This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series is one of the most successful book adaptations to hit televisions in the last decade. The first Outlander novel was released in the 1990s. Each new book amassed a moderately sized, devoted following, until the Starz adaptation premiered in 2014, launching the series into the hearts of millions of new fans.
If you aren't familiar with the story, or need a refresher, let’s start with the first installment, which shares its name with the series itself. In , British Army nurse Claire Randall is vacationing in Scotland on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank Randall, who is interested in learning about his family history while there. Claire goes out for a walk to gather plants and hears a strange buzzing sound that seems to be coming from a rock. But when she touches the rock, she faints and wakes up 200 years in the past.
There she meets Captain Jack Randall, one of Frank's ancestors, plus members of a Scottish clan. Claire uses her nursing skills to treat Jamie, a handsome member of the clan. She quickly figures out that she has traveled to the past and decides to try to pass herself off as an English widow. She is branded a "Sassenach" or "Outlander." But the clan chieftain doesn't believe her cover story. He thinks she's an English spy, so now Claire is stuck in the past and suspected of being a traitor. How will she ever figure out a way to get home when she's being watched all the time?
Luckily, she has Jamie to make her ordeal a bit easier. In a strange turn of events, Claire ends up married to Jamie to keep her from falling into the hands of the evil Captain Randall. But what does this mean for her marriage to Frank in the 20th century? What if Claire never gets home again?
That's just the very beginning of the story; this is a romance, a work of historical fiction, a time travel series, a soap opera, and an adventure story all in one. To date, there are eight books in the Outlander series. That means a lot of story and a lot of major characters get packed into one universe. And as characters marry or have children, those numbers only grow. So how to keep track of them all?
We’ve pulled together an Outlander family tree to offer you an overview of several of the main Outlander characters and their relatives. There’s also a who's who of supporting characters of importance, and a description of the main clans at the end.
Heads up: If you haven't yet listened to the books or seen the show, this post might contain spoilers!
Scroll to the bottom to see a full-sized image of the Outlander family tree.
Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, a British World War II nurse who travels back in time to Scotland:
Claire's parents are Julia and Henry Beauchamp. They died in a car accident when she was five.
After the death of her parents, Claire was raised by her uncle, Quentin Lambert Beauchamp, an archaeologist and historian.
In the 20th century, she is married to historian Frank Randall. He also dies in a car accident, 20 years after she returns to him.
In the 18th century, Claire winds up married to James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser, of Clan Fraser of Lovat. They have several children: Faith, who doesn't survive birth; an adopted son named Fergus; and a daughter, Brianna.
However, Brianna is born back in the 20th century after Claire returns, and she is raised as Frank's daughter.
When Claire returns to Scotland in the 17th century, she eventually becomes stepmother to Jamie's son by Geneva Dunsany, William Ransom, and his stepdaughter, Marsali MacKimmie Fraser, from his marriage to Laoghaire MacKenzie.
She is later married to Lord John Grey.
James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser, soldier and landowner of Clan Fraser of Lovat and Clan MacKenzie in 18th-century Scotland:
His parents are Ellen and Brian Fraser. He had an older brother, William, who died of smallpox when Jamie was six. He also has an older sister, Jenny. Jamie's mother Ellen died in childbirth, along with the baby, when Jamie was eight.
When he was fourteen, Jamie went to live with his uncle, Dougal MacKenzie, who was his mother's brother.
Jamie marries Claire to keep her from falling into the hands of the evil Captain "Black Jack" Randall. They have one child, Faith, who doesn't survive birth; an adopted son named Fergus; and a daughter, Brianna.
Jamie has a son named William Ransom with Geneva Dunsany, who died during William's birth.
Jamie also has two stepdaughters, Marsali MacKimmie Fraser and Joan MacKimmie, from his marriage to his second wife, Laoghaire MacKenzie.
Colum MacKenzie: Chief of the MacKenzie Clan:
Colum is Jamie's maternal uncle, and brother to Dougal, Ellen, and Jocasta MacKenzie.
He is married to Letitia Chisholm, and they have a son, Hamish MacKenzie.
Dougal MacKenzie: War Chieftain of Clan MacKenzie:
Dougal is Jamie's maternal uncle, and brother to Colum, Ellen, and Jocasta MacKenzie.
