#1Politics & Law
Neville Chamberlain
1869–1940Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940
120 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Birmingham, West Midlands
Birmingham leads West Midlands with 2,167 famous people
Best known of all is Neville Chamberlain, written about in 120 languages. The list has 1.5 times the usual share of musicians, 171 in all. 987 of them were born in the 20th century, more than in any other period. Births span 1500 to 2007, from John Rogers to Shim Mheuka.
Born here
2,167
notable people
Best known
Neville Chamberlain
in 120 Wikipedia languages
First
1500
John Rogers
Youngest
2007
Shim Mheuka
Most common field
Sports
978 people
What stands out about Birmingham’s famous people
Known worldwideNeville Chamberlain is written about in 120 languages.A town of musiciansMusicians make up 171 of the 2,167, 1.5 times the usual share.Still making namesSince 1950, 897 of them have been born here, the latest in 2007.2,167 notable peopleBirmingham lists 2,167 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Birmingham
Two of the three are scientists and doctors.
#1
#2Science & Medicine
Francis William Aston
1877–1945British chemist (1877-1945)
78 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Science & Medicine
Francis Galton
1822–1911British eugenist, polymath, and behavioural geneticist (1822–1911)
73 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for
What Birmingham is known for
Musicians stand out most, at 1.5 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 Birmingham’s famous people were born
The 1960s top the chart, with 228 births in the decade.
SportsWriting & ArtsFilm, TV & StageMusicScience & MedicinePolitics & LawBusinessMilitaryNotableFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born. The 400 best known are plotted.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Birmingham
2,164 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Matthew Boulton
1728–1809English manufacturer, industrialist, business partner of James Watt (1728–1809)
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Murray Walker
1923–2021British motorsport commentator and journalist (1923–2021)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Murray Rose
1939–2012Australian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder (1939-2012)
SportsWikipedia ↗
George Holyoake
1817–1906British secularist, co-operator, and newspaper editor (1817-1906)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Alexander Parkes
1813–1890Metallurgist and inventor of the early plastic Parkesine (1813–1890)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Bernard Pyne Grenfell
1869–1926English Egyptologist and papyrologist (1869–1926)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Craig Shakespeare
1963–2024English association football player and coach (1963-2024)
SportsWikipedia ↗
Edward Bach
1886–1936British physician, homeopath, bacteriologist, spiritual writer (1886–1936)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Benjamin Mountfort
1825–1898English / New Zealand architect and photographer
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Keith Campbell
1954–2012British biologist (1954-2012) Professor of Animal Development at the University of Nottingham
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
William Hunt Painter
1835–1910British curate, rector, botanist and botanical collector (1835-1910)
FaithWikipedia ↗
James Dunn
1939–2020British New Testament scholar and theologian (1939-2020)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Jane Wells Webb Loudon
1807–1858English science fiction writer and botanist (1807–1858)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Chris Wood
1944–1983British rock musician; member of the English rock band Traffic (1944–1983)
MusicWikipedia ↗
Louisa Anne Meredith
1812–1895British-Australian writer and illustrator (1812–1895)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
William Johnson Sollas
1849–1936British geologist and anthropologist (1849 – 1936)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Arthur Henry Reginald Buller
1874–1944British-Canadian mycologist (1874-1944)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Charley Rogers
1887–1956British actor, film director and screenwriter (1887-1956)
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Constance Smedley
1876–1941Author and founder of the International Lyceum Clubs
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
David Wheeler (computer scientist)
1927–2004British computer scientist (1927–2004)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns around it, Solihull has the most on record: 156.
Questions about famous people from Birmingham
Who is the most famous person from Birmingham?
Neville Chamberlain (prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 120 languages. Next come Francis William Aston and Francis Galton.
How many famous people were born in Birmingham?
2,167 people born in Birmingham have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 2,480 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Birmingham known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 978 of the 2,167. That is 45% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Birmingham?
John Rogers, born in 1500. The youngest on the list was born in 2007.
