Next in my series of famous genealogies is Florence Nightingale’s family tree.
The heroine of the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale never married, and had no children. However, the Nightingale family has links with several illustrious families which are fairly well documented, so if you have any of the following surnames, it should be fairly easy to find out whether you are connected with The Lady with the Lamp.
(By the way – if you’d like to learn how to trace you ancestry, have a look at my step-by-step beginner’s course)
Surnames connected with Florence Nightingale are: SHORE, NIGHTINGALE, CHEETHAM, EVANS, SMITH, DIGGLES, WALKER, COAPE, MOORE, PRYOR, and LUDLOW.
NIGHTINGALE
The surname Nightingale actually comes from Florence’s paternal great-grandmother’s family; her father’s name was SHORE, and he took the name NIGHTINGALE when he succeeded to his great uncle Peter Nightingale’s estates. I have come across other cases where a childless landowner passes the estate to a family member, providing they take on the family name of the testator.
Anyone with the surname Nightingale therefore, is only likely to have a connection to Florence through the family of her great-grandmother Anne, and her brother Peter. Peter was born in 1736 in Lea, Derbyshire, the son of Peter Nightingale Esq. (1705-1763) and Anne CHEETHAM. While Peter junior did not have any children, this line can be traced back at least another century, and there could be links to this earlier line as well as the names CHEETHAM and BOWLER. Any Nightingale ancestors of the 17th century and earlier around the Derbyshire area could therefore be traced down to Florence.
Florence’s only sister, Frances Parthenope, became the second wife of Harry VERNEY, 2nd Baronet in 1858, and became Lady Verney. She was a writer and essayist. However, the couple did not have any children (Harry did have children from his first marriage), and so there are no descendants.
SHORE
Florence’s father was born William Edward SHORE in 1794 in Romsey, Hampshire. He was the only son of William Shore and Mary EVANS (the niece of Peter Nightingale). William and Mary also had two daughters, one of whom died in childhood, and the other, Mary, marrying Samuel SMITH (see below). William married Samuel’s sister, Frances SMITH, and as well as Florence, they had one other daughter Frances Parthenope, but no sons. Therefore, in order to find any SHORE links to Florence, we would need to go further up the line.
William Edward’s father, William SHORE, was born in 1755 in Tapton, Derbyshire, the son of Samuel Shore and Margaret DIGGLES. Samuel and Margaret had 13 children: Robert Diggles (1736), Samuel (1738) (married Lydia FLOWER and Urith OFFLEY), Margaret, Jane (1740), Thomas, John (married Gertrude BINKS), William (1755-1822) (details above), Joshua (1748-1766), Sarah, Hannah (1754) (Married Thomas WALKER), Ann, James and Elizabeth. I am sure there must be descendants to be traced from some of these children.
EVANS
Mary EVANS was the paternal grandmother of Florence. She was born in 1760 in Cromford, Derbyshire, the daughter of George EVANS and Anne NIGHTINGALE (the sister of Peter, the mining entrepreneur who left his estate to William Edward). George and Anne were married in Ashover, Derbyshire in 1756. Because the surname is common, it is difficult to accurately trace this family, but we do know that Mary had at least one sister, Elizabeth, but I do not know if she married.
If you have any EVANS family that can be traced back to this area of Derbyshire, it may be worth checking the connections.
SMITH
Obviously, anyone with this name can have a problem tracing their name back as it is the most common name in the UK. However, this particular family have some well known and interesting people in their tree, so could be easier to trace than most.
France’s father was William SMITH MP, a well known abolitionist and social reformer, and an associate of William Wilberforce. He and his wife Frances COAPE, had at least nine children: Benjamin Leigh (1783-1860), Frances (1789-1880), William Adams (1789), Joanna Maria (1791-1884), Samuel (1794) (who married his sister-in-law, Mary SHORE), Octavius Henry (1796), Frederick Coape (1798), Julia, Anne and Patty.
His eldest son Benjamin Leigh Smith was also an MP, and had four illegitimate children by his mistress, Anne LONGDEN. One of these was Barbara Leigh Smith, who married Dr. Eugene BODICHON, and became famous as Barbara Bodichon, a leading activist in women’s rights and founder of Girton College. She was Florence’s 1st cousin. I do not believe they had any children.
