Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Family History Discoveries

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ANCESTRY^® BLOG

Ancestry Team

08 September 2025

Get ready for another captivating return to the Crawley estate, as Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arrives in theatres Tuesday, September 9th! To celebrate in partnership with Focus Features, we at Ancestry have delved into the real-life family histories of some of your favorite cast members. We’ve uncovered fascinating connections that are just as dramatic and intriguing as the show itself. These discoveries highlight how the vast collection of historical records available on Ancestry can reveal incredible stories within your own family tree.

Join us as we explore the connections between the actors and their on-screen characters, all brought to light through diligent genealogical research.

Harry Hadden-Paton (Bertie, Marquess of Hexam)

Harry's character, Bertie, an expert businessman managing aristocratic estates, could have drawn inspiration from his own lineage. Harry’s 3x-great-grandfather, Henry Gurdon Marquand, was a banker involved in railway interests. This financial acumen could have provided valuable advice to the Crawley family, potentially helping them avoid disastrous investments, a plotline often seen on the show. This discovery was made possible through a death notice on Newspapers.com.

Michael Colin Fox (Andy, the Footman)

Michael Fox is practically playing a role written for his ancestors! His 3x-great-grandfather, Horace Walpole, was a butler, and his 2x-great-grandfather, Joseph Jenks, was a chauffeur. Records like the marriage record of Horace Walpole and the 1921 England Census for Joseph Jenks on Ancestry helped uncover these fitting connections.

Marriage record of Horace Walpole on Ancestry

1921 England Census record of Joseph Jenks on Ancestry

Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore, the Head Cook)

The lovable Mrs. Patmore’s passion for food and wine is echoed in Lesley Nicol's own family tree. Her ancestors were shepherds, butchers, and wine and spirit merchants. Her maternal grandfather, Henry Thomas Isaac, was a butcher, as shown in the 1911 Census of England and Wales on Ancestry. Other ancestors, like James MacMillan, were wine merchants, and William Glasgow was a spirit merchant, hinting at a long-standing family connection to the culinary and beverage trades.

1911 Census of England and Wales record of Henry Thomas Isaac, butcher (Lesley’s grandfather) on Ancestry

Allen Leech (Tom Branson, Chauffeur turned Estate Manager)

While Tom Branson began as a chauffeur, his journey led him to powerful positions. Allen Leech's ancestors held similarly influential roles in Ireland. His paternal great-grandfather, Thomas Hynes Leech, was an Irish peace commissioner noted for his honesty and integrity, a clerk for Petty Sessions, and District Staff Officer of the Local Security Force. His maternal great-grandfather, Patrick J. Power, was a national health insurance inspector. These records, including a death notice for Thomas H. Leech on Newspapers.com, demonstrate a family legacy of public service and influence that Tom Branson would undoubtedly have championed.

Death notice of Thomas H. Leech on Newspapers.com

Discover More with Ancestry

From historical census records and marriage certificates on Ancestry to newspaper articles and death notices found on Newspapers.com, these discoveries offer a unique glimpse into the lives of the Downton Abbey cast's real families.

What stories will you uncover in your own family tree? Start your journey on Ancestry today and discover your own incredible connections to the past! And be sure to see the final chapter unfold in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, only in theatres September 9th (UK) and September 12th (U.S.).