The world of Harry Potter has a long and detailed history, with many of its characters representing the diversity of the Wizarding community. While individuals like Harry and Hermione grew up in the Muggle world, others like Draco Malfoy and Sirius Black were born into so-called "pureblooded" clans.
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Several notable Wizarding families have produced some of the most powerful and revolutionary witches and wizards of the era. That said, not every character (or family) in Harry Potter uses their powers for good. On the other hand, it can be argued that Voldemort is the worst of the bunch specifically because he never had a family in the first place. Families are complicated, an unspoken rule that applies just as much to the Wizarding World.
Updated on February 11th, 2023 by Ajay Aravind:Most of the families in Harry Potter reflect the same values as those in the real world, explaining why audiences find them so relatable. As such, we've revamped this list with more information about the prominent households in Harry Potter.
It’s important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love, and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR’s continuing coverage on Rowling here. (https://www.cbr.com/tag/jk-rowling/)
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10 The Longbottoms Fought Voldemort & His Death Eaters In Two Wizarding Wars
The Longbottom family may have been as old and influential as other pureblood families, but they didn't come into the spotlight until the late twentieth century. Frank and Alice Longbottom first gained notoriety as Aurors before becoming founding members of the Order of the Phoenix.
- Augusta
- Frank & Alice
- Neville
After being tortured extensively by Voldemort's Death Eaters, Frank and Alice were sent to St. Mungo's Hospital where they remained for the rest of their lives. Their son, Neville Longbottom, was an important figure in the Second Wizarding War and later became Hogwarts' Herbology professor and the Head of Gryffindor house.
9 The Ollivander Family Have Been Well-Respected Wandmakers For Centuries
Originally from an unknown Mediterranean country, the Ollivanders arrived in England sometime during the rule of the Roman Empire and quickly established their own business. By the fourth century, they were already well-known for their magical craftsmanship and had become one of the most popular wandmakers in Britain.
- Garrick
- Gervaise
The family maintained their pureblood status until the birth of Garrick Ollivander, a half-blood wizard who set up shop in Diagon Alley and sold Harry his holly and phoenix feather wand in 1991. Mr. Ollivander revolutionized wandmaking with his wide knowledge of woods and cores and made most of the wands that appear throughout the Harry Potter series.
8 The Weasleys Were Considered "Blood Traitors" For Associating With Muggles
Despite being a part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pureblood families in Britain, the Weasleys were often dismissed by other Wizarding families for their financial hardships and for associating with Muggles. The latter earned them the pejorative "blood-traitors," a title that would follow the Weasleys for generations.
- Arthur & Molly
- Bill
- Fred & George
- Ron
- Ginny
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The Weasleys were often sorted into Gryffindor and were known for having numerous offspring, the vast majority of whom were male until Ginny Weasley. After the Second Wizarding War, the Weasley family became one of the most well-known and respected in the magical community.
7 The Potters Owned The Invisibility Cloak, The Most Useful Deathly Hallow
The Potter surname was relatively new in the Wizarding world, surging in the twelfth century as a nod to the family's ancestor Linfred of Stinchcombe, also known as "The Potterer." Despite their blood purity, they were shunned for their positive stance on Muggle-wizard relations and having what some considered "a Muggle surname."
- James & Lily
- Harry
Sometime before the seventeenth century, a group of Potters settled in America, with one of its members becoming an Auror for MACUSA years later. As descendants of Ignotus Peverell, the Potters owned the Invisibility Cloak, which was passed down the generations until it reached Harry Potter.
6 The Malfoys Used Their Connections & Wealth To Get What They Wanted
One of the wealthiest Wizarding families in Britain, the Malfoys were known for their connections to other pureblood families and their covert influence over the magical government. In contrast to the Weasleys, the Malfoys were traditionally sorted into Slytherin and supported pureblood supremacy.
- Lucius
- Draco
- Scorpius
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In the 1970s, Lucius Malfoy joined the Death Eaters and rose through the ranks to become Voldemort's second in command. He managed to keep himself and his family out of Azkaban after both Wizarding wars, but the Malfoy name was ultimately damaged beyond repair.