Benjamin’s other children by Anne Longden were Benjamin Leigh SMITH (1828-1913), an explorer, Bella Leigh (c.1831), Anne (c.1832) and William Leigh (1833).
Benjamin Leigh Smith married Charlotte SELLER, and they had one son, Philip Leigh SMITH (1892), who married the nuclear physicist, Alice Prebil. I believe that there were children and therefore living descendants of the Leigh Smiths.
Anne Smith did not marry.
William Leigh SMITH married Georgina Mary HALLIDAY, and they had at least five children, Amy Leigh (1859), Georgina F Leigh (1862), William Leigh (1867), Bella Leigh (1879) and Sophia (1882).
I could not find a marriage for his son William Leigh, or any information for Georgina.
Bella married either a FERMOR or a WYNNE but I cannot find her in the 1911 census, so more research needs to be done here, nor can I find any further information for Sophia.
MOORE
Amy Leigh SMITH (daughter of William Leigh SMITH junior) married Sir Norman MOORE and they had 3 children: Sir Alan Hilary MOORE, 2nd Bt (1882), Ethne Philippa (1886) and Gillachrist (1894-1914).
Gillachrist was killed in action in the First World War.
Alan Hilary MOORE married Hilda Mary BURROWS, and they had 3 children. These children are still living so I will not give their names here.
PRYOR
Ethne Philippa MOORE married Lieut. Col. Walter Marlborough PRYOR. They had three sons: John Marlborough (1911-1984), Mark Gillachrist Marlborough (1915-1970) and Robert Matthew Marlborough (1917-2005). Any children of these children would be the 1st cousins 4 times removed to Florence Nightingale.
LUDLOW
Bella Leigh SMITH (daughter of Benjamin Leigh SMITH MP) married John LUDLOW in 1859. John Ludlow was a major general in the Indian Army.
They had at least three children (there may have been more): Annabel (c.1861), Henry J. (c.1862) and Milicent B. (c.1868). Bella died some time before 1881.
I have not been able to find out whether Henry J. Ludlow married or had children, but if you have LUDLOW ancestors in the Sussex area it may be worth checking to see if there is a connection.
Neither could I find any further information for Annabel.
Milicent married Sir Norman MOORE, 1st Baronet, in 1903, who had previously been married to her 1st cousin, Amy Leigh SMITH. I do not believe they had any children.
Not surprisingly, Florence Nightingale had family connections with some very interesting people, and particularly those who campaigned for people’s rights – including William Smith MP, and Barbara Leigh Bodichon (nee Smith). There are certainly living descendants of the Smith family, and there may be some from further up the line.
If you would like me to carry out any research involving a possible connection with this family, please review my services page.
Further Reading
Florence Nightingale: The Woman and Her Legend
Florence Nightingale : a biography
Florence Nightingale at First Hand: Vision, Power, Legacy
Hi Andrew – thanks for this. Very interesting about the dna testing, too, and showing its uses in confirming suspected connections!
I don’t have any information other than that in my post, but I would be happy to carry out any research for you at my normal fees. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use a full research service, I have a new advice service where I can give you some pointers on what you could try next for a small fee. Details are on the following page: GENEALOGICAL ADVICE I would need to know all the details of the research that you have carried out so far, and information about all the known ancestors you have established.
Thanks for your interest.
Cheers
Ros
We’re related to the shores some way back. Our side kept in contact with Parthenope in particular and we’ve still got a lot of the content of leahurst in the family. My great grandmother would frequently recall stories of visiting claydon house (the verney seat) when she was a girl. I’m fairly certain there is a full family tree somewhere of all the cousins from the shore side that I could dig out of it would be of interest?
Hi
That’s great – yes, that would be interesting, thank you.
My great-grandmother’s maiden name was
Florence Nightingale. Family lore is that when she was born (in NJ, USA in 1878) her parents, William and Lucinda, wanted to name her “Dorcas. However, “Florence” prevailed, as it was pointed out to her father that he was the last in his branch of the Nightingale family, and hence, the last who could name a daughter after his famous cousin. Exactly HOW he’s a cousin is something I’m still trying to determine.
just wondering – when Florence Nightingale’s father passed away having left no sons, did someone else inherit the estate and the Nightingale name, as he had?
