Born here
208
notable people
Best known
Arthur Drewry
in 33 Wikipedia languages
Most common field
Sports
144 people
What stands out about Grimsby’s famous people ★ What stands out · Through the years When Grimsby’s famous people were born Count by decade and the 1980s come out on top, with 23 births.
Before the Georgians Georgian Victorian The 20th century Today 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Shirley Brasher Arthur Drewry Kate Haywood
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
The best known Born in Grimsby Languages with an article: 33 for Arthur Drewry, 23 for Matija Sarkic, 17 for Shirley Brasher.
#1 Sports Arthur Drewry 1891–1961 English football administrator (1891-1961)
#2 Sports Matija Sarkic 1997–2024 Montenegrin-English association football player (1997–2024)
SB #3
Sports Shirley Brasher born 1934 English female tennis player
Known for What Grimsby is known for Set against the usual town, athletes come out 1.4 times as common.
Sports 144 people 69%1.4× usual Politics & Law 15 people 7%about usual Film, TV & Stage 14 people 7%about usual Writing & Arts 12 people 6%below usual Military 6 people 3%about usual Science & Medicine 5 people 2%below usual Music 5 people 2%below usual Business 3 people 1%about usual Faith 2 people 1%below usual Notable 2 people 1%
Everyone Everyone else born in Grimsby 205 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
All · 197 Politics & Law · 15 Military · 4 Sports · 136 Music · 5 Film, TV & Stage · 14 Writing & Arts · 11 Science & Medicine · 5 Business · 3 Faith · 2 Notable · 2
Any time Before the Georgians · 2 Victorian · 36 The 20th century · 94 Today · 62
TT Thomas Turgoose born 1992 British actor
KH Kate Haywood born 1987 British swimmer, Olympic athlete, world championships silver medallist
DM Duncan McKenzie born 1950 English footballer (born 1950)
MH Mike Hallett born 1959 British snooker player
Stuart Carrington born 1990 English snooker player
John Whitgift 1530–1604 Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to 1604
Richard Buck born 1986 British sprint athlete
FF Freddie Frinton 1909–1968 British comedian (1909–1968)
Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack 1939–2024 British politician (1939–2024)
Angela Smith born 1961 British Labour politician
DR Dean Reynolds born 1963 English snooker player
HB Harry Betmead 1912–1984 British footballer and cricketer (1912-1984)
OS Oliver Sarkic born 1997 British/Montenegrin association football player
TK Thomas Benjamin Kennington 1856–1916 English genre, social realist and portrait painter (1856-1916)
VF Violet Farebrother 1888–1969 Actress (1888-1969)
GS G. Spencer-Brown 1923–2016 British philosopher, logician and mathematician, encyclopedist (1923-2016), main work 'Laws of Form' (1969)
Madge Kendal 1848–1935 British actor and theatre manager (1848–1935)
AD Adam Drury born 1993 Footballer (born 1993)
DP Darren Pattinson born 1979 English cricketer
GB George Edward Briggs 1893–1985 British botanist (1893-1985)
KD Kevin Drinkell born 1960 British footballer and manager (born 1960)
Tom Wintringham 1898–1949 British politician and historian (1898–1949)
Walter Amos 1899–1967 English footballer (1899-1967)
AC Andy Carrington born 1936 Association football player (born 1936)
DS Danielle Sharp born 1991 Model
DS David Smith born 1974 British hammer thrower (born 1974)
GC Glenn Cockerill born 1959 Footballer and manager (born 1959)
HA Herbert Ayre 1882–1966 English footballer (1882-1966)
JC Jack Catley born 1945 Association football player (born 1945)
KB Keith Brown born 1954 Association football player (born 1954)
KC Ken Chapman born 1948 Association football player (born 1948)
Melanie Onn born 1979 British politician (born 1979)
Peter Bore born 1987 English association football player (born 1987)
AB Arthur Bateman 1908–1988 English footballer (1908-1988)
BH Bill Harvey 1920–2002 English footballer and manager (1920-2002)
BH Billy Howells born 1943 Association football player (born 1943)
Dan Haigh born 1982 British musician
DG David Garland born 1948 Association football player (born 1948)
DR David Ross born 1965 English businessman
GK Glenn Kirkham born 1982 English hockey player/coach
HC Harry Clifton born 1998 Welsh association football player (born 1998)
