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
My great grandmother was Eliza nightingale daughter of Cornelius Nightingale, Eliza’s brother was Peter nightingale, William Edward Shore inherited his estates after his death, but had to change his name to Nightingale .
Eliza went on to marry William Johnson Chappell, they lived in Sherwood Forest Robin Hood cottages
My grandfather Arthur Chappell , married Annie Elizabeth Weightman
daughter of William Weightman and Elizabeth Ball, daughter of William Weightman and Catherine Lewis from Derbyshire
Hi there! Many thanks for your contribution – it’s great to hear from a descendant of the ‘real’ Nightingale side!
Ros
I am related to William Edward Shore.
Hello. I descend from the same family as Florence. My mothers maiden name is Shore. I have managed to trace many Shore lines but need help. I know I am related to Florences father as my Grandfathers grandfather George Matthia Shore looks almost identical! However I can not work out how to decipher our exact relationship as am not very experienced. I seem to be good at collecting names…… I am interested in your proffesional geneology services.
Hi Sharon. I am sending you an email.
Ros
i found out that i was related to her in second grade
Hi There. My name is Aaron Nightingale and today is my birthday (May 12th) which is the same day Florence was born. My whole life, people have asked me if I was related and I never had an answer but just recently found out that we shared the same birthday. Was wondering if you could help me trace my family tree to see if perhaps we are?
Thanks for the research! It is great to see.
Hi Aaron. I am sending you an email.
Ros
Cornelius Nightingale, 1796 – 1872
Cornelius Nightingale was born on month day 1796, at birth place, to Richard Nightingale and Mary Nightingale (born Slinn).
Richard was born in 1771, in Ashover, Derbyshire, England.
Mary was born on September 6 1772, in Ashover, Derbyshire, England.
Cornelius had 8 siblings: Henry Nightingale, William Nightingale and 6 other siblings.
Cornelius married Ellen Nightingale (born Pearson) on month day 1827, at age 31 at marriage place.
Ellen was born on August 29 1802, in Ashover, Derbyshire, England.
They had 4 children: Ellen Nightingale and 3 other children.
Cornelius married Ann Nightingale (born Bacon) on month day 1815, at age 19 at marriage place.
Ann was born on April 6 1790, in South Normanton, Derbyshire, England.
They had 10 children: John Nightingale, Mary Nightingale and 8 other children.
Cornelius passed away on month day 1872, at age 76 at death place.
My maternal aunt’s name was Anne Nightingale Hebden. She was named by her mother, Cecilia Georgina Buckley Hebden. Cecilia was born in Leeds, England and later immigrated to Canada. I am wondering how Buckely’s were related to Nightingale’s???
Hi Andrea. Really, the only way to find out is to trace your family tree and see if you can find a link. If you need any help with this, email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Best wishes
Ros
BRIDEN is also a name connected to florence Nightengale. I am related by blood.
Do you know where the link is Benjamin?
Hi I have been doing our family tree and found a great grandfather William williamson married a dorothie nightingale in 1665 in Lichfield Staffordshire , her father was John nightingale.t he only dorothie that matches was born in 1619. How do I come forward rather than go back to see if dorothie is related to Florence please? Many thanks.
Hi Natasha
First of all, you need to be sure you have the right Dorothy. At these dates in particular, just because you can only find one match does not mean it’s the right one. There may be missing registers. In fact, I know that many of the nearby Cannock registers are not available, and only the Bishops Transcripts are available, which are not online. While it’s not impossible, this Dorothy does seem a little mature for marriage in those times, so that would definitely ring alarm bells with me, and I would want to make sure there are no other Nightingales in the area.
If you do have the right one, finding out whether she was distantly related to the later Florence Nightingale would be quite difficult. First of all, you have no idea whether the link is from one of her siblings, an aunt or uncle, or much further back. The best way of doing it would be to trace Florence’s Nightingale family (this would be from her father’s great-uncle Peter) back and see whether it links up with yours, rather than trying to trace ‘forwards’.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Ros
There doesn’t seem to be any websites saying about the briden family, since bridens were more on the outer part of the family tree of florence nightengale, but Briden are related.
I had always been told a family tale that we are related to the Nightingale family as my maternal grandfather’s grandmother was a Nightingale. I’ve been researching my family tree and have always been interested in the Nightingale connection as I am myself a nurse. I traced back the Nightingale name to Early Cambridge Nightingale in 1529 through his son Richard Nightingale (1570), who I believe is the brother of Edward Nightingale from whom I believe that Florence Nightingale’s family descends. It’s a very lose connection but interesting to me at least owing to my profession and that my husband participated in the commemoration service in 2002 at Westminster Abby (I attended the service but was included). Hopefully I did my research correctly!
