Culross
1717–1770Royal Navy admiral (1717-1770)
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
Allan MacDonald
1892–1978Accountant and politician, Senator for Western Australia (1892–1978)
BusinessWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Close by, St Andrews counts 98 famous people, the most of its neighbours.
Questions about famous people from Dundee
Who is the most famous person from Dundee?
Brian Cox (Scottish actor) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 48 languages. Next come Williamina Fleming and Katie Leung.
How many famous people were born in Dundee?
627 people born in Dundee have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 689 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Dundee known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 331 of the 627. That is 53% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Dundee?
Hector Boece, born in 1465. The youngest on the list was born in 2009.
Who counts as from Dundee?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Dundee’s locality (the NRS 2022 locality boundary), 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 National Records of Scotland’s Census 2022 locality boundaries (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 (106)
- Brian Cox: Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Williamina Fleming: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Katie Leung: German Comic Con, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Kidd: James Thornhill, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Adam: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Galloway: UK Parliament, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lesley Lokko: Lesley Lokko, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frances Wright: John Chester Buttre, after J. Gorbitz, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Ewing: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hector Boece: Unknown artist, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dick McTaggart: http://www.leolimpiadiditalia.it/pugili-italiani.html Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas James Henderson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Christian Dailly: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Narey: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Lyon Mackenzie: Archives of Ontario, I00146702, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Eilish McColgan: Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- A. L. Kennedy: Amrei-Marie, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Augustine Henry: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Jones: jon jordan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Derek Johnstone: Rob Croes for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bruce Millan: Marlis Decker, CC BY 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Stewart: Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Samuel Johnston: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Batchelor: ottmarliebert.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cissie Stewart: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Thompson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Steven Brand: Bslsmth, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexander Robertson: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Maurice Ross: EileenSanda, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ron Donachie: Nick Brooker, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Mackenzie: Bl4h.bl4h.bl4h.bl4h, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Barnes: James Guthrie, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Key Caird: The Library of Congress, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Wallace: [2], CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sinead Kerr: David W. Carmichael, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stewart Hosie: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Moore: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Colin McNab: Brittle heaven, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kevin McNaughton: Jon Candy from Cardiff, Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Claverhouse Jebb: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Catherine Read: Catherine Read, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fred Erentz: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Garry Kenneth: BohemianFC from Dublin , Ireland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kirsten Oswald: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee: George Charles Beresford (died 1938), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Don Paterson: summonedbyfells, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Keiller Greig: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kelly Schafer: 2010_Winter_Olympics_-_Curling_-_Women_-_GBR-SWE.jpg: Jonathan Pope from Vancouver, Canada derivative work: Voronwe, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Scott Fraser: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Scott Robertson: Alasdair Middleton from Rothesay, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas W. Lamb: National Vaudeville Artists, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Duncan: Motion Picture News Inc., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Boli: Supporterhéninois, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Barrett: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Ritchie: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Janet Gourlay: H. Walter Barnett, Knightsbridge, S.W., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Scott Keltie: Gustav Backofen, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Natasha McKay: Luu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Selma Dabbagh: Sriya Sarkar, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Flynn: Scottish Government, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Dick: H. Cook, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Cruikshank: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Aidan Connolly: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Archibald Bower: James MacArdell / After George Knapton, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Danny Wallace: Rich Hardcastle, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Finlay Robertson: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Mackenzie: Godfrey Kneller, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Cathro: David Nelson from Great Britain, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Skea: Orso3553, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lyall Cameron: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Malcolm Longair: Mark McCaughrean, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Simon Murray: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexander Keiller: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cammy Kerr: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Kinley: Paul Trebilcock (1902–1981) [1], Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ellie Greenwood: Ben Zengerink, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Cunningham: Bassano Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henrietta Watson: Lallie Charles, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Stanislaus Bell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Janet Greig: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Josh Mulligan: Stuartp1213, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Blyth: Global Voices for Justice, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ricky Ross: Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Kerr: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stewart Duke-Elder: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Wilhelmina Hay Abbott: Jus Suffragii, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Abercromby: The original uploader was Gildir at English Wikipedia., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Claire McLintock: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Meekison: The Terry Eng. Co., Columbus Ohio, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Moore: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edwin Scrymgeour: Unidentified photographer for Bassano Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Elizabeth Ann Macgregor: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Horne: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Mollison: Film screenshot (Monogram Pictures), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Dunlop: Published in Auckland Weekly News, 20 January 1921, page 32 - photographer: Esquilant, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John W. Brown: Walter case Anthony (1842-1930), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Duncan Baxter: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Agnes Forbes Blackadder: Image courtesy of the Decker family, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Allan MacDonald: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Old Tom Morris: Thomas Rodger, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bon Scott: Elfast, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexander Wood: Barraud & Jerrard, Photographers, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian McDiarmid: Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Gadd: Soccer Aid for UNICEF, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Agnes Husband: w:Alec Grieve, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
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