Hi Debra
Thanks for this.
I think you would need to do some research to find out how the families are related. If you need any help on this side of the pond, please contact me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
As to the inheritance of the estate – that’s a very good question! I have tried to find some information on this, but can’t find anything. As William inherited it on a rule that it could only pass to a male member of the family, then I presume the same applied, so it probably went to a cousin. It would certainly be interesting to try and find out.
Ros
A follow-up on the inheritance of the Nightingale estate, including the name – yes, your presumption was right.
The estate and the name went to Florence’s cousin, Shore Smith, who then took the last name Nightingale. Florence’s father, William Edward Shore/Nightingale, had a sister, Mary Shore(Florence’s “Aunt Mai”), who was married Sam Smith, the brother of Florence’s mother, Frances “Fanny” Smith. (So yes, brother and sister married sister and brother, and they gave their son a first name that happened to be the mother’s maiden surname. Whew!)
Florence’s father, William, had inherited upon the death of Peter Nightingale, who was the uncle of William’s mother, Mary Evans. Upon William’s death, the estate passed to William’s mother’s great-nephew, Shore Smith.
I hope that’s clear, for anyone else who’d like to know.
Hi Debra – that’s brilliant – well done for finding all that. Very interesting.
Ros
we are decendants from richard nightingale born 1640 -1723 who is thomas nightingales brother born 1666 – 1734. thomas is peter nightingales(born 1705) farther
Hi Matthew – that’s great. Thank you for the information. Have you been able to go back any further than Richard?
Hi there,
I have just come across this website; I am fifth generation of Florence Nightingale. I am interested in finding relatives of my family in England and how the nightingale name went to New Zealand/Australia (I am from NZ).
James.
Hi James – I have sent you an email.
Cheers
Ros
florence nightingale is my hrandpas great5times cousin and his last name is heaton
Thanks Sarah. If you know how the Heatons are connected, then please let me know and I’ll add it to the post.
Cheers
Ros
my great, great grandfather was peter nightingale he was born and lived in ambergate near lea hall Derbyshire my grandmother also lived in the area until she moved to Nottingham as a young girl with her parents. she can remember her mother talk about grandfather(peter)saying peter was a popular choice when naming the nightingale boys. how likely is it we are, Descendants of the same family of Florence.
I am trying to trace some of the Smith family line connected with the Nightingale family. My Grandfather had traced some of it but died before I was born. I know that the family line exists in the family bible.
My father has some of the paperwork that my Grandfather had used.
My father Bernard Morris Smith has Florence Nightingale’s uncle’s handkerchiefs with the Nightingale family crest embroidered on it.
With Respect & Sincerity
Christopher John William Smith.
Hi Christopher
That sounds very interesting – and some good provenance there to connect the families!
I would be very happy to help. I have sent you an email with all the details of my service.
Best wishes
Ros
Does anyone have any more information on the following LAST connection to Florence Nightingale?
Reverend Jabez B and Mrs Esther House (nee Last) – Esther’s obituary from the Alton Telegraph newspaper dated 16th July 1937 states that she was a 2nd cousin to Florence Nightingale. Further in her obituary it explains how she is a 2nd cousin to Florence:
“Mrs Esther House was the daughter of Martha Nightingale and grand-daughter of Florence Nightingale’s uncle.”
Hi all, I’m descended from a Jane Nightingale born March 22, 1833. She married Walter Toulmin. Any relation to Florence?
Hi Ruth. It’s difficult to say without doing the necessary research. Where was she born and married? If it was in the Derbyshire area, or surrounding counties, it might be worth looking into. Let me know if you would like any help with this – you can email me at ros.bott@btinternet.com.
Cheers
Ros
Hi , Have traced my family tree in Australia through Henry (Harry) Arthur Nightingale (1858-1925). His father was John Henry Nightingale. Can anyone tell me how that links to Florence Nightingale. I’m told they were cousins, but can’t find the link.Henry married Madeline Jones. Any help appreciated. Any advice greatly appreciated.Janette
Hi Breanna – sorry about not replying sooner. I have only just seen this post.
Given that the Nightingales came from Derbyshire, it could be possible. It would be a good idea to try and trace your family and see if there is a connection. Let me know if you need help!
