#1Famous people · Newport, Gwent
Newport leads Gwent with 353 famous people
Michael Sheen, the Welsh actor, is the most widely known, written about in 54 languages. Second and third on the list are Peter Greenaway and Chris Gunter. In the 20th century, 146 were born, the most of any period. Born in 1755, Lewis Evans is the first name on record, and Sonny Lewis, born in 2005, the most recent.
Born here
353
notable people
Best known
Michael Sheen
in 54 Wikipedia languages
First
1755
Lewis Evans
Youngest
2005
Sonny Lewis
Most common field
Sports
256 people
What stands out about Newport’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Newport
Counted by languages, Michael Sheen is ahead of Peter Greenaway and Chris Gunter: 54, 48 and 40.
#1
#2Film, TV & Stage
Peter Greenaway
born 1942Welsh film director (born 1942)
48 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Sports
Chris Gunter
born 1989Welsh association football player (born 1989)
40 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Newport’s famous people were born
More were born in the 1990s than in any other decade: 44.
SportsWriting & ArtsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageMusicScience & MedicineBusinessNotableMilitaryFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Known for
What Newport is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as athletes, at 1.5 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Newport
350 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking
born 1934British politician (born 1934)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Ruth Jones
born 1962British physiotherapist, trade unionist and politician (born 1962)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
John Savage
1932–2003Canadian politician, premier of Nova Scotia, (1932–2003)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Terry Matthews
born 1943Welsh-Canadian business magnate, serial high tech entrepreneur, and Wales' first billionaire
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Annie Brewer
1874–1921Nurse who served on the front line in France throughout World War One (1874-1921)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Clifford Allen, 1st Baron Allen of Hurtwood
1889–1939British politician and pacifist (1889-1939)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Close by, the fullest list is Cwmbrân’s, at 29 names.
Questions about famous people from Newport
Who is the most famous person from Newport?
Michael Sheen (Welsh actor) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 54 languages. Next come Peter Greenaway and Chris Gunter.
How many famous people were born in Newport?
353 people born in Newport have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 382 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Newport known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 256 of the 353. That is 73% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Newport?
Lewis Evans, born in 1755. The youngest on the list was born in 2005.
Who counts as from Newport?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Newport’s built-up area (the ONS 2022 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 the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary (Office for National Statistics, 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 (86)
- Michael Sheen: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Greenaway: Sławek, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Gunter: Dan Goddard, who uploaded the image using the handle Dangoddardphoto on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Desmond Llewelyn: Towpilot, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Collins: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Pulis: ifcs_media, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lauren Price: National Lottery Good Causes, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- W. H. Davies: Coburn, Alvin Langdon, 1882-1966 -- Photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alan Rees: Evers, Joost / Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 923-6047, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Wikimedia Commons
- Gareth David-Lloyd: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Henry Thomas: Bain, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Darren Morgan: Nitschke_morgan.jpg: Implancik derivative work: Armbrust, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Grant Nicholas: PlasticHat, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Roberts: National Assembly for Wales, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Perce Blackborow: Frank Hurley, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan Jones: National Assembly for Wales from Wales, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Natasha Asghar: Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rhian Edmunds: Nicola, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Pagett: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Christian Doidge: Christiandoidge, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Frost: engraving by W. Read after a painting, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lee Evans: Æthelred, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Collier: DerHexer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gavin Rees: The original uploader was Vintagekits at English Wikipedia. (Original text: Vintagekits), CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Leslie Thomas: Henry Buckton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Rowlands: Rosiestep, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Gould: Siedle Bros Photography -- most likely Charles Frederick Siedle (died 1941 ), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Elmore: David Woolfall, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eddie Butler: Keith O'Brien aka https://www.flickr.com/photos/gefailgof/ cilmeri, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ellis Harrison: CLEMENATOR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jonathan Mould: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Josie d'Arby: Intheknowjoe, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Keith Baxter: Dorothy Ross Associates, New York, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lewis Lyne: No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Malindine E G (Capt), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ruth Jones: ©House of Commons / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Byron Anthony: Original photo by Jon Candy, from Cardiff, Wales. Cropped from original by user:Gasheadsteve, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Howard Passadoro: Made by the Genoa's official photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Preece: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Davies: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Julian Richards: Dekalog, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Kenny: DARTS NOW, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Scott Benton: David Woolfall, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aaron Collins: CLEMENATOR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aaron Wainwright: Bearas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Amy Hill: Henry Bucklow/Lazy Photography (Sffubs), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Benji Webbe: Frank Schwichtenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Darren Jones: EchetusXe, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jon Worth: jonworth.eu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Llewellyn Lloyd: Cadle's Cigarettes, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Stanley Llewelyn Wood: Stanley L. Wood (1866-1928), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Carpenter: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Amelia Womack: Krystyna Haywood, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bert Thomas: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Geen: J Williams & Co, Newport, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles William King: Luís de Miranda Pereira de Meneses, 2nd Viscount of Meneses, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Pritchard: Taddy's Cigarettes, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ellie Curson: Zider red at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Horace Lyne: Walter Alfred Pearce, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Griffiths: National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru profile, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jon Langford: Mr JM, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Lewis: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Keith Jarrett: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Octavius Morgan: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rio Dyer: stede64, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Henry Skinner: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, CC BY-SA 3.0 nz, Wikimedia Commons
- Annie Brewer: Not sure who took this photograph, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bert Gould: Unknown - possibly a photographer for Newport RFC, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Beth Reekles: Institute of Physics, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Shergold: Newport County FC, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bob Gould: Unknown - possibly a photographer for Newport RFC, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bradley Pryce: Vintagekits, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Newman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Travers: Anhysbys, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Coombes: Southey012, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jayne Bryant: National Assembly for Wales from Wales, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Batchelor: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kyron Duke: Jim Thurston from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lou Phillips: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Matt Bishop: ©House of Commons / Jessica Taylor, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Mullock: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Danny Gabbidon: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Machen: Arthur Machen, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Harrison: Laurent Brun, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Dawes: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rosa M. Morris: 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.