He is married to Maura Grant MacKenzie. They have four daughters: Molly, Tabitha, Margaret, and Eleanor.
He also has an illegitimate son, William Buccleigh MacKenzie, with Geillis Duncan.
Dougal's nephew, Hamish, is actually his son, because his brother Colum was unable to father a child.
Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron, of the Clan MacKenzie:
Jocasta is Jamie's maternal aunt, the younger sister of Ellen, Dougal, and Colum MacKenzie.
She has been married four times: John Cameron of Erracht, Hugh Cameron of Aberfeldy, Hector Mor Cameron of Loch Eilean, and Duncan Innes.
She has three children: a daughter, Clementina Cameron, by her first husband, John; and two daughters, Seonag Cameron and Morna Cameron, by her second husband, Hector.
Frank Randall, historian:
His parents are Jonathan Edward Randall and Nora Sheffield.
Frank is married to Claire when she disappears. Upon her return, he discovers she is pregnant, and chooses to raise the child, Brianna, as his own.
His ancestors are members of the Randall clan.
Murtagh Fraser, of Clan Fraser of Lovat:
Murtagh is often mistaken for Jamie's father, but he is actually his kindly godfather.
He is not married and hasn't fathered any children.
Brianna Ellen Randall Fraser MacKenzie, mechanical engineer:
Brianna is the daughter of Claire and Jamie, but was raised by Frank Randall when Claire was transported back to the 20th century while pregnant.
She has a half-brother, William, and an adopted brother, Fergus. Her sister, Faith, died at birth.
When Brianna travels to 18th-century Scotland, she marries Roger MacKenzie. They have a son, Jeremiah "Jemmy" Fraser MacKenzie, and a daughter, Amanda MacKenzie.
Roger Wakefield MacKenzie, 20th-century historian:
Roger's parents were killed during World War II, so he was adopted by Reverend Reginald Wakefield.
After Roger travels back to 18th-century Scotland with Claire and Brianna, her daughter with Jamie, he marries Brianna. They have a son, Jeremiah "Jemmy" Fraser MacKenzie, and a daughter, Amanda MacKenzie.
His ancestors are members of the MacKenzie clan.
Jonathan Wolverton Randall aka "Black Jack", captain of His Majesty's Eighth Dragoons:
His parents are Denys Randall and Jessica Wolverton.
He also has two brothers: Edward Randall and Alexander Randall.
He is married to Mary Hawkins, and they have a son, Denys Alexander Randall, who is actually his nephew. The boy's real father is Black Jack's brother, Alexander.
Geillis Duncan, herbalist, murderess, and accused witch:
Was originally Gillian Edgars, married to Greg Edgars, in the 1960s. She murdered her husband in a ritual in order to walk through the stones into the past, where she took the name Geillis.
Married Arthur Duncan, the procurator fiscal, and murdered him when he discovers she is pregnant with another man's child.
She has a son, William Buccleigh MacKenzie, whose father is Dougal MacKenzie, just before she is burned at the stake.
Lord John Grey, British soldier:
His parents are Gerard Grey and Benedicta Stanley.
His mother married Sir George Stanley after his father's death.
He has a brother, Harold Grey, as well as two half-brothers, Paul DeVane and Edgar DeVane, and a step-brother, Percy Wainwright.
He was married to Isobel Dunsany, who died on a ship at sea while traveling to visit him.
He later marries Claire, but when Jamie returns after having been thought to be dead for some time, it makes their marriage invalid.
Laoghaire MacKenzie, of the Clan Mackenzie:
She has been married four times: Hugh MacKenzie of Muldaur, Simon MacKimmie, Jamie Fraser (invalid), and Joseph Boswell Murray.
She has two daughters, Marsali MacKimmie Fraser and Joan MacKimmie, by her second husband, Simon.
She is Jamie Fraser's second wife, but her marriage to Jamie is later proven invalid when Claire returns back to the 18th century.
Supporting Characters:
Greg Edgars: Gillian Edgars's first husband. She killed him as a blood sacrifice, as part of a ritual to help her pass through the stones to the past.
Arthur Duncan:Gillian Edgars'ssecond husband. She killed him when he discovered she was pregnant with another man's child. (Her husbands don't have the best luck.)
