16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (2023)

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Stephanie Ashe

Updated

2022-08-24T15:23:43Z

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (1)

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  • The Weasleys are featured throughout "Harry Potter," but it's easy to lose track of these facts.
  • Molly's brothers were killed in the First Wizarding War, and Arthur is related to the Blacks.
  • The surname holds a special meaning, and some of their first names are from Arthurian legend.

(Video) 10 Little-Known WEASLEY Family Facts - Harry Potter Explained

Some of the Weasleys' first names came from Arthurian legend.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (2)

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When naming her characters, controversial author JK Rowling pulled from history, old stories, and even local cemeteries. In that vein, a few of the Weasleys' first names can be found in the legends of King Arthur.

There's Arthur Weasley, of course, but Ginny is also short for Ginevra, which is the Italian version of Guinevere, the name of King Arthur's wife.

Additionally, Percy could be a reference to Sir Percival, one of the knights of the round table.

The name Weasley is also significant.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (3)

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According to Pottermore, now known as Wizarding World, the Weasley surname is based on Rowling's love of weasels, despite their bad reputation in the UK — which parallels the way the Weasley family is often wrongly looked down upon throughout the series.

The name of their home is probably another nod to the animal, since weasels live in burrows, and Arthur's Patronus also takes the form of the animal.

They lived near the Lovegoods.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (4)

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Harry, Ron, and Hermione visit the Lovegood residence in the seventh book, when Xenophilius Lovegood explains the story of the Deathly Hallows to them, but fans may not recall that Ron says they don't live far from the Burrow.

The Lovegoods' and the Weasleys' homes were both located in the wizard village of Ottery St. Catchpole.

Both of Molly's brothers were murdered by Death Eaters.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (5)

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Very little is known about Molly's life prior to meeting Arthur at Hogwarts, but "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" does reveal a little about the character.

During the First Wizarding War, many innocent lives were lost, including Fabian and Gideon Prewett — who were Molly's brothers and members of the original Order of the Phoenix.

This may explain Molly's initial hesitation to allow her family to join the fight in the Second Wizarding War.

Arthur is related to the Black family.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (6)

(Video) The Weasley Family Bloopers In Harry Potter

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With so few pureblood families remaining in the Wizarding World, it makes sense that many of them are related somehow.

Arthur's mother was Cedrella Weasley (née Black), the granddaughter of Phineas Nigellus Black, which means the Weasleys are related to the Black family.

Additionally, Arthur's grandmother was Lysandra Black (née Yaxley), who was most likely related to the Death Eater Corban Yaxley.

Originally, more than one Weasley was going to die in the series.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (7)

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In a 2007 interview with Today, Rowling said she had planned to kill Arthur Weasley when he was bitten by the snake in "Order of the Phoenix," but she became too attached to the character to go through with it.

She even called him "the only good father in the whole series."

Per The Guardian, in a DVD extra for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2," Rowling also said she "did seriously consider killing Ron."

In the end, Fred was the only Weasley to die during the Second Wizarding War, and Rowling told Today that she didn't really know why she killed him and not his twin, George.

The form of Molly's boggart changed slightly over time.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (8)

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A boggart is a malevolent shape-shifting creature that takes the form of its viewer's greatest fear.

As a mother and natural caretaker, Molly's biggest fear was losing her family, which is why any boggart she encountered would take the form of her dead children and husband.

Although Harry wasn't her biological son, she'd grown to consider him as such throughout the series, so the form of Molly's boggart eventually shifted to include his demise as well.

Bill and Fleur's relationship started at Gringotts, and not everyone supported it.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (9)

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When we first meet Fleur Delacour in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," she is in her final year at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. After graduating, she took a job at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

Bill Weasley was also working there as a Curse-Breaker, and the two hit it off. But when Bill first started dating Fleur, his mother and sister were unimpressed with her. Molly questioned her love for Bill, and both Molly and Ginny's general dislike for her was clear whenever she was around.

Molly even continuously tried to set her son up with Nymphadora Tonks throughout his engagement — which was more than a little awkward because Tonks was already falling for Remus Lupin.

However, by the time Bill and Fleur's wedding came around, the family had warmed to Fleur a little.

Victoire Weasley, Bill and Fleur's eldest daughter, was the last character introduced in the series.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (10)

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The epilogue of "Deathly Hallows" takes place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts and introduces a few new people — namely the children of the main characters from the series. The very last character to be introduced in the series was Victoire Weasley, Bill and Fleur's eldest child.

In the 2007 documentary "J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life," the author said that the character was born on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, hence her name, which is French for "victory."

In the documentary, Rowling also drew a Weasley family tree that showed the couple had two other children named Dominique and Louis.

(Video) The Life of Fred & George Weasley: Entire Timeline Explained (Harry Potter)

Bill was portrayed by two different actors in the movies.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (11)

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Domhnall Gleeson played Bill Weasley in the final films, but he wasn't the first actor to portray the character.