5 The Sayres Founded The North American Equivalent Of Hogwarts
Through marriage, the Sayres were connected to some of the oldest and most powerful Wizarding families, including the Gaunts and the Peverells. Originally from Ireland, the family gained recognition in the magical world during the seventeenth century when Isolt Sayre moved to America and founded Ilvermorny alongside her No-Maj husband.
- William
- Isolt
Located in Massachusetts, Ilvermorny was the biggest Wizarding school in North America, with the Sayres serving as its headmasters and professors. Notable alumni include sisters Queenie and Tina Goldstein and MACUSA President Seraphina Picquery from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
4 The Lestranges Produced Two Of The Most Powerful Witches In The Series
During the Middle Ages, a group of Lestranges traveled from their native France and settled in Britain where they found similarly wealthy and powerful families with anti-Muggle sentiments. By the nineteenth century, they'd established themselves as one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and had begun employing the Dark Arts.
- Rodolphus & Bellatrix
- Leta
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The Lestrange family was strictly patriarchal, recognizing only male members in the family tree. Despite this tradition, the two most well-known Lestranges in the Harry Potter series are both women: Leta, a friend of Newt Scamander, and Bellatrix, who married into the family and was one of Voldemort's most loyal Death Eaters.
3 The House Of Black Was The Oldest & Largest Pureblood Family In Britain
Ancient and powerful, the House of Black was the largest and oldest pureblood family in Britain. Its motto, Toujours Pur, or "Always Pure," expressed its members' fanaticism for blood purity, which had led them to marry their cousins for several centuries to avoid "tainting" the family's legacy.
- Sirius
- Regulus
- Nymphadora
- Bellatrix
- Narcissa
The Blacks tended to be sorted into Slytherin and practice the Dark Arts. Whenever a member married outside pureblood society or defied the House's values, they were immediately disowned and removed from the family tree. As its last two male descendants died without any progeny, the House of Black only continued through its female line.
2 The House Of Gaunt Descended Directly From Salazar Slytherin
The House of Gaunt is descended from two of the strongest wizards in history, Salazar Slytherin, co-founder of Hogwarts, and Cadmus Peverell, the original owner of the Resurrection Stone. Given these connections, the members of the House of Gaunt inherited the ability to speak Parseltongue and one of the Deathly Hallows.
- Marvolo
- Morfin
- Merope
- Tom, Jr.
Years of inbreeding in the name of blood purity led several of the Gaunts to develop problems with their magic. While the surname disappeared in the 1940s, the lineage continued with Voldemort and then with his daughter Delphini, who was introduced in Cursed Child.
1 The Peverells Were The First Owners Of The Deathly Hallows
Despite becoming extinct in the male line quite early, the Peverells were the ancestors to many Wizarding families in the series like the Potters and the Gaunts. Unbeknownst to many, three of the family's members, brothers Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus, were the subjects of a well-known Wizarding legend as well as the original owners of the Deathly Hallows.
- Antioch
- Cadmus
- Ignotus
As it's quite improbable that Death itself created the Hallows, the brothers were assumed to be skillful and powerful enough to be their creators. It was said that whoever managed to reunite all three magical objects would become Master of Death and therefore the strongest wizard alive.
NEXT: Every Main Character’s Fate After The End Of Harry Potter
FAQs
Who is the most powerful magical family in Harry Potter? ›
The Potters are the focal point of the series, but they're still the most powerful Harry Potter family. A lot of the Potter ancestors were powerful, and include Aurors, inventors, and Wizengamot members.
Who is the purest wizarding family? ›The Longbottoms
Neville comes from a long-line of pure-blood wizards, although we don't know as much about the individuals as we do with some other wizarding families. What we do know is that both of Neville's parents were pure-blood, as was his gran, Augusta.
- Albus Dumbledore. Image Via Warner Bros.
- Voldemort. Image Via Warner Bros. ...
- The Founders. ...
- Gellert Grindelwald. ...
- Minerva McGonagall. ...
- James and Lily Potter. ...
- Remus Lupin. ...
- Sirius Black. ...
Hufflepuffs often get stereotyped as not having a lot of 'strong' traits but in this regard, they are actually the strongest of all the Hogwarts houses.
