List of people from Birmingham

This is a list of famous or notable people born in, or associated with, Birmingham in England, who have a Wikipedia page.

A–F

 * Scott Adkins (born 1987) – actor, gymnast
 * Gabriel Agbonlahor (born 1986) – footballer
 * Moeen Ali (born 1987) – England cricketer
 * Dennis Amiss (born 1943) – cricketer and Warwickshire administrator
 * Keith Arkell (born 1961) – English chess champion, 2008
 * Stephen Arlen (1913–1972) – opera manager
 * Ian Ashbee (born 1976) – footballer
 * Francis William Aston (1877–1945) – Nobel Prize winner, physicist
 * Ian Atkins (born 1957) – footballer
 * Albert Austin (1882–1953) – silent film star
 * Jack Badham (1919–1992) – footballer
 * Annette Badland (born 1951) – actress
 * Kenny Baker (1934–2016) – actor
 * Sir Michael Bacon (1896–1977) – film director
 * Pato Banton (born 1961) – reggae artist
 * Dave Barnett (born 1967) – footballer
 * Simon Bates (born 1946) – radio DJ
 * Blaze Bayley (born 1963) – musician, vocalist of Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden
 * Ian Bell (born 1982) – England cricketer, Warwickshire CCC captain
 * Jude Bellingham (born 2003) – footballer
 * Moazzam Begg (born 1968) – outreach director
 * Edward White Benson (1829–1896) – Archbishop of Canterbury
 * Bev Bevan (born 1944) – musician
 * Sharon Birch (born 1970? BC?) – firefighter
 * Alfred Bird (1811–1878) – inventor of custard powder
 * Sir Alfred Frederick Bird (1849–1922) – food manufacturer and chemist
 * William Bloye (1890–1975) – sculptor
 * Tom Blyth (born 1995) – actor
 * Elizabeth Baker Bohan (1849–1930) – author, journalist, artist, social reformer
 * Daniel Boone (1942–2023) – musician
 * Sarah Booth (1793–1867) – actress
 * Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) – pioneering industrialist and member of the Lunar Society
 * Jon Bounds (born 1975) – blogger, humorist
 * Paul Braddon (1864–1937) – artist
 * Peter Bradley (born 1953) – politician
 * William Bragge (1823–1884) – civil engineer/antiquarian
 * Tony Britton (1924–2019) – actor
 * James Jaysen Bryhan (born 1978) – actor
 * Dan Bull (born 1986) – musician/ Youtuber
 * Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) – Pre-Raphaelite painter and William Morris Associate
 * Trevor Burton (born 1949) – musician
 * Geezer Butler (born 1949) – bassist, Black Sabbath
 * George Cadbury (1839–1922) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
 * John Cadbury (1801–1889) – founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
 * Richard Cadbury (1835–1899) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
 * Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – television director, photographer
 * Daniel Caines (born 1979) – track and field athlete
 * Ali Campbell (born 1959) and Robin Campbell (born 1954) – musician, UB40
 * Duncan Campbell (born 1958) – musician
 * David Cannadine (born 1950) – historian
 * Bob Carolgees (born 1948) – television presenter (Tiswas and Surprise Surprise)
 * Lee Carsley (born 1974) – footballer
 * Darren Carter (born 1983) – footballer
 * John Carter (born 1940) – musician
 * Barbara Cartland (1901–2000) – novelist
 * Jasper Carrott (born 1945) – comedian
 * Austen Chamberlain (1863–1937) – politician
 * Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) – Prime Minister
 * Gary Childs (born 1964) – footballer
 * Adrian Chiles (born 1967) – broadcaster
 * Carl Chinn (born 1956) – historian, broadcaster
 * Charlie Christodoulou (c. 1951–1976) – soldier and mercenary
 * Ian Clarkson (born 1970) – footballer
 * Lisa Clayton (born 1958) – solo yachtswoman
 * Janice Connolly (born 1954) – comedy actress
 * Raymond Teague Cowern (1913–1986) – artist
 * Edward Cowie (born 1943) – composer
 * Andy Cox (born 1956) – ska guitarist (Fine Young Cannibals and The Beat)
 * David Cox (1783–1859) – artist
 * Lauren Crace (born 1986) – actress
 * Sarah Crompton (1802–1881) – children's writer
 * Chris Crudelli (born 1972) – martial artist
 * John Curry (1949–1994) – Olympic and World Champion figure skater
 * Nigel Dakin (born 1964) – soldier, diplomat and Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
 * Richard Dandy (born 1977) – former cricketer
 * Fanny Dango (1878–1972) – comedienne, actress and singer
 * Arthur Darvill (born 1982) – actor and singer
 * Aidan Davis (born 1997) – dancer and television presenter
 * Lindsey Davis (born 1949) – historical novelist
 * Cat Deeley (born 1976) – television presenter
 * Nathan Delfouneso (born 1991) – footballer
 * Oscar Deutsch (1893–1941) – founder of the Odeon Cinemas chain
 * Fred Dinenage (born 1942) – presenter, broadcaster, writer
 * Stefflon Don (born 1991) – musician
 * Don Dorman (1922–1997) – paratrooper, 1st Airborne Division, footballer, manager and scout
 * K.K. Downing (born 1951) – musician
 * Mark Duffus "Sure Shot" (born 1967) – musician
 * Pete Dunne (born 1993) – professional wrestler
 * Dutchavelli (born 1993) – rapper
 * Jessie Eden (1902–1986) – Communist activist and trade union leader
 * Duncan Edwards (1936–1958) – footballer for Manchester United, one of the Busby Babes (died in Munich air disaster)
 * Fabian Edwards (born 1993) – professional mixed martial artist
 * Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist, current UFC Welterweight Champion
 * Rob Edwards (born 1982) – ex-footballer, current Manager for Luton Town F.C.
 * Electribe 101 – electronic music groups who found fame in the early 1990s
 * Hunt Emerson (born 1952) – cartoonist
 * Ian Emes (born 1949) – animator
 * Frederick Rowland Emett (1906–1990) – cartoonist, artist and kinetic sculptor
 * Jo Enright (born 1968) – actress and comedian
 * Dan Evans (born 1990) – tennis player
 * Niki Evans (born 1972) – singer
 * Trevor Eve (born 1951) – actor
 * Earl Falconer (born 1957) – bass player, UB40
 * Frank Farrell (1947–1997) – rock bassist and co-writer of chart hit "Moonlighting"
 * Sid Field (1904–1950) – comedian
 * Robert Firth (1887–1966) – footballer and Real Madrid manager
 * Philip Edward Fisher (born 1979) – musician
 * Simon Fletcher (born 1948) – artist
 * Sarah Florry (1744–1843) – metal dealer
 * Winston Foster (born 1941) – footballer
 * Mark Frost (born 1968) – actor
 * Kevin Francis (born 1967) – footballer
 * Harry Freeman (1858–1922) – music hall performer
 * Edward Augustus Freeman (1823–1892) – historian, architectural artist and liberal politician
 * Fuzzbox – late-1980s girl band