LG Liam Green born 1985 Footballer (born 1985)
LG Lisa George born 1973 British actress
MC Mick Coop born 1948 English footballer (born 1948)
OJ Owen Johnson 1919–2001 Association football player (1919-2001)
Patrick Hawes born 1958 British composer
Quentin Cooper born 1961 British science journalist
RE Ray Edmonds born 1936 British snooker player
SW Sarah West born 1972 British Royal Navy officer
TF Tony Ford born 1959 English footballer (born 1959)
ZK Zack Knight born 1991 Pakistani-British singer-songwriter
AF Alex Flett born 1992 English professional footballer (born 1992)
Alexandra Langley born 1991 Badminton player
AL Andy Love born 1979 Professional footballer (born 1979)
AP Arron Patrick born 1987 British footballer (born 1987)
AE Arthur Elkins 1880–1920 Association football player (1880-1920)
BS Ben Smith born 2002 English squash player (born 2002)
BB Bert Brocklesbury 1879–1959 Association football player (1879-1959)
BD Billy Dixon 1905–1956 Association football player (1905-1956)
Christopher Hills 1926–1997 British writer
CB Clarrie Bacon 1889–1954 Association football player (1889-1954)
CC Clifford Coupland 1900–1969 Association football player (1900-1969)
EB Edward Brumley 1878–1942 Association football player (1878-1942)
FC Frederick Chatburn born 1878 Association football player
GB Geoffrey Bell 1939–2025 British economist
HG Harold Greetham 1930–2018 Association football player (born 1930)
HB Harry Barley 1905–1958 Association football player (1905-1958)
JB James Bagshaw 1874–1941 Association football player (1874-1941)
James Plaskitt born 1954 British politician (born 1954)
Jamie Curtis-Barrett born 1984 English snooker player
JS Jason Stockwood born 1970 English businessman
Jeremy Doncaster born 1961 British speedway rider
JC Joe Craddock 1902–1976 English footballer (1902-1976)
JR Jonathan Rowan born 1981 English footballer (born 1981)
JF Josh Fuller born 1992 English footballer (born 1992)
KM Kevin Moore 1958–2013 English footballer (Grimsby Town, Southampton)
Lia Nici born 1969 British politician
MK Matt Kennard born 1982 English actor
MB Matthew Bird born 1990 English footballer (born 1990)
Matthew Bloomer born 1978 English footballer (born 1978)
MF Matthew Ford born 1973 English footballer (born 1973)
MH Michael Hodson born 1942 Cricket player (born 1942)
MS Mike Sinclair 1938–2017 English professional footballer (1938-2017)
NJ Neil Johnson born 1946 English footballer (born 1946)
NM Norman Moore 1919–2007 English footballer (1919-2007)
RB Ralph Boulton 1923–1992 Association football player (1923-1992)
RC Richard Coates born 1949 Linguist
Sam Atkin born 1993 British athlete
Sophie Walker born 1984 British golfer
SC Steve Croudson born 1980 English footballer
TD Tom Daley 1933–2020 English footballer (1933-2020)
TO Tony O'Connor born 1969 Irish rower
WB William Blanchard 1889–1963 Association football player (1889-1963)
WB William Broom 1895–1971 Association football player (1895-1971)
AT Abigail Tarttelin born 1987 English novelist
AP Al Pillay born 1959 English entertainer
AG Alex Gerlis born 1955 British writer
AW Andrew Whiten born 1948 British zoologist and psychologist
AS Arthur Sykes 1897–1978 English footballer (1897–1978)
BN Ben Newton born 1934 Association football player (born 1934)
BW Billy Watkin 1923–2001 Former professional footballer (1923-2001)
CF Charlie Frith 1868–1942 Association football player (1868-1942)
CG Chris Grocock born 1968 Association football player
DN Danny North born 1987 Association football player (born 1987)
DM David Moore born 1959 English footballer and manager (born 1959)
DS Dayle Southwell born 1993 Association football player (born 1993)
DS Denis Smith 1932–2004 Association football player (born 1932)
GK Gary King born 1990 English footballer (born 1990)
HK Harry Kitching 1905–1970 Footballer (born 1905)
HC Harvey Cartwright born 2002 English association footballer
HC Holly Clyburn born 1991 Professional golfer
IC Ian Cawsey born 1960 British politician (born 1960)
JM Jack Meredith 1899–1970 English footballer (1899-1970)
JJ Joe Johnson 1911–1983 English football player (1911-1983)
JP John Pearce 1940–2022 Association football player (born 1940)
KJ Ken Jenkin 1931–2024 Association football player (born 1931)
LD Liam Davis born 1990 English footballer
Martin Fotherby 1559–1620 British bishop