Hi Eleanor. Thanks – that’s very interesting. You will have done your research correctly as long as you looked at original documents at each step (not just transcripts), made no assumptions, and made sure you were aware of any parishes where there are missing registers etc. It certainly is very rare to get back that far, so if you need anyone to check your research, please let me know – though it would involve basically re-doing the research. If you have done your research along those lines, then well done!
Hello! I’ve been tracking my Nightingale connection off and on for years. My late Grandfather always said there was a family connection to Florence. My 3x Great Grandmother was Mary Lomas 1802 – 1860. It is believed her first husband was Florence’s Uncle Thomas Shore. Her second was my 3x Great Grandfather George Mellor. After he died, she married William Nightingale, 1794-1859, son of Richard Nightingale 1771-1825 and Mary Slinn 1772-1854. Mary and William’s son, “Uncle” John Nightingale was born in Alton Ashover Sep 1832, and came to Australia, where he died childless in Daylesford, Victoria in 1916.
many reasons why i love being a Nightingale love the family history!!
Florence is also in my family tree though I am uncertain of the relationship. I have all the details on a huge roll of paper, and you can follow the line from Florence down to myself. My 6x great grandad was called Thomas Nightingale.One day I will get around to putting the info into some kind of family tree online.
apparently the purdy side of my family is meant to be related to florence nightingale
Hello! I am so stuck with something and hoping you can give me some advice! my great grandmother was Edith Louise Shore 1884 to 1946 which gives her father as William Ryder shore. his father is then John shore 1815 and I cannot find john’s parents except someone who worked at knutsford house of correction?!! so starting to doubt this could be linked to the shores at all, can you help? my family will start to disown me if I keep spending so much time on this computer!
Hi Katie
The only way I can help would be for me to undertake research on your behalf, which I would have to charge for. Unfortunately, I currently not taking on any new clients due to a work overload and family commitments. However, if you wish to go on a waiting list, let me know and I will email you when I am free. I also have a guide sheet for brick walls which I could send you, if you like. Just let me know and I can send it by email. Cheers, Ros.
Hi my name is Jenna Turner my 6th great grandfather is Cornelius Nightingale 1796-1872 I have just started my family tree and have just found out all this info hope in some way you could possibly help me. Thank you.
William Edward Shore, who became Nightingale, bought Embley Park near Romsey in Hampshire after his marriage. According to Mark Bostridge, author, he was born in Sheffield.
hiya, my great great great grandmother is Florence Julia Nightingale, i am writing an essay on her and i would like to see if anyone knows much about her. My family has told me stories o how she met her husband but i would like to find out more.
My grandfather, William Nightingale, was named after Florence’s dad. Proud to be english American and a nightingale.
My family are related to the Shore name.
My grandma and her sister were Helen and Betty Shore.
We have always known of a connection to Florence Nightingale. If you’d like more information please feel free to get in touch.
Hi
I am descendant of the Shore family. My grandmother was Helen Shore, sibling Betty Shore, parents were William and Elizabeth Shore.
Would love to see a family tree and add to it!
Florence Nightingale was my 4th cousin, 4 times removed. My maternal great, great grandmother was Jane Nightingale. Jane married Francis Thompson, my great great grandfather. My mother was their great grand daughter, Josephine Elizabeth Thompson. She married my father John Bell.
Was the murdered lady on the train (Florence Nightingales god-daughter) a relative of the Shore/Nightingale/Smith families? I notice her name is listed as Florence Nightingale Shore online, and that’s confusing.
That’s an interesting question, Lorna. I had not come across this before, but in all the information I can find, there is nothing to say whether she was a relative. Given that she had the name Shore, it seems likely that she was probably a cousin from her father’s side of the family (perhaps even a second cousin), and perhaps had been given her first names in honour of her famous relative. This seems the mostly likely scenario as far as I can see.
It would be interesting to know if anyone else can shed light on this.
Ros
Hello, I am preparing a gift for my mother´s 80th birthday. Her grandfather Rev. Sydney Montague Watson (vicar at the church at St. Margaret´s Church, Wellow, Hampshire in 1910) and conducted the service for Florence Nightingale´s private funeral. My grandmother was a young girl and remembers watching the funeral procession from the vicarage window next door. It was a moment of great honour and importance to our family (I even decided to name my daughter Florence). I am in search of a photo of the ceremony which includes my great grandfather, and wondered whether any family member would have such a photo and if so, wouldn´t mind sharing it with me. My email address is janealiciacooney@hotmail.es. Thank you for your time and trouble.
Hi! I’m researching the Chamberlain family of Lincolnshire and we have a Florence Nightingale born in Boston 1865. but I cant seems to find any Nightingales any further back are they of any realation?