Geneva Dunsany: Daughter of Lord and Lady Dunsany. She was infatuated with Jamie, who did not return the sentiment. On the eve of her wedding to elderly Ludovic Ransom, Eighth Earl of Ellesmere, she blackmails Jamie into a night of passion, which results in the birth of William Ransom. Geneva dies from complications after William's birth, and Lord Ellesmere raises him as his own son.
William Ransom: The son of Geneva Dunsany and Jamie Fraser. His mother died after his birth. He is the legal son and heir of Ludovic Ransom, Eighth Earl of Ellesmere, who was his mother's husband. Since the age of six, he has been in the care of his legal guardian, Lord John Grey, and his wife, Isobel Dunsany, who is also his maternal aunt.
Rev. Dr. Reginald Wakefield: A vicar in 20th century Scotland who raises Roger Wakefield MacKenzie after the death of his parents.
Mrs. Graham: Reverend Wakefield's housekeeper in Inverness. Also the head of the local modern druid society that observes ancient pagan festivals. She read Claire's tea leaves, which basically predicted her adventure before it started, saying Claire would leave on a journey, but also stay.
Fiona Graham: Granddaughter or Mrs. Graham. When Mrs. Graham died, she took over her position as housekeeper, and also as caller of the stones.
Mrs. Baird: The owner of the bed and breakfast where Frank and Claire Randall stayed in Inverness during their second honeymoon in 1945, before Claire disappeared.
Millie Nelson: A friend of Claire's in the 20th century.
Joe Abernathy: A friend of Claire's from medical school in the 20th century.
Rupert MacKenzie: A tacksman of Clan MacKenzie, and a cousin of Colum and Dougal MacKenzie.
Angus Mhor: Colum MacKenzie's body servant and bodyguard. On the television adaptation, he has a larger role, serving as BFF to Rupert MacKenzie. His actual last name is not known, so he instead goes by "mhor," a Gaelic adjective.
Janet "Jenny" Fraser Murray: Jamie's older sister, and only living sibling. She is married to Ian Murray and has seven children.
Isobel Dunsany: Sister of Geneva Dunsany, wife of Lord John Grey, and maternal aunt of William Ransom. She dies en route to see her husband in Jamaica, where he was governor at the time.
Clans of Outlander
Even if you don't know exactly what a “clan” is, you've still probably been able to pick it up from context, whether you've listened to the series or watched the show. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of 'clan' is "a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor." But it also means "a group united by a common interest or common characteristics,” meaning that maybe you are not necessarily related by blood or marriage, but you have been accepted into the group as family regardless, like Angus Mhor.
There are two major clans in the series: the MacKenzie Clan and the Fraser of Lovat Clan.
The MacKenzie clan is a real clan in Scotland, and their ancestral home, Castle Leod, is widely considered to be Gabaldon's inspiration for Castle Leoch, the home of the Clan Mackenzie. Notable characters related to Clan MacKenzie through blood or marriage include Jamie Fraser, Angus Mhor, Colum MacKenzie, Dougal Mackenzie, Brianna MacKenzie, Roger MacKenzie, and Jocosta Cameron.
Clan Fraser of Lovat is also a real a Scottish clan, who resided in the Scottish Highlands. There was also a Clan Fraser, who lived in the Scottish Lowlands, but for the purposes of this series, Gabaldon used fictional people from Clan Fraser of Lovat. Notable characters related to Clan Fraser of Lovat through blood or marriage include Jamie Fraser, Claire Randall Fraser, Brianna MacKenzie, Fergus Fraser, Murtagh Fraser, Jenny Murray, and William Ransom.
Here are a complete list of the Outlander audiobooks in order, plus some of the titles in the Gabaldon’s Lord John Grey series:
• (1991)
• (1992)
• (1993)
• (1996)
• (2001)
• (2005)
• (2009)
• (2014)
• (2013)
• (2013)
• Seven Stones to Stand or Fall A Collection of Outlander Fiction (2017)
Liberty Hardy is a Book Riot senior contributing editor and velocireader living in the great state of Maine with her cats, Millay, Farrokh, and Zevon. None of them, to the best of her knowledge, have ever traveled back in time.