MY Martin Young born 1955 Association football player (born 1955)
Max Wright born 1998 English association football player (born 1998)
NM Neil Matthews 1966–2023 Footballer (born 1966)
PC Peter Crampton born 1969 British hurdler and sprinter
RM Roy Moore 1923–1991 English footballer (1923-1991)
SB Salliann Briggs born 1984 Cricketer (born 1984)
SW Simon Webb born 1981 English cricketer (born 1981)
TC Tommy Codd 1890–1961 Association football player (1890-1961)
VT Vicki Lee Taylor born 1984 British actress
WJ Walter Jennings 1897–1971 Association football player (1897-1971)
WL Walter Lord 1933–2022 Association football player (born 1933)
AF Alfred Fairbank 1895–1982 British typographer, calligrapher and writer (1895-1982)
AR Alfred Robinson 1887–1945 English professional footballer (1887-1945)
BB Bill Brewster born 1959 British writer and dj
CL Charles Loughlin 1914–1993 British politician (1914-1993)
CS Chris Stringer born 1983 English footballer (born 1983)
DG Dan Gallimore born 2003 English footballer
DE David Egerton 1914–2010 British officer (1914-2010)
DS David Soames born 1984 English association football player (born 1984)
DC Derek Gladwin, Baron Gladwin of Clee 1930–2003 British trade union official (1930-2003)
DH Duncan Heath born 1981 English cricketer (born 1981)
FM Frank Mouncer 1920–1977 Association football player (1920-1977)
FK Fred Kurz 1918–1978 English association footballer (1918-1978)
GP Geoffrey Plaskitt born 1940 English cricketer (born 1940)
GH George Edwin Hills 1905–1978 Canadian politician (1905–1978)
Jack D. Ives 1931–2024 Canadian montologist
JS Jammal Shahin born 1988 English association football player
JL Jim Lumby born 1954 English former footballer
JH John Heath born 1978 English former first-class cricketer born 1978
JS John Sunley 1946–2009 Cricket player (1946-2009)
JL Joseph Leaning 1874–1949 Association football player (1874-1949)
KD Keeley Donovan born 1983 British weather presenter
LF Lee Freeman born 1969 British police officer
LS Lesley Saweard born 1934 English actress and former schoolteacher (born 1934)
LG Lloyd Griffith born 1973 English comedian, actor, presenter and singer
LB Louis Boyd born 2005 English association football player
MM Martin Maslin born 1942 English cricketer (born 1942)
Matt Osborne 1906–1942 George Cross recipient
MT Michael Tilmouth 1930–1987 English musicologist
Naomi Isted born 1979 British television presenter
PF Peter Furneaux 1935–2014 English football executive (1935-2014)
Phil Glew born 1983 British racing driver
RV Roger Vowles 1932–2023 English cricketer (born 1932)
SK Stevie Knight born 1976 British professional wrestler
TF Tom Frith 1870–1915 Association football player (1870-1915)
TR Tom Redding 1932–1980 Association football player (1932-1980)
TK Tony Knights 1940–2001 Association football player (1940-2001)
VH Vivian Hewitt 1888–1965 British aviator and Great Auk collector (1888–1965)
WP Walter Ponting 1913–1960 Professional footballer (1913-1960)
ZS Zac Shaw born 1995 British para athletics competitor
AA Adam Auckland born 1993 English squash player
AH Alec Hall 1909–1992 Association football player (1909-1992)
Alfred Hurst 1846–1915 American politician
BS Benjamin Sullivan born 1977 English artist (born 1977)
CR Charles Rowston 1887–1946 Association football player (1887-1946)
DP David Plastow 1932–2019 British businessman
DT David Tarttelin born 1926 British artist
FW Frank Wattam 1908–1984 Association football player (1908-1984)
FT Fred Taylor born 1877 Association football player
GM George Mountain 1874–1936 Association football player (1874-1936)
GP George Padley 1882–1965 Association football player (1882-1965)
GS George Sleight 1853–1921 British Baronet
HS Harry Swaby 1906–1982 Association football player (1906-1982)
HR Hervey Robinson 1874–1954 Association football player (1874-1954)
JB Jack Braughton 1921–2016 Olympic athlete
Jack Miles 1880–1953 English rugby union footballer
JS Jack Swain 1914–2000 Association football player (1914-2000)
John Fenty born 1961 Politician (born 1961)
KM Ken Moody 1924–1990 Association football player (1924-1990)
KR Ken Reeve 1921–2005 Association football player (1921-2005)
Marc Jones born 1972 English politician and police commissioner
MW Mark Waite English footballer and manager