Who counts as from Birmingham?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Birmingham’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 (164)
- Neville Chamberlain: Lafayette Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis William Aston: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Galton: Eveleen Myers (née Tennant), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Austen Chamberlain: Georges Chevalier, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Felicity Jones: Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barbara Cartland: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel Sturridge: Eric The Fish from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Grealish: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Julie Walters: Ibsan73/Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Mason: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Iommi: Photobra (Adam Bielawski), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Oliver: Neil Grabowsky / Montclair Film Festival, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Burne-Jones: Frederick Hollyer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Geezer Butler: Stefan Brending (2eight), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gabriel Agbonlahor: Dagur Brynjólfsson from Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joleon Lescott: Warwick Gastinger, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Matthew Boulton: Carl Frederik von Breda, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Enoch Powell: Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Micah Richards: Oldelpaso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Soni Razdan: Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Radcliffe-Brown: Sarah Chinnery, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeff Lynne: Egghead06, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Winwood: Brian Marks, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bill Ward: Vertigo Records, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fay Weldon: Mogens Engelund, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenny Baker: Gordon Tarpley from Tampa, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Darvill: Florida Supercon, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathan Delfouneso: Dagur Brynjólfsson from Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathan Redmond: Solent Creatives from Southampton, United KIngdom, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ann Haydon-Jones: Unknown (Keystone, U.S. Office), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Zephaniah: Edwardx, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Demarai Gray: Sven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carl Palmer: chascar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Vaughan: Birmingham City F.C., CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lee Carsley: law_keven, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dan Martin: kei-ai from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Darius Vassell: Jon Candy from Cardiff, Wales, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Cox: Unknown, donated by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jacob Ramsey: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Hicks: photographer of IOC, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Blaze Bayley: Dario De Marco, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hannah Hampton: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamelia: JJ Hall, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Murray Walker: Matthew Spencer - enormospenner, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stefflon Don: Drew de F Fawkes, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Anton Lesser: Philip Vial, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Luke Moore: Jonesy702, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Murray Rose: Jodi Rose, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Harewood: Soccer Aid for UNICEF, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Ruse: Lizzie Ruse, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roy Wood: AVRO, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Wikimedia Commons
- George Holyoake: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ken Matthews: Unknown (Asahi Shinbun), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Barre: Snafje at Dutch Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rico Henry: @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Blyth: AMFM STUDIOS LLC, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Isaiah Osbourne: Steelback at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jerome Sinclair: Skippo10, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Curry: Associated Press, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Rhodes: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Symonds: WYD ebenedict.org Sydney, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bev Bevan: Jet Records, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel Evans: Diliff, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Galal Yafai: Gyafai10, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gerry Peyton: wonker, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Shaw: JonTay98, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sax Rohmer: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Martin: Alexandre Cardoso, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Albert Austin: Nestor Film Studio (1915) Hal Roach Film Studio (1923) United Artists (1920), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Augustus Freeman: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Geoff Nicholls: caca, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Lodge: Derek Russell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roger Taylor: Duran_Duran_Interview_at_SxSW.jpg: Earl McGehee *Cropped by: Ubcule, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Miles: Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Zarah Sultana: ©House of Commons / Jessica Taylor, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Albert Ketèlbey: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Claudia Jessie: US Luxury, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gary Shaw: Marcel Antonisse / Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Tandy: Jet Records, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Zesh Rehman: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andre Marriner: Кирилл Венедиктов, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Pyne Grenfell: en:Emery Walker PLC, from a portrait made by Elliot & Fry PLC of 55 Baker St, London (1864-1963)., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Craig Shakespeare: joncandy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Bach: AliceFlores, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Ashbee: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Shrapnel: Johan Persson, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Tynan: ABC, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lee Hendrie: Stew jones, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Hill: Thomas_Hill_(artist).jpg: I.W. Taber derivative work: Anna reg, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Mountfort: Photographer: Dr. A. C. Barker (1819–1873). Original uploader of rotated version was Giano at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Cox: John Watson Gordon, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Elliot Knight: Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jacqueline Hill: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jess Phillips: UK Home Office, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Romaine Sawyers: Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Toussaint: German Comic Con, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Toyah Willcox: Andrew Hurley from Wallasey, England, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Victor Johnson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Hunt Painter: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Anne Heywood: 20th Century Fox, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Woakes: Storm machine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jane Wells Webb Loudon: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeff Rawle: Richard Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mike Pinder: Jim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Moeen Ali: www.davidmolloyphotography.com from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Napier Shaw: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sadie Plant: Kaethe17, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Britton: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alan Napier: MGM, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Brooke Westcott: Fuente desconocida., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Wood: Jim Summaria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Clare Short: The EITI from Oslo, Norway, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Darren Moore: Jonesy702, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Bomberg: No answer by website owner, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gordon Lowe: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Louisa Anne Meredith: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Balcon: unknown (RKO Pictures), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Seth Johnson: en:user:TuborgLight, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Johnson Sollas: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Agam Darshi: Lisa West Photography, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrew Tiernan: Gavin Struthers, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Turner: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Griffin: Brodde, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Hall: Lewis R. Foster, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dave Pegg: Kevin Smith, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Benson: Hubert von Herkomer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Elliot Giles: filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elsie Maud Wakefield: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Thomas: Topical Press Agency, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jake Hughes: DriverDatabase1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jamie Delgado: Sirobi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lloyd Dyer: Whassuo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mick Bennett: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Randolph Lycett: Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Annette Badland: AnemoneProjectors, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Henry Reginald Buller: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charley Rogers: film screenshot (Hal Roach Studios), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Craig Fagan: TuborgLight, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Drake Maverick: Simon Q, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ernest Barnes: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fay Holden: unknown (MGM), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gillian Wearing: Juan García, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Helen George: Ibsan73, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Cadbury: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Laura Mvula: jaswooduk https://www.flickr.com/people/7601902@N03/, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Walters: Jarvin, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Ricketts: Jonesy702, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mr Hudson: Ben_Hudson_-Mr_Hudson_and_The_Library_-July_2007.jpg: Lee Jordan derivative work: Snowmanradio, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: Jrppezza, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Lees: @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Attwood: LigaAsperger7, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Lewis: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ali Campbell: Ali_Campbell_at_Raggamuffin_2009.jpg: Stuart Sevastos derivative work: Austin512, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Edwin Hill: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bessie Rayner Parkes: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Willetts: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frankie Gavin: Be Real TV, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Devey: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Graham Potter: jamesboyes, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rob Halford: Birgit Fostervold, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Swinburne: Andrzej Zet, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Judge: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Aaron Ramsey: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Glenn Tipton: Zach Petersen ( http://zach.e53.org/ ), CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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