Ros
Hi Janette. Sorry about the late reply. I have only just seen your post.
You will need to try and find out who the siblings and uncles and aunts were of John Henry Nightingale, and then work it out from there. You may need help with this. I am sending you an email.
Ros
I was shown my relationship to Florence Nightingale when I was a child. I have a family tree going back before Florence, showing many names which I have read on this site.I have a lot of b /w photos of various Nightingales / Woods. I also have copies of wills and other paperwork going back to the 1700s of various Nightingales, all are from the UK as far as I can tell.
If I can help anyone fill in any gaps please contact me charlyminx@aol.com
Hi Mary
Thank you very much for this – extremely generous of you. I’m sure this would be very useful to anyone tracing Nightingale roots.
Ros
Hi,
Florence is supposedly my great great grandfather’s cousin, on my grandmother’s side. I am not sure that this is true, but do the names sutherland, migro or goodall have anything to do with her? Many thanks, Caitlin
By the way I am trying to trace my family tree in Fremantle, Western Australia
Thanks, Caitlin
Hi Caitlin
Thanks for your comments. I’m afraid I don’t have any further information other than what is in my blog post. In order to find out whether those surnames have any links with Florence it would be necessary to carry out research into the relevant documentation. If you would like any help with doing research over at this end please let me know! You can email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Thanks
Ros
My great great grandfather was William Adams Smith (Florence Nightingales uncle). I can find his Naval career but not a lot else not even who he married. Any clues?
Hi Rosemary. Thanks for this – I notice I had missed William out from my list of children. I checked him out and have now added his name to my article.
Finding his marriage might be difficult. He could well have been married just as William Smith – and if he was a mariner, he may even have been married abroad. Do the baptisms of any of his children not mention the mother’s name? Have you looked to see if he left a will? You can search for PCC wills on Ancestry and the National Archives – but try other sources such as FindMyPast and local archives. If his wife was still alive at his death then it would be likely that he would mention her name.
Was he living in England at the time of the census? Again, he may be just listed as William Smith – but you could try searching all mariners, naval officers etc. Try putting his occupation in the keyword section and see what comes up.
I hope this helps.
Ros
My husbands grandfather was Frank Nightingale. I’m not sure of how they are linked but we were told before he died that they were related. Can you shed any light on this. His wife was called Gladys. Thanks. Hannah
Hi Hannah
I’m afraid I don’t have such information to hand – this would take several hours of research. If you would like me to research your family for you I can do so at my usual charges.
I have sent you an email.
Best wishes
Ros
Benjamin Leigh-Smith a eu 2 fils : Valentin et Philipp- diplomate.marié à la physicienne Alice Prebil – voir archives du Musée Curie à Paris. Ceux-ci ont eu un fils unique : Christopher Arthur né à Londres en 1936-
Merci!
Hi I have done this for birth families for many years in Canada, too I am on a break right now, so just thought I would look alittle into my stuff. I came across a Name Hannan Nightingale and saw your page sounds cool, how much for you to let me know if she is related to Florance. That would be pretty cool. Also I have a few other names from there would like to know more , Thanks Charlene
Hi Charlene
I have sent you an email.
Ros
Hi, I have been reading this info for ages, my link is driving me mad. A note from Rosemary Stansby who says her Gt GT Grandfather is William Adams Smith. He is supposedly mine too. He had a son, James Smith who ran away with Harriet Ann Dimmock to Jersey. James was a coachman. Seems a bit far fetched for me. But all through the generations I have been told we are cousins to FN. Wondered if Rosemary could give more details of her relationship with Wm Adams. Any help you can give great.
Hi Carol. Hopefully Rosemary will see this – but if you don’t get a reply let me know and I will email her for you.
Ros
Hello Carol
Happy New Year – just spotted uour message re William Adams Smith connection. I have a copy of a birth certificate stating James was a coachman – My grandfather was Walter born 1862 in Jersey, I would be interested to compare a few notes with you if you wish.