G–M

 * Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911) – scientist; founder of eugenics
 * Albert Gardner (1887–1923) – footballer
 * Mike Gayle (born 1970) – writer
 * Helen George (born 1984) – actress
 * GeoWizard (born 1990) – YouTuber
 * Steve Gibbons (born 1941) – musician
 * Colin Gibson (born 1960) – footballer
 * Jon Gittens (1964–2019) – footballer
 * John Goldingay (born 1942) – theologian, currently a Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
 * Jaki Graham (born 1956) – soul singer
 * Jack Grealish (born 1995) – footballer
 * Mark "Barney" Greenway (born 1969) – musician, Napalm Death
 * Tom Grosvenor (1908–1972) – footballer
 * George Dickinson Hadley (1908–1984) – gastroenterologist
 * Rob Halford (born 1951) – musician, Judas Priest
 * Charlie Hall (1899–1959) – actor; known for his work with Laurel and Hardy
 * Alison Hammond (born 1975) – actress, television presenter
 * Richard Hammond (born 1969) – television presenter
 * John Hampson (1901–1955) – novelist
 * Hannah Hampton (born 2000) – football goalkeeper
 * Tony Hancock (1924–1968) – comedian and actor
 * Ian Handysides (1962–1990) – footballer
 * Nic Harcourt (born 1957) – American radio personality
 * Nick Harding (born 1969) – Chief Medical Officer at Operose Health
 * David Harewood (born 1965) – actor
 * Wally Harris (1900–1933) – footballer
 * Julia Hartley-Brewer (born 1968) – journalist and television panelist
 * Norman Hassan (born 1958) – percussionist, UB40
 * Phil Hawker (born 1962) – footballer
 * William Haywood (1876–1957) – architect, town planner, and secretary of Birmingham Civic Society
 * John Hemming (born 1960) – Member of Parliament and businessman
 * Lee Hendrie (born 1977) – Aston Villa, later Basford United F.C. midfielder
 * Duane Henry (born 1985) – actor
 * Michael Higgs (born 1962) – actor
 * Ian Hill (born 1951) – musician
 * Jacqueline Hill (1929–1993) – actress
 * David Hinds (born 1956) – rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Steel Pulse
 * Ken Hodge (born 1944) – National Hockey League player
 * George Holyoake (1817–1906) – reformer
 * Jack Hood (1902–1992) – boxer
 * Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1980) – actress
 * Dorothy Howell (1898–1982) – musician
 * Mr. Hudson (born 1979) – singer
 * Alex Hughes (born 1971) – cartoonist
 * David Hughes (1925–1972) – operatic tenor
 * Geoff Humpage (born 1954) – cricketer
 * Al Hunter Ashton (1957–2007) – actor
 * Raymond Huntley (1904–1990) – actor
 * Millie Hylton (1870–1920) – actress and male impersonator
 * Kassem Ibadulla (born 1964) – cricketer
 * Tony Iommi (born 1948) – guitarist, Black Sabbath
 * Jamelia (born 1981) – R&B