Matthew Stiff born 1979 British musician
MC Michael Conway British army officer
NS Norman Shrapnel 1912–2004 British journalist (1912-2004)
PK Percy Kent born 1897 Association football player
RT Ralph Thompson 1892–1916 English footballer
RK Robert Kyle 1913–2010 American football and baseball player (1913-2010)
RS Rochenda Sandall British actress
No one matches both filters.
Show all 197 Next door Famous people from the towns next door Around it, Cleethorpes has the most people on record, 57 of them.
Questions about famous people from Grimsby Who is the most famous person from Grimsby? Arthur Drewry (English football administrator (1891-1961)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 33 languages. Next come Matija Sarkic and Shirley Brasher.
How many famous people were born in Grimsby? 208 people born in Grimsby have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 229 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Grimsby known for? Among its famous people, athletes: 144 of the 208. That is 69% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Grimsby? John Whitgift, born in 1530. The youngest on the list was born in 2005.
Who counts as from Grimsby? People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Grimsby’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 (37) Arthur Drewry: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Matija Sarkic: Struway2, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Stuart Carrington: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons John Whitgift: Unidentified painter, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Richard Buck: Eckhard Pecher (Arcimboldo), CC BY 2.5 , Wikimedia Commons Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Angela Smith: Adambro, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Madge Kendal: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Tom Wintringham: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Walter Amos: Dnuttall91, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Melanie Onn: ©House of Commons / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Peter Bore: https://www.flickr.com/photos/juddy666/, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Dan Haigh: Richard Heaven, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Patrick Hawes: Berry.andrew1, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Quentin Cooper: Quentin Cooper, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Alexandra Langley: alainalele, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Christopher Hills: John Hills, CC BY 1.0 , Wikimedia Commons James Plaskitt: Aidan Harris, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Jamie Curtis-Barrett: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Jeremy Doncaster: Jarosław Pabijan, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Lia Nici: David Woolfall, CC BY 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Matthew Bloomer: HTFC at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Sam Atkin: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Sophie Walker: Wojciech Migda (wmigda), CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Martin Fotherby: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Max Wright: Mazusermaz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Jack D. Ives: Hortonio, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Matt Osborne: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Naomi Isted: Dexqyen, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Phil Glew: Robk23oxf, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Alfred Hurst: Iowa General Assembly, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Jack Miles: Ramsden, Leicester, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons John Fenty: Grimsworth, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Marc Jones: Templars8833, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Matthew Stiff: Pfrenchm at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Tony McPhee: Patrick_Neylan (Uploads), CC BY 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Hollie Arnold: Photographer for the National Assembly for Wales, CC BY 2.0 , 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.
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