In "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," viewers catch a brief glimpse of the entire Weasley clan in a photo from their trip to Egypt. In that brief appearance, actor Richard Fish played Bill.

The photo is also the only time we see Charlie Weasley in the entire film series.

The description of Bill looking like Mad-Eye Moody after his attack is even more poignant in the movies.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (12)

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During the Battle of the Astronomy Tower at the end of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Bill was attacked by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. Luckily, he wasn't turned, but he was left with large, cursed scars across his face and some wolf-like tendencies.

In "Deathly Hallows," Bill is described as having a "distant resemblance" to Mad-Eye Moody, who was also badly scarred from his career as an Auror.

Funnily enough, the actor who played Bill in the movies is the real-life son of Brendan Gleeson, who played Moody.

Charlie was the only surviving Weasley sibling who didn't get married.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (13)

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According to the 2007 documentary, out of the six surviving Weasley children, Charlie was the only one who didn't marry and have children.

Bill and Fleur had their three children. Percy married a witch named Audrey and had two daughters, Molly and Lucy, with her. George married Fred's ex-girlfriend, Angelina Johnson, and they had two children together named Fred and Roxanne.

Ron married Hermione and they had two kids, Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley. And Harry married Ginny, who had their three kids: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna Potter.

Very little is known about Charlie, aside from his passion for magical creatures, which has led some fans to wonder about the character's sexual orientation.

(Video) The Weasley Family Origins Explained (+Fred's Death)

However, in "J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life," the author said, "No, I don't think Charlie's gay, just more interested in dragons than women."

Percy should have been wearing glasses in the films.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (14)

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There were quite a few differences between the "Harry Potter" books and films. Some of those changed seemed like large and confusing omissions, but others simply had to do with the physical appearances of characters.

In the case of Percy Weasley, the books say on several occasions that he wears glasses, but the character never wears them in the films.

Fred and George's birthday is April Fool's Day.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (15)

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Fred and George, the twin Weasley brothers and legendary pranksters, were fittingly born on April Fool's Day of 1978.

Rowling also confirmed in a tweet from 2015 that Fred was the older of the two twins, which may be why he tended to take the lead on many of their antics.

Ron retired from the Ministry of Magic after two years to work with his brother.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (16)

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Per The Guardian, in a now-deleted 2014 Daily Prophet article from Pottermore, fictional gossip columnist Rita Skeeter shared that Ron worked with Harry at the Ministry of Magic for two years before retiring to comanage Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes joke shop with his brother, George.

Ginny went on to work at The Daily Prophet.

16 little-known facts about the Weasley family that 'Harry Potter' fans may not know (17)

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In the same now-deleted 2014 Daily Prophet article, fans also got a glimpse at Ginny's life after the series.

After playing Quidditch professionally for the all-female Holyhead Harpies, she went on to work as the Quidditch correspondent for The Daily Prophet.

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(Video) Why the Weasleys Are So Poor - Harry Potter Explained

FAQs

What is unique about the Weasley family? ›

The Weasley family was a historically pure-blood wizarding family. However, unlike many other pure-blood families, they had pro-Muggle views. As such, they were not considered suitable spouses for members of the House of Black, and Cedrella, Arthur's mother, was disowned from the family for marrying Septimus Weasley.

What is the Weasley twins theory? ›

The crux of the theory is this: J.K. Rowling named Fred and George Weasley, Ron's older twin brothers, after British royalty. Which doesn't sound like a big deal, at first, until you connect the dots and realize that if it is true, it predicts Fred's eventual death.

Did Bill and Fleur have a baby? ›

Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley

They have three children: Victoire, Dominique, and Louis.

Who is the Weasley oldest to youngest? ›

Ron has six siblings: his five older brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, twins Fred and George, and a younger sister, Ginny, each with their own distinct personality trait.

Who is the coolest Weasley child? ›

Fred Weasley

He's usually the one with the witty one-liners, and therefore comes across as 'cooler' in his confidence – the quote above is said directly to Umbridge before they leave Hogwarts behind on their broomsticks.

Who is Draco's son? ›

Scorpius Malfoy

Scorpius is the only-child of Astoria Greengrass and Draco Malfoy, and unlike Draco Malfoy, Scorpius seems very different to his father.

Which twin lost his ear? ›

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Fred and George are members of the Order of the Phoenix and serve as two of Harry's six decoys when he escapes Privet Drive. George loses one of his ears to Snape's Sectumsempra curse (which was aimed at a Death Eater's wand hand, but missed).

Who were the Weasley twins blackmail? ›

46), and it's Fred who wants to blackmail Ludo Bagman after he won't pay them their winnings from the Quidditch World Cup.

Did George ever get over Fred's death? ›

Although not mentioned in the novel, Rowling said in a web chat that George never does fully get over Fred's death. However, he goes on with his life, turning Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes into a "money spinner" with Ron .

