Celebs You Didn’t Know Had Famous Ancestors

Celebrities are often household names because of their fame for being actors, musicians, or sports stars.

While nepotism runs wild in the entertainment industry, some celebrities’ connections go deeper and further back than the more well-known ones.

Some of the more famous ancestries of well-loved celebrities are as surprising as they come. Here’s a list of the most interesting and intriguing celeb ancestry most people never knew about.

Tom Hanks

When it comes to Hollywood mega-stars, they don’t come much bigger than Tom Hanks. His wit and charm aside, Hanks has widely been regarded as one of the best actors of his generation.

With multiple awards, including two Oscars under his belt, Hanks needs no further introduction.

He’s played dynamic characters and acted in everything from comedies, to epics, playing a wide array of characters. While he is a household name, not many people know that he’s related to an even more famous historical figure.

Abraham Lincoln

Yup, believe it or not, Tom Hanks is related to the one and only, Abraham Lincoln is. As one of America’s most famous Presidents and certainly one of the most beloved, Lincoln is best known, among many other things, for the emancipation proclamation.

Tom Hanks is actually a third cousin, four times removed relative of honest Abe. Hanks is related to Lincoln from his mother’s side. Despite not being a close relative, this is certainly an interesting titbit once you learn it.

Tilda Swinton

This talented and acclaimed Scottish Actress is a veteran of the acting world and has been around for more than 30 years. that’s been in the business for more than three decades.

Aside from her father having been head of the Queen’s Division, Swinton has an even more famous ancestor with a royal connection; although this one was closer to home.

Robert The Bruce

In the early 1300s, Robert The Bruce was the enigmatic ruler of Scotland. Aside from being a legendary ruler in his own right, many people may be wondering where else they know this famous person from.

Robert The Bruce was also a well-known ally of William Wallace, the real-life figure that Mel Gibson played in Braveheart (although not very accurately in a historic sense).

So There you have it, if you’ve ever felt like Tilda Swinton has an almost regal poise onscreen, now you know why.