Who is the most powerful Death Eater in Harry Potter? ›1 Bellatrix Lestrange Is Voldemort's Insane Right Hand
She is Voldemort's right hand, and her viciousness and skill in combat are only matched by her insanity and loyalty to her lord. Bellatrix is responsible for Sirius Black's death and she tortures Hermione after Harry and his friends are caught by the Snatchers.
Formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort was the most formidable evil wizard in the entire universe. Until Harry Potter, Voldemort's magical prowess was practically unmatched, and no one could stand a chance against him.
What is the rarest creature in the wizarding world? ›- 1 Albatross. As the rarest Patronus in the Wizarding World possible, the Albatross represents an enormous bird that flies freely across any sea.
- 2 Unicorn. ...
- 3 Thestral. ...
- 4 Runespoor. ...
- 5 Occamy. ...
- 6 Fire-Dwelling Salamander. ...
- 7 Dragon. ...
- 8 Granian Winged Horse. ...
"Pure-blood" is the term applied to wizards and witches who have no Muggle blood, Muggle-borns, or half-bloods at all in their family trees. They are the rarest of the three blood statuses, with J.K. Rowling stating that ten per cent of the wizarding community is made up of pure-bloods.
Is Lupin a Ravenclaw? ›Is Lupin a Ravenclaw? He attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1971 to 1978 and was sorted into Gryffindor House.
Is Ron a pure-blood? ›His first appearance was in the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the best friend of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. He is a member of the Weasley family, a pure blood family that resides in "The Burrow" outside Ottery St.
Is Newt A Pureblood? ›
Newton Artemis Fido "Newt" Scamander is a half-blood or pure blood wizard who is a framed magizoologist and the main protagonist of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise.
Who is the strongest of the 5 wizards? ›Each Wizard in the series had robes of a characteristic colour: white for Saruman (the chief and the most powerful of the five), grey for Gandalf, brown for Radagast, and sea-blue for the other two, who are known as the Blue Wizards (Ithryn Luin in Sindarin).
Who is stronger than Dumbledore? ›Godrick Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, and the owner of the legendary Sword of Gryffindor, was absolutely more powerful than Dumbledore— and it's a good thing he was, too, because Dumbledore wasn't around in Hogwarts' early days to keep Godrick's fellow founder Salazar Slytherin in check.
Who was the best fighter in Harry Potter? ›Championed by many as the single best fighter in the franchise, Dumbledore was an energetic and ferocious duelist despite his calm and collected personality. He single-handedly beat his former friend and lover, Grindelwald, despite the latter being in possession of the Elder Wand at the time.
Who is the evilest wizard in Harry Potter? ›Lord Voldemort
Tom Marvolo Riddle started both Wizarding Wars, created the Death Eaters and killed Harry Potter's parents. We could go on – he was the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time – but we won't. His horrific achievements are well known.
- 6 Dolores Umbridge.
- 5 Lucius Malfoy.
- 4 Draco Malfoy.
- 3 Leta Lestrange.
- 2 Severus Snape.
- 1 Tom Riddle.
1. Albus Dumbledore. Image via Warner Bros.
What is the weakest Harry Potter house? ›While the other houses seem cool and invite a certain allure, Hufflepuff is a little different. Often considered the least desirable of all the sorting options, here are some reasons why Hufflepuff house is the worst.
What is the 2nd best Hogwarts house? ›Gryffindor was by far the Hogwarts House people were most proud of, either individually or by state. ... Maybe people were more curious about the dark arts than light magic. ... Although arguably the least popular, Hufflepuff homes were still the second most sorted-into house individually.
Which Hogwarts house is a leader? ›Gryffindor, The Proud Leader: It is unmistakable for any who have read the Harry Potter series, that the Gryffindor house is full of pride, courage, and determination.
Who is the most powerful Malfoy? ›
If money is power, Lucius Malfoy is the most powerful man in the Wizarding World. Unfortunately, as the later books show us, money is in fact not power and Lucius suffers immensely despite his ludicrous wealth.
