Hugh Grant Family History

The actor Hugh John Mungo Grant was born on September 9th, 1960 in London, the second of two sons to Captain James Murray Grant and his wife Fynvola.

Despite their military background, neither brother had any ambition to join the army. Hugh’s elder brother Jamie became an investment banker.  And Hugh, also a bright lad, earned a scholarship to Oxford University where he studied English Literature and began acting, although in a small way.

He appeared in various films in the 1980’s and early 1990’s before his big breakthrough came in 1994 with Four Weddings and a Funeral.  This film also established his reputation as an affable and self-deprecating gent which his audience loved.  There followed other hit roles in Notting Hill in 1999 and Bridget Jones’ Diary in 2001 and his fame was assured.

Scottish Origins

Hugh Grant has descent from the Grants of Glenmoriston in the Scottish Highlands.

Grants of Glenmoriston.  The first Laird of Glenmoriston, John “Mor” Grant, took possession of his land in 1532 and his descendants intermarried with other Highland chiefs.

These Grants backed the wrong side in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.  Their home, Invermoriston House, was burnt down each time, property forfeited, and many became fugitives.  Alexander Grant who killed an English dragoon the day after Culloden fled to America and was never heard of again.  And eighty-four Grants from Glenmoriston who fought in the battle were rounded up and transported to Barbados.

But the Grants did recover.  Invermoriston House was rebuilt a third time and the lineage continued.  James Murray Grant, born in 1792, was the eleventh Laird of Glenmoriston.  His name has recurred repeatedly amongst Hugh Grant’s military ancestors of the 19th century and even extended to his own father born in 1929.

Grants in the Army

Hugh’s James Murray Grant forebears distinguished themselves in the army, starting in 1856 in South Africa and culminating in 1940 in the retreat from Dunkirk.

South Africa.  Lt. Colonel James Murray Grant, born perhaps in Ireland, married in South Africe in 1863 and served there, first with the British army and then with the Cape Mounted Riflemen.  Two of his sons were army officers in South Africa, both also with the Cape Mounted Riflemen:

• General Ronald Charles Grant DSO who fought in the Boer War and later in the German SW Africa campaign where he was wounded and taken prisoner.
• and his younger brother Lt. Colonel James Murray Grant.

Seaforth Highlanders.  Ronald’s son Colonel James Murray Grant DSO, known as Gunga, made his home in Inverness and joined the Seaforth Highlanders in 1918.

His decoration came from his action at St. Valery in June 1940 during the retreat from Dunkirk.  Resisting the Germans until the end, he was finally captured with his men and made a prisoner of war (and remained so until the war ended in 1945) .

His son, Hugh Grant’s father, was also an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders for eight years in Malaya and Germany.  He then ran a carpet firm and pursued hobbies such as golf and painting watercolors.

Hugh’s MacLean and Nepean Lines

Hugh’s father Captain James Murray Grant married Fynvola MacLean in West Sussex in 1957.  They raised their family in Chiswick, west London.  Fynvola herself worked as a schoolteacher and taught Latin, French and music for more than thirty years in the state schools of west London.

MacLeans.  In many ways Fynola’s ancestry mirrored that of her husband.  She came from an old Highland clan, in her case the MacLeans of Ardgour in the West Highlands (first evident there in the 1430’s).  She was descended from the Lairds of Ardgour.

Later MacLeans of her line served in the British Army and Navy.  Their numbers included Lt. Colonel Alexander MacLean (1764-1855) the 13th Laird and Rear Admiral John MacLean (1849-1925) who was based in Devonport.

Nepeans.  She was also the great-granddaughter on her mother’s side to Sir Evan Colville Nepean CB.  Sir Evan’s father, the Rev. Canon Evan Nepean, had served as the Canon of Westminster from 1860 until his death in 1873 and was also Chaplain In Ordinary to Queen Victoria.

These Nepeans originated from Cornwall.  The first Sir Evan had been Governor of Bombay and been made a Baronet in 1802.

Hugh Grant’s Family Tree

• Lt. Colonel James Murray Grant (1835-1921) m. Matilda Fynn (1847-1937) in South Africa in 1863
• – Ronald Charles Grant (1864-1951)
• – Eric Grant (1868-1918) m. Alice Shaw
• – James Murray Grant (1870-1950) m. Alison Rennie
• – Euphemia Grant (b.1871) m. Herbert Place

• General Ronald Grant m. Mina Stewart (1867-1941) in South Africa
• – James Murray Grant (1899-1974)
• – Mina Stewart Grant (1902-1976) m. William Gordon
• – Marjorie Grant (b. 1905)

• Colonel James Murray Grant from South Africa m. Jessie Martin (1900-1990) in Scotland in 1927
• – James Murray Grant (1929-2017)
• – Shonaid Grant (1937-2002) m. George Kiddell

• Captain James Murray Grant from India m. Fynvola MacLean in West Sussex in 1957 and made their home in west London
• – James (Jamie) Grant (b. 1958), New York banker
• – Hugh Grant (b. 1960), famous actor

• Hugh Grant dated Elizabeth Hurley (b. 1965) from 1987 to 2000 and married Anna Eberstein (b. 1980) from Sweden in 2018
• – Tabitha Grant (b. 2011) with Tinglan Hong
• – Felix Grant (b. 2012) with Tinglan Hong
• – John Grant (b. 2012) with Anna
• – Lulu Grant (b. 2015) with Anna
• – Blue Grant (b. 2018) with Anna