#1Famous people · Croydon, London
Performers stand out among the 502 famous people born in Croydon
At the top of the list is the English model and businesswoman Kate Moss, covered in 67 languages. 256 of them were born in the 20th century, more than in any other period. The list is still growing: 129 were born since 1970. Over 207 years of births, the list goes from John Campbell (1798) to Tony Yogane (2005).
Born here
502
notable people
Best known
Kate Moss
in 67 Wikipedia languages
First
1798
John Campbell
Youngest
2005
Tony Yogane
Most common field
Sports
197 people
What stands out about Croydon’s famous people
Known worldwideRead in 67 languages, Kate Moss is known far beyond the town.A town of performers74 of the 502 people born here are performers, 1.7× the usual share.Still making namesSince 1950, 200 of them have been born here, the latest in 2005.502 notable peopleCroydon lists 502 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Croydon
Two of the three are performers.
#1
#2Film, TV & Stage
David Lean
1908–1991British filmmaker and editor (1908–1991)
64 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Known for
What Croydon is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as performers, at 1.7 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When Croydon’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1990s come out on top, with 45 births.
SportsFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsScience & MedicineMusicPolitics & LawMilitaryNotableBusinessFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born. The 400 best known are plotted.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Croydon
499 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Havelock Ellis
1859–1939British physician, writer, and social reformer (1859-1939)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Tracey Emin
born 1963English sculptor, painter, and installation artist (born 1963)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Dora Russell
1894–1986British writer, feminist and socialist campaigner (1894-1986)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Charles Keightley
1901–1974British Army general and Governor of Gibraltar (1901–1974)
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
Lawrence Okoye
born 1991British discus thrower and American football player (born 1991)
SportsWikipedia ↗
Brian Clemens
1931–2015English screenwriter and television producer (1931–2015)
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Horace Alexander
1889–1989British Quaker teacher and writer, pacifist and ornithologist (1889-1989)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Martin Lambie-Nairn
1945–2020British graphic designer, filmmaker and animator
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Roy Hudd
1936–2020English comedian, actor, presenter, radio host, and author (1936-2020)
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Alfred Comyn Lyall
1835–1911British civil servant, literary historian and poet (1835-1911)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Bernard Fagg
1915–1987British archaeologist and museum curator (1915–1987)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Leonard Barden
born 1929English international chess player, columnist, author, and promoter
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Una Duval
1879–1975Duval [née Dugdale], Una Harriet Ella Stratford (1879–1975), British suffragette, marriage reformer
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
C. M. Pennington-Richards
1911–2005British film director and cinematographer
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Margaret Thomas
1842–1929Australian writer, painter and sculptor (1842–1929)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Albertine Winner
1907–1988Winner, Dame Albertine Louisa (1907–1988), physician and medical administrator
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Donald Bruce, Baron Bruce of Donington
1912–2005English politician (1912-2005)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Frank W. J. Olver
1924–2013American mathematician who worked on asymptotic analysis, special functions (1924-2013)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Henry Balfour
1863–1939British archaeologist and museum curator (1863-1939)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
8 towns around it have someone on record.
Questions about famous people from Croydon
Who is the most famous person from Croydon?
Kate Moss (English model and businesswoman) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 67 languages. Next come David Lean and G. E. Moore.
How many famous people were born in Croydon?
502 people born in Croydon have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 576 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Croydon known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 197 of the 502. That is 39% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Croydon?
John Campbell, born in 1798. The youngest on the list was born in 2005.
