#1Sports
Phil Jones
born 1992English association football player, born 1992
63 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Preston, Lancashire
No town in Lancashire has more famous people than Preston: 346
Phil Jones leads the list, covered in 63 languages. Close behind are Richard Arkwright and Sam Johnstone. 134 of them were born in the 20th century, more than in any other period. Births since 1970 account for 125 of the names.
Born here
346
notable people
Best known
Phil Jones
in 63 Wikipedia languages
First
1620
John Wall
Youngest
2006
Dominic Richmond
Most common field
Sports
222 people
What stands out about Preston’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Preston
Athletes take two of the three places.
#1
#2Business
Richard Arkwright
1732–1792Textile entrepreneur; developer of the spinning frame (known as the water frame)
46 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Sports
Sam Johnstone
born 1993English association football player (born 1993)
40 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Preston’s famous people were born
More were born in the 1980s than in any other decade: 50.
SportsWriting & ArtsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageScience & MedicineMusicNotableFaithMilitaryBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Known for
What Preston is known for
Preston has 1.3× the usual share of athletes.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Preston
343 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Gordon Milne
born 1937English association football footballer and manager (born 1937)
SportsWikipedia ↗
John Bagot Glubb
1897–1986British military officer, scholar and author (1897–1986)
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
Craig Dootson
born 1979English footballer (born 1979) Father of 4,11 Benjamin Robert Dootson
SportsWikipedia ↗
James N. Goodier
1905–1969Professor of applied mechanics at Stanford University (1905-1969)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Christopher Kenworthy
born 1968British writer, artist, and former film director; moved to Australia in 1997
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
George Grenfell Baines
1908–2003English architect and town planner (1908–2003)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Stanley Bennett Hough
1917–1998British author of science fiction (1917-1998)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Around it, Bamber Bridge has the most people on record, 13 of them.
Questions about famous people from Preston
Who is the most famous person from Preston?
Phil Jones (English association football player, born 1992) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 63 languages. Next come Richard Arkwright and Sam Johnstone.
How many famous people were born in Preston?
346 people born in Preston have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 398 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Preston known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 222 of the 346. That is 64% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Preston?
John Wall, born in 1620. The youngest on the list was born in 2006.
Who counts as from Preston?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Preston’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 (89)
- Phil Jones: Matt Janzer from Missoula, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Arkwright: Joseph Wright of Derby, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Johnstone: Catherine Kõrtsmik, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gordon Milne: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Finney: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tim Farron: Richard Townshend, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Bagot Glubb: Willem van de Poll, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kevin Kilbane: Wanaka at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Lawrenson: Hans van Dijk for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Holly Bradshaw: Cozzamara, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Sumner: New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Delaney: Georges Seguin (Okki), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Flintoff: Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andy Lonergan: Adamj1987 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ronnie Clayton: Eskil Malmberg, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hugh Carthy: Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alan Kelly Jr.: Michael Kranewitter, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Thompson: Published by Herder, MO, USA, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Cresswell: Paté kroute, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert W. Service: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Samantha Murray: UNCTAD, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Clarke Carlisle: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24150198@N03/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Burns: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Karen Pierce: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Angela Brazil: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Lucas: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dion Charles: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Josh Morris: Bradford City AFC, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edith Rigby: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Graeme Thomas: Zorni07, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mary Anne Hobbs: HeatherHeatherHeather, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stacey Kemp: David W. Carmichael, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Walsh: Jonesy702, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chloe Birch: Nardisoero, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Bibby: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Holmes: Chatham House, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Holmes: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Devis: Arthur Devis, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ashley Eastham: Joe Vitale 5, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elliot Watt: Pedro Semitiel from Cehegín, España, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Berry: Daniele Mattioli, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Allen: biddleofnowhere, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Myres: HM Passport Office, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Luke Mulholland: Realsoccernation, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathan Pond: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bob Howarth: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Helen Lemmens-Sherrington: uncredited, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Craigen: Andrew Hendo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Proctor: Chris Page from Rotherham, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Gorst: Leslie Ward, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mick Docherty: Adam Haworth, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Stuart Lake: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- A. J. Hartley: John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Hinchliffe: Ceaton89, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Don Foster: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hannah Nuttall: Bearas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph P. Newsham: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Anderton: CLEMENATOR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rhys Turner: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Catterall: Ashley Columbus, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Craig Dootson: HTFC at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elliot Hilton: K. "bird" N., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Florrie Redford: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Isaac Mabaya: Werner100359, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jenn Ashworth: JamesBWatson, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Horam: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jonathan Smith: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Katie Anderton: Cpshorrock at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Ingham: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kens_eye/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Miles Briggs: The Scottish Parliament, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Neil Swarbrick: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Cullen: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Hind: Blackcat it, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Annie Tinsley: maybe anon maybe Peet, Henry, 1856-1938, Antiquary and Writer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Anulka Dziubinska: Cambist Films, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Heather Baron-Gracie: Foz87, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Potts: https://www.flickr.com/photos/vagueonthehow, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Cornthwaite: Diocese of Beverley, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Bailey: Dave Morton, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Kirby: Thebees1889, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alice Kell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Burns: Dave Haygarth, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Christopher Vose: Agence Rol, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Schofield: Bamberini8, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dominic Richmond: Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian McCulloch: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elizabeth Wallwork: Published in Supplement to the Auckland Weekly News, 7 March 1934, p.33; photographic studio Green and Hahn, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Wade Barrett: Shamsuddin Muhammad from Fort Hood, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kathleen Ferrier: Polygoon Hollands Nieuws, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, 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.