#1Writing & Arts
W. H. Auden
1907–1973British-American poet (1907–1973)
100 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · York, North Yorkshire
More famous people were born in York than in any other town in North Yorkshire: 396
At the top of the list is the British-American poet W. H. Auden, covered in 100 languages. Judi Dench and Guy Fawkes follow. The largest group, 164, was born in the 20th century. 14 of them are ministers and preachers, 2 times the share across UK towns.
Born here
396
notable people
Best known
W. H. Auden
in 100 Wikipedia languages
First
740
Alcuin
Youngest
2002
Will Jarvis
Most common field
Sports
161 people
What stands out about York’s famous people
Known worldwideW. H. Auden is written about in 100 languages.A town of ministers and preachersMinisters and preachers make up 14 of the 396, 2 times the usual share.Still making namesSince 1950, 161 of them have been born here, the latest in 2002.396 notable peopleMore than most towns: 396 notable people were born in York.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in York
W. H. Auden has articles in 100 languages, Judi Dench in 97 and Guy Fawkes in 78.
#1
#2
#3Military
Guy Fawkes
1570–1606English member of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605
78 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for
What York is known for
Ministers and preachers stand out most, at 2 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When York’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1960s come out on top, with 34 births.
SportsWriting & ArtsFilm, TV & StageScience & MedicinePolitics & LawMilitaryMusicFaithBusinessNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in York
393 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Alcuin
740–8048th-century Northumbrian scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse
1800–1867Anglo-Irish astronomer (1800-1867)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Eric Drummond, 16th Earl of Perth
1876–1951Scottish diplomat, Secretary General of the League of Nations (1876-1951)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Margaret Clitherow
1555–1586English martyr and saint of Roman Catholic Church (1555-1586)
FaithWikipedia ↗
Seebohm Rowntree
1871–1954British philanthropist industrialist and sociologist writer (1871–1954)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
William Hepworth Thompson
1810–1886British classical philologist (1810-1886)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Joseph Hansom
1803–1882English architect and inventor of the hansom cab (1803–1882)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Constance Sladen
1848–1906English architectural historian and philanthropist
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Emma Dench
born 1963English ancient historian, classicist, and academic administrator
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
John Gray
1840–1914Businessman and politician in New South Wales, Australia (1840–1914)
BusinessWikipedia ↗
William Staveley
1784–1854Commander and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong (1784-1854)
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Nearby, Huntington has the most on record, with 3.
Questions about famous people from York
Who is the most famous person from York?
W. H. Auden (British-American poet (1907–1973)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 100 languages. Next come Judi Dench and Guy Fawkes.
How many famous people were born in York?
396 people born in York have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 456 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is York known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 161 of the 396. That is 41% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from York?
Alcuin, born in 740. The youngest on the list was born in 2002.
Who counts as from York?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside York’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 (107)
- W. H. Auden: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Judi Dench: Caroline Bonarde Ucci at https://www.flickr.com/photos/caroline_bonarde/, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Guy Fawkes: Crispijn van de Passe the Elder, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alcuin: Fulda, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Barry: Barry_in_concert.jpg: Geoff Leonard. (The original uploader was Geoffers007 at English Wikipedia.) derivative work: Impy4ever, CC BY-SA 1.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse: Maull and Polyblank, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Snow: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Addy: Caporaletti1983, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Rees: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Etty: William Etty, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve McClaren: Thomas Rodenbücher, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Davis: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Bradley: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kate Atkinson: TimDuncan, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lewis Cook: Thechampionshipguru, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vince Cable: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Flaxman Jr.: Guy Head, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Godfrey: Michael Button from Norwich UK, England, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eric Drummond, 16th Earl of Perth: Bain, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Taylor: Jrppezza, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Scott Tuke: Unknown photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Clarke: COYB123, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barbara Ward: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frankie Howerd: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Margaret Clitherow: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Silvanus P. Thompson: Thompson and Thompson, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Matthews: [2], Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Dobson: NHS Confederation, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Matthew Kilgallon: @el_loko74, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- PawelAbbott: David Ingham, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Albert Joseph Moore: unknown - photographer died most probably 70 years ago, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Thompson: https://www.flickr.com/people/gluemoon/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lucy Staniforth: James Boyes, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ashley Hugill: Benutzer:Bill da Flute, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eille Norwood: Stoll Pictures Productions, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mike Atkinson: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiethesax/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Dickinson: Rz98, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William of York: Katy Stuart, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Faith Brook: Jungle Book film (Alexander Korda Films - United Artists), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lauren Winfield: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Culkin: Skippo10, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Whyte: Words in the Wind, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Beilby Porteus: George Romney, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Oldcorne: Unknown engraver, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Hopcutt: Fotbollprofetia1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Barnby: Leslie Ward, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Woods: DSimmonite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Harrison: Nathaniel Smybert, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edwin Pears: unknown / неизвестен, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Garry Kilworth: Stupotty, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hamish McArthur: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Seebohm Rowntree: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Simon Dyson: Pvt pauline, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Thrillseekers: Alexander Reshnya, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Allan: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Trevor Watts: Shawnvinson, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alex Kershaw: Raf609, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bobby Mimms: Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ed Winters: Joey Carbstrong, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Henrietta Eliza Vaughan Stannard: Barrauds Ltd., London, (1892-1904) Reference:Michael Pritchard (1994) A Directory of London Photographers 1841-1908, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Moore: Henry Moore, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Atcherley: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rob Webber: Lynchg, cropped by Blackcat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Twinnie Lee Moore: TwinnieFan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wilfred Hudleston Hudleston: Micktherocktapper, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Hepworth Thompson: Hubert von Herkomer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Mason: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Swampyank, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Hansom: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kjartan Poskitt: Forde999, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rhoderick McGrigor: Zimmerman, E A (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rory Watson: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Simon Heslop: Mark Lee, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wellington A. Playter: El hombre solo, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Martin: Samsung1234568nine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Hirst: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Caroline Hill: Fradelle and Marshall, 230 Regent Street London., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cecil Blacker: The original uploader was AnOpenMedium at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Harriet Parr: Unknown, image is circa 1850/1860, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Bousfield: The United States Army Band, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Earle: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Barnard Davis: Richard James Lane, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Rowntree: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mary Ellen Best: Mary Ellen Best, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Bristow: Richard Townshend, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- R. O. Morris: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ross Greenwood: Me677 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Will Ashton: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Prest: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alan Gray: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Andy Smith: Pyeongchang, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Audrey Evans: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Constance Sladen: Henry Tanworth Wells, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Reed: Taken by Elena Heatherwick, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edna Walling: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Forrest Browne: published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Gray: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Garratt: hounddog7, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Hendry: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Terrick: Nathaniel Dance-Holland, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert of Knaresborough: Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roger Kohn: w:Roger Kohn, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Fielding: DSimmonite, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Staveley: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Frederick Hotham: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Eddie Robson: Eddie Robson from Mexico City, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Flora Sandes: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Sandys: Robert Alonzo Brock, Virgil Anson Lewis, 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.