Is Draco a veela? ›

Draco Lucius Malfoy (b. 5 June, 1980) was an English pure-blood wizard of French and Veela ancestry; the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy (née Black), he is the grandson of Abraxas and Yelena Malfoy (née Greengrass) as well as the step grandson of Viper Malfoy (née Prince).

How old was Ginny Weasley when she got pregnant? ›

Although we don't know exactly when Harry and Ginny get married, Ginny was 22 and Harry was 23 when they had their first child, which means that we can probably guess that they got married a year or two earlier than that. Hermione and Ron have their first child when they are a little bit older, at 25.

Who was Harry's first kiss? ›

In "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the latest in the megahit series based on J.K. Rowling's books, Harry comes of age and has his first on-screen kiss with longtime crush Cho Chang, played by Katie Leung. It was a big moment for Harry — if not for Radcliffe.

How old is James Potter when he dies? ›

James dies at the hands of Lord Voldemort offstage, just before the opening chapter of the first book, sets up the conflict in the entire series. James was born 27 March 1960 and died 31 October, 1981. He was 20 when his son was born and was 21 at his death.

How old is Lily Luna Potter? ›

Lily Potter (née Evans) was a Muggle-born witch and Harry's mother. She was born 30 January 1960 and died on 31 October 1981 at age 21. She was quite young, 19 years old, when she became pregnant with Harry, giving birth to him at 20.

How old is Lily Luna Potter now? ›

Lily Luna Potter (September 1, 2008-Present) is a Half-blood Witch born to Harry and Ginny Potter (née Weasley). From 2019 to 2026 she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was sorted into Ravenclaw. Lily has two older brothers, James Sirius Potter and Albus Potter.

Who is the most popular Weasley twin? ›

Fred Weasley is mentioned over 900 times in the books, almost 200 more than his brother (George gets around 731 mentions).

Is Bill Weasley a werewolf? ›

Bill is viciously mauled by the werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. Fortunately, as Fenrir was not transformed at the time, Bill did not become a werewolf, though Madam Pomfrey is unable to completely heal his face, and he remains permanently scarred.

Who is older Bill or Charlie Weasley? ›

William Arthur "Bill" Weasley (b. 29 November 1970) was an English pure-blood wizard, the first child of Arthur and Molly Weasley (née Prewett) and the eldest brother of Charlie, Percy, the late Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny.

Why are the Weasleys so well known? ›

The Weasley's are popular so popular because pretty much all readers could relate to them in some way. They are a poor family but are much more loving than some of the richer families in the series. They also show Harry what it means to have a family.

Why are the Weasleys well known? ›

Weasley was the surname of a pure-blood wizarding family in Great Britain. They were considered one of the prominent wizarding families, although their lack of money and their sympathy for Muggle-born wizards and even Muggles made other wizards and witches view them scornfully.

What is special about Ron Weasley? ›

Ron may have sometimes been quick to jealousy, insecurity and anger – but he was also loyal, smart, brave and funny. He cared deeply for those close to him, and would stick up for his friends and family. That's why Ron is our Chosen One.

What is special about Fred and George Weasley? ›

They have red hair and are proud to be Weasleys. In the movies, both twins are tall and skinny. In the books they are described as shorter and stockier than Ron. Although these two are not very big characters in the seven-book installment, they play some big roles in a few books.

Are the Weasleys gingers? ›

I also love the fact that all the main characters are ginger like Lily, Ron, all of the Weasleys." Hayley, 28, added that thanks to the Weasleys, she's never dyed her hair a different colour.

Are the Weasleys still pure blood? ›

The Weasleys

We finish on a family who are technically quite pure-blood, but are deemed 'blood traitors' by various peers, and seem proud of it. It is, indeed, the Weasleys' compassion and morals that led to several members marrying half-bloods, Muggle-borns, etc.

Why do the Weasleys keep a ghoul? ›

In the case of the Weasleys' attic, the ghoul is used as part of the ongoing illustration of the Weasley family's relative poverty; the idea, one supposes, is that rich families have house-elves to take care of them.

Who is the least favorite Weasley? ›

It's no surprise that Percy Weasley was the least liked of all the Weasley brothers and sister because he never really made an effort to mingle with anybody else. Besides his romance with Penelope Clearwater, he kept to himself and hardly ever came out of his room.

Who is the oldest Weasley? ›

William "Bill" Arthur Weasley is the eldest son of Arthur and Molly Weasley; he is two years older than Charlie, the second son. He is tall with long, red hair tied into a ponytail and a fang earring, both of which his mother disapproves of. At Hogwarts he was in Gryffindor House and Head Boy in his seventh year.

What do the Weasleys call their house? ›

The Burrow is the rural home of the Weasley family, located near the fictional town of Ottery St. Catchpole.

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