Who counts as from Croydon?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Croydon’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 (112)
- Kate Moss: Crooked House Films, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Lean: Kalervo Manninen, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- G. E. Moore: Ray Strachey, born Rachel Pearsall Conn Costelloe (4 June 1887 London – 16 July 1940), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Cushing: Hammer films, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Havelock Ellis: Smithsonian Institution from United States, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Roy Hodgson: Mikhail Slain, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Emile Smith Rowe: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kit Connor: France RC - Roster Con, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tracey Emin: Piers Allardyce, crop by Tyrenius, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carlton Cole: East Ham Bull, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Woodward: DJM-Dick James Music, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Taylor-Johnson: Nick Step, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stormzy: Frank Schwichtenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lola Young: Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamal Blackman: Ann Carroll, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kirsty MacColl: K8 fan at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jason Puncheon: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/cfcunofficial @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London ], CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mike Spence: Dainofly, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dora Russell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Cox: AFC Bournemouth, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Freddie Woodman: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lewis Grabban: Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lionel Atwill: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Barbara Burke: Alan Webb, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- C. B. Fry: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cicely Mary Barker: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Starbrook: UPI, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nicholas Soames: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh: Barindra Kumar Ghosh (Life time: 5 January 1880 – 18 April 1959), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jane Drew: P0mbal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stefan O'Connor: Kieran Clarke from England, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Haenow: InfoGibraltar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fergus Anderson: Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Holbrooke: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Keightley: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dean Leacock: en:user:TuborgLight, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dean Stoneman: Mieguy, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mickey Finn: Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Basil Dean: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Brian Hewson: Keystone, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dora Montefiore: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Buckley: Damo1977, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bertram Brooker: Ontario Society of Artists fonds Image taken from: http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/340/2/1/8756?RECORD, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Eric Barker: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Harcourt Williams: unknown (Paramount Pictures), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lawrence Okoye: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ronan Curtis: EchetusXe, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sean Scannell: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Amanda Aldridge: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gary Gibbons: Lumidek at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Lambie-Nairn: Heavenly UK at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tehmina Sunny: Popculture8, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ray Mears: FieldsportsChannel TV, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rox: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roy Hudd: Hydrafoil, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Wright: Frogmoretom, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Comyn Lyall: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Anthony Strong: ACRixon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elliot Daly: Charlie, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Émilien Gailleton: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frederick Sykes: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Herbert La Thangue: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Katherine Torrance: Ivasykus, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Philip Green: Katie, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Violet Piercy: unknown Daily Mirror person, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Waheed Alli: W010.jpg: Theo Grzegorczyk derivative work: Hekerui, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Butcher: William Samuel, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Carberry: Harrias, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan: Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Pamela Cundell: Rob enwiki (Robert Weedon), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rishi Rich: TheAsianAwards, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tim Davie: James Cridland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tommy Hall: Agence Rol, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Una Duval: Ethel Wright, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Avril Coleridge-Taylor: Hodder and Stoughton — https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c031804890, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Lloyd: Albert Eugene Fradelle, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ego Ella May: Versetti138, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Taylor: Kreepin Deth, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Cunningham: Photograph taken by RAF personnel, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kellie Shirley: Ibsan73, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Alwyn: Mr Robin Adler FRSA, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Margaret Thomas: w:Margaret Thomas, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Lee: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sean Clohessy: The original uploader was ChrisTheDude at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Davis: Marcus Liversedge, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Walter Leaf: Henry Herschel Hay Cameron, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Angie Bray: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Colin Sell: Andy Davison from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Gregory: joshjdss, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Flora Le Breton: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank W. J. Olver: IPST at the University of Maryland, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Talbot: Unknown photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gordon Campbell: Royal Navy official photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Balfour: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jacqueline Caurat: Studio Harcourt, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jerome Binnom-Williams: Maidstone22, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sarah Jones: ©House of Commons, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Susanna Reid: Soccer Aid for UNICEF, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Shakespeare: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Albert de Courville: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alex Brooker: Soccer Aid for UNICEF, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alf Perry: Bassano Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Bowie: Adam Bielawski, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- H. G. Wells: George Charles Beresford, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jude Law: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Graves: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeff Beck: Mandy Hall, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bill Nighy: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Angus Deayton: Piers Allardyce, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Douglas Chandor: Agence Rol, 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.