I found Debra’s information interesting as I too have a great grandmother from the Nightingales. Her name was Elizabeth Nightingale and came with her family from England when she was either 8 or 12. Her father was also named William which seems to be quite common. I searched at Ellis Island in New York briefly when there but couldn’t quite get anything definite. She did have brothers but not a lot known. Elizabeth had 4 children to a Benjamin McLain (some have varied that spelling of McLain). One of those 4 children was my grandmother who was named Florence Belle. She had a twin brother. The older siblings were a girl and boy. Elizabeth died when she and her twin were around 3. Her father remarried and had a daughter in that marriage. The two older children were given to relatives and my grandmother and her twin were not treated very well by the stepmother who also had another daughter she brought into the marriage. Thus no close family roots occurred. There are Nightingale relatives in the Wellsville, Irondale, Kensington area or Ohio who meet every Father’s day for a reunion. I have not yet attended although I do know some of them. Many of them come from the brother’s of Elizabeth Nightingale. Just thought I would give you some more information as I am reading a book about Florence and I knew that my family has a connection. Maybe it would be helpful to someone.
I have a letter in the house which belongs to my great grandmother from a Mado E Shore, from Ironton Ohio stating her grandfather John R Shore was Florence’s first cousin. My great grandmothers surname was fisher. Mado Shores mother is the daughter of John Hall Fisher and I am still trying to find the connection between my great grandmother and John Fisher
Hi Teri – thanks for your post. If you need any help with this please email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Ros
Hi Rosemay
Your gt grandfather Walter is my gt grandmothers brother – Florence Kersey. James SMith is very difficult and I have been unable to definitely track him down as the son of William Adams Smith. Does it say on the birth certificate who his father is? How interesting is this??
Look forward to hearing from you.
Hello again Rosemary, I misunderstood, you have your Gt Grandfathers birth certificate and it says that his father James SMith is a coachman. Same as Florence Kersey. What we need to establish is who is James; father. How amazing would that be.
Hello Carol
William Adams Smith 1789 – 1870 had children James, Elizabeth, Sarah A and Emma H Smith. They all ended up in Jersey according to the census of 1871, 1881. and 1891. Elizabeth was married to a George Poingdestre. It does state that a William Smith a retired naval officer was staying there at one stage and puts him as father in law to George. It also ties in with William Adams Smith living in Jersey in 1861..I have come across a lady who also lived with Elizabeth named as her mother but I am still trying to verify this. It would fit together with James going to Jersey or do you think I am barking up the wrong tree
I’ think I’m related to Florence nightingale, I grew up with my parents and grandma telling me this. I’m only 15 and I’m very curious about the history of my family . Please don’t text me if it’s not about the nightingale history.
Hi Rosemary, you have certainly done a lot of work on this. I can see where you are coming from, but there is no documentation to back this. Because James and Harriet ran off to Jersey it would make sense that he had a contact there otherwise its a bit odd going to a place to start again. Brian Gould my Dads cousin has done much on the tree and he thinks that James and Harriet gave their first born her middle name because James could in fact have been James Kearsley and just adopted the name Smith, That also is an interesting idea because where did the name Kearsley come from?? It is lovely to be able to communicate with someone as interested as me. By the way I found a marriage certificate and banns for William Adams Smith. Keep in touch.
Hello Carol – I think James Smith has always been James Smith as I have some paperwork off one of the websites tracing his whereabouts from birth to death and it does log the death of his father William Adams Smith and James place of death is where I used to live., so I don’t think all that information can be wrong. I would be very interested to know who Williams wife was to see if it is the same lady from the Channel Islands.
Rosemary
Hello again Rosemary, great to hear all your news. I have looked on several newpapers re the name Williams Adams Smith and have never found anything about him being in the Royal Navy. But I have found that he was quite important with the RSPCA and this particular report mentioned that he was uncle to Florence Nightingale. Also that he stood as MP for Dudley but did not achieve this. I haven’t found anything to link him to the Navy other than the census’ which state this William Smith was commander in the Navy. I really want to go to Cambridge University to read all the Smith letters to see if there is any background information there about him. The marriage I found was about 1836 (haven’t got it in front of me) James was born 1816 so guess this could be second marriage? Carol
Hello Carol – I think you will find William Adams Smith had a very varied career starting in 1806 – he was Commander of the Philomel in 1831 and retired in 1856 – it was his father who was an MP.
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary
I found William Adams Smith married Elizabeth Arnold 10/5/1832.
Banns were read in April. I am moving house so might not be able to get on net for a couple of months (ugh).Thanks Carol