Is Harry more powerful than Draco? ›When it comes to actual ability as a wizard, a case can certainly be made that Draco Malfoy is more talented than Harry. The only thing that Potter beats Draco at is his flying ability on a broomstick, but even then Draco pushes him all the way.
Who is the least powerful Harry Potter character? ›Peter Pettigrew
Though he is accomplished in some ways, he is arguably one of the weakest wizards. Through his time in school he is described as latching on to Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and James Potter as stronger wizards he believed could protect him.
Headmaster of Hogwarts throughout most of the Harry Potter series, it is safe to say that Dumbledore is the most powerful professor at Hogwarts. With his Elder wand, Dumbledore managed to get away both times he was threatened imprisonment at Azkaban. He could also duel Voldemort and hold his ground.
Who is stronger Harry or Snape? ›3 HARRY CAN'T BEAT: Severus Snape Knows His Stuff
Snape only dueled a few times in the franchise, but each time he did, his skill was evident. He easily held off Harry in Half-Blood Prince, especially since Harry had tried to use several spells that Snape had invented himself.
The Nundu is a huge magical animal from East Africa that looks similar to a leopard. Despite its "gigantic" size, it travels silently, and some people believed it to be the most dangerous animal alive. The toxic and disease-filled breath of the Nundu is so potent that it can obliterate entire villages of people.
What is the rarest ability in Harry Potter? ›A Metamorphmagus has the extraordinarily uncommon gift of being able to change their appearance at will. We famously met one in the Harry Potter series: Nymphadora Tonks, who used her shapeshifting abilities wisely in her job as an Auror.
What is the cheapest pet in Hogwarts mystery? ›Each pet has a different price, using the in-game Gems currency. The cheapest are the frog and rat, which will cost you 160 gems each.
Why is the Malfoy family rich? ›Having rendered unknown, shady (and almost certainly magical) services to King William I, Malfoy was given a prime piece of land in Wiltshire, seized from local landowners, upon which his descendants have lived for ten consecutive centuries.
Can a Muggle use a wand? ›It wouldn't work.
Wands are means to channel the magic that is inherent to a person, or more specifically a witch or a wizard. Muggles, have no inherent magic and therefore can't channel it, in any possible way.
Are the Weasleys related to the Malfoys? ›
In addition, Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley have a well-established feud despite being second cousins once removed by marriage.
Who was the brightest wizard? ›Throughout the Harry Potter series, Albus Dumbledore, the beloved Headmaster of Hogwarts, proved time and time again that he was the smartest hero of the Wizarding World. His magic was so strong and his knowledge so extensive that he was the only wizard Voldemort was said to be afraid of.
Which twin is in Ravenclaw? ›Goblet of FireEdit
Harry asks Hermione if brothers and sisters generally end up in the same House. Hermione points out that Padma and Parvati Patil are twins, yet while Parvati ended up in Gryffindor, Padma is a Ravenclaw.
Character development. Ginny is a pureblood witch born 11 August 1981, the seventh child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. She attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is sorted into Gryffindor house, along with the rest of her family.
Is Snape Slytherin or Ravenclaw? ›Severus was Sorted into Ravenclaw, thankfully avoiding being sorted into Slytherin, as that would put a strain on his relationship with his best friend and true love, Lily Evans. While attending Hogwarts, it was noticed since his first day that the boy was a prodigy.
Why are the Weasleys poor? ›Why are the Weasleys considered poor? The Weasleys are poor because of having 7 children. Until Bill and Charlie started working, the Weasley family had one earning member to take care of the household expenses, education and upbringing of 9 family members.
Who is Gryffindor's heir? ›Harry is the magical Heir of Gryffindor (and he's also a descendent of Godric), Neville of Hufflepuff, Hermione of Slytherin and Luna of Ravenclaw.
Is Lily Potter a Muggle-born? ›Overview. 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.
Is Newt Luna's grandfather? ›He's Luna Lovegood's grandfather-in-law
Luna Lovegood ends up marrying Rolf Scamander, who is Newt's grandson. If grandson is anything like his grandfather — which is quite likely, as both are magizoologists — that means we can expect Newt to be a bit of an eccentric. His family history supports this.
Leta actress Zoë Kravitz was quoted as saying played Bellatrix's great-great-aunt.
Will Harry Potter meet Newt? ›
Did Newt ever meet Harry? Despite the fact that Newt is still alive during the Harry Potter series, he never meets Harry (and thus readers never see him) because his life does not intersect with Harry's. Newt would have most likely already retired by the time Harry was introduced to the wizarding world.
Who is the leader of the magical world in Harry Potter? ›At the beginning of the series, it is headed by Amelia Bones, who is replaced by Pius Thicknesse after Voldemort murders her. Thicknesse is replaced by Corban Yaxley after Voldemort has Thicknesse appointed the puppet Minister for his regime. By the events of Cursed Child, Harry Potter has become its head.
Who is stronger than Albus Dumbledore? ›Godrick Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, and the owner of the legendary Sword of Gryffindor, was absolutely more powerful than Dumbledore— and it's a good thing he was, too, because Dumbledore wasn't around in Hogwarts' early days to keep Godrick's fellow founder Salazar Slytherin in check.
Is the Malfoy family Powerful? ›The Malfoys are one of the most powerful and wealthy families in the entire wizarding world, and it apparently has always been that way. In J.K. Rowling's official family tree of the Malfoys on Pottermore, the earliest listed member is Armand Malfoy.
Is Harry more powerful than Albus? ›In any ordinary context, Harry Potter is in every way the inferior of Albus Dumbledore. However, in the special context of defeating Voldemort, Harry is more powerful. He is more powerful because Voldemort has given him the power.
What are the most powerful wands in Harry Potter? ›The Elder Wand, the most powerful wand ever created, is one of three objects that make up the Deathly Hallows, including the Cloak of Invisibility and the Resurrection Stone. The Elder Wand was 15 inches long, formed by Death himself, made of elder wood, and contained the center of the tail-hair of Thestral.
What is the smallest dragon in Harry Potter? ›Peruvian Vipertooth: The smallest dragons known to wizards. Copper-coloured with venomous fangs. It is happy to feed on cows and goats at any time, it did, however, develop a taste for humans in the nineteenth century, so the International Confederation Of Wizards was forced to cull the species to a certain extent.
Can Muggles beat wizards? ›TL;DR: The muggles would win, unless the wizards maintain the element of surprise, but most individual wizards who want to escape the muggles will be able to. First off, we should consider whether the author has anything to say about this debate, but in fact J. K. Rowling has said very little.
Was Merlin in Slytherin? ›Merlin himself was sorted into Slytherin when he was at Hogwarts, and the young wizard went on to become one of the most famous wizards in history. The Order of Merlin, named to commemorate him, has been awarded since the fifteenth century.
Why is credence so powerful? ›Whilst under her care, Credence was physically abused by the deranged woman as to suppress his magical abilities. Her frequent abuse of her adopted son would cause him to become arguably the most powerful Obscurial in the Harry Potter universe.
Why are the Malfoys so rich? ›
Having rendered unknown, shady (and almost certainly magical) services to King William I, Malfoy was given a prime piece of land in Wiltshire, seized from local landowners, upon which his descendants have lived for ten consecutive centuries.
Is Draco's son a Slytherin? ›Albus ended up in Slytherin because he couldn't stop thinking about ending up in Slytherin, and so the Sorting Hat couldn't grasp anything other than his thoughts about being in Slytherin. Whoops. But something else happened between his fearful admission to his father on the platform and his arrival at school.
Who is more powerful Harry Potter? ›Albus Dumbledore
Dumbledore has the highest capacity for power of any character in the Harry Potter universe, however, he is hampered by his serious weaknesses, much in the same way Voldemort is foiled by his.
Like Tom Marvolo Riddle (aka Voldemort), Merlin was a Slytherin, an ambitious, powerful wizard. He was a wizarding legend, and, of course, more powerful than the Dark Lord. According to the Harry Potter Wiki, Merlin was “arguably one of the most powerful wizards of all time”.
Does Harry become the strongest wizard? ›Harry was not the most powerful character in the series, with many older wizards outranking him. To learn how these characters might be more powerful than Harry, we first need to look at how powerful he really was. Harry Potter proved he was a strong wizard multiple times throughout the series.