Hi Tamasine – it’s impossible to say without further research. I checked on Ancestry, and there are several Florence Nightingales baptisms around the country for 1865 (I’ve noted Lancashire, Warwickshire and Hampstead, London), but none for Boston. Is it possible she was not born in Boston? Also, don’t forget that the famous nurse and social reformer was already famous by 1865, so many people with the Nightingale surname would probably name a daughter Florence as a tribute, but it does not necessarily mean they were related.
Best wishes
Ros
My dad and his cousin thought there was a connection to Florence Nightingale and I have vague memories of him talking about his father and why he thought there was a connection through him. I’ve been tracing my family tree and have discovered my great grand father was baptised John Nightingale Gregory Hopkinson. His mother was Mary Nightingale (1801-1869) My family all come from around Crich and Wheatcroft in Derbyshire and also appear to have a connection with Lea. I’m loving doing the research although I only started a few months ago. Another ‘story’ my dad told was that his father Walter Hopkinson came from a well to do family but after his 1st wife died in childbirth he ran off with the maid (my grandmother) Sadly my paternal grandparents both died well before was born but I have found out that my grandmother was 22 years younger than my grandfather, somaybe the ‘story’ has some truth to it. They married in 1908 and in the 1911 census I found my grand father under the surname Gregory living in Chester. So had he run away? Love to find out for sure but it’s quite romantic. Sorry for waffling on.
My maiden name was Shore. I was brought up with the family lore that FN was a distant relative. I can trace back through my paternal line of Shore Men
John Hubert, my father, Hubert Dennis, John George,William, Richard born 1908, John Denton born 1778, Richard born 1742.
I cannot trace back down through the William Edward Shore – Nightingale line. This is where I need help please.
Hi Elizabeth. You have to trace back both lines to find the common ancestor, which can be difficult. Email me if you would like some professional help.
Best wishes
Ros
I do not know how to find out if the Braintree/Quincy, Massachusetts Nightingales are an ancestors of Florence Nightingale.
Hi Robert. I’m wondering if you mean ancestors, or do you mean ‘relatives’? If you’re looking to find out if your two families connect, it does mean painstakingly tracing the families back to find a common ancestor, and is generally much more difficult than it sounds! Firstly, you’d need to find out when your own ancestors emigrated to America, and where from in England. If you can get back that far, I might be able to help you with the English side. Use my contact page if you would like professional help with the UK side.
Best wishes
Ros
Is Rosie Standby still researching William Adams Smith? Lots has happened in my life (its the age you know) but hopefully will soon be able to pick up loose ends. Rosie is one of them, no disrespect.
Hi i am related to florence Nightingale. My grandfather was walter vivien Nightingale he was born 1903 at Ashover Derbyshire. When he was alive he did all the family tree and gave me a copy. You can contact me through my Email address
Thanks Susan. I don’t think your email address will show to other readers – but if anyone wants to contact you, they can email me first, and I’ll pass your email address on to them.
Cheers
Ros
Hi Everyone my name is Jason. Amazing to find this site if anyone can help me with this Canadian connection it would be greatly appreciated. My Great Grandmother is Maria (Minnie) Nightingale Hebden Herbison, Born May 15th 1872 in Grewel Thorpe Yorkshire England. Died in the Winter of 1924 or 1925 from Tuberculosis or Pphemonia. All I know about her is that she had an affair with a married man in England and had two daughters with him, she was shipped to Canada with her daughters as punishment and later married my Great Grandfather Adam Herbison of Pakan Edmonton Alberta in 1911 and gave him four children of which my Grandfather Earl Herbison was the youngest child. I was told the Hebdens have the APPLETON COAT OF ARMS and that she was a school teacher. If anyone recognizes any of the info above please respond via email. Thank you
My great x 3 grandparents are Hugh Bowmer & Jane Nightingale. Jane being the daughter of Joseph Nightingale & Ellen Pearson. Joseph’s parents bring Richard Nightingale and Mary Slinn etc
So the name BOWMER may also connect people to the Nightingale family tree.
Incidentally Helena Bonham Carter and Lord Asquith are also descendants of the same Nightingale family.
Hi Caro – many thanks for this – that’s very interesting!
Ros
Hi Caro, my family are Bowmer’s and we have been lead to believe for as long as I can remember that we have a family link to the Nightingale family. Apparently distant Bowmer family members have looked into it and established the link but I don’t know them. Your post has made me think that maybe there is something in the Bowmer myth as we have come to think of it. I know that my sisters and nieces are interested in finding out so maybe we will now be inspired to look into it.
Hi,
I have recently discovered that I am related to an ‘Esther Nightingale’. In a newspaper article from 1898, it says she is ‘the niece of Florence Nightingale of Crimean fame’.
I have searched and searched over the last month for any connection to this but cannot seem to find anything!
Hi Charlotte
Interesting. I wonder how far 19th century newspapers can be trusted! It could be true – but such claims can’t always be proved. Let me know if you’d like any professional help with this.
Cheers
Ros