Do you have "famous" relatives in your family tree?

Ever wondered if you might be related to someone famous? With DNA testing and family tree research, you can discover famous relatives you never knew about—sometimes Olympians, musicians, or even historical figures hiding in your ancestry.

Many people know their siblings, aunts, uncles, and maybe a few cousins. But DNA and genealogy research often reveal connections that go much further — sometimes to people you’ve never met, yet share a slice of history (and DNA!).

In my case, one of those connections is Didrik Tønseth — a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed in the Olympics and won the Gold Medal for 4x 10km relay in 2018. Didrik is my 4th cousin on my father’s Norwegian line. That means we share a set of 3rd great-grandparents. I descend from one child and he from another one. Check out the Cousin Calculator for more info.

Didrik Toenseth - My famous relative whom I have never met!

What Does “4th Cousin” Mean?

A 4th cousin relationship means:

• We share about 0.2% of our DNA (or none at all — cousin relationships that distant aren’t always detectable genetically).

• Our common ancestors lived in the early-to-mid 1800s.

• Our family tree split several generations ago, but we are still part of the same extended family network.

How I Found the Connection

When I saw his name while watching the Olympics, I had a hunch he was related, even though our surnames are different. My Norwegian great-grandfather’s surname was originally Tønseth. In English, since we didn’t have the “ø” character, it became Tonseth. Some people, like Didrik, spell it with “oe” — Toenseth. That spelling also appears in the U.S., especially in older records.

By building my family tree and using DNA matches, I was able to trace both our lines back to the same family in Norway. It’s amazing to think that while I’m here working on genealogy, my cousin is out there winning medals in the snow! We are so alike!

Why This Matters in Genealogy

Discovering famous or notable cousins isn’t just a fun party fact — it’s a reminder that our family stories branch out in unexpected ways. You never know who might appear in your tree once you start digging. (It is also a way to engage with the people in your family who might be tired of hearing about great-great-aunt Edith and her goat milk empire.)

So, if you’ve ever wondered if you might be related to a historical figure, musician, or Olympic athlete, the answer is: maybe! You just need a tree, good records, and a little bit of DNA sleuthing.

What famous relatives are hiding out in your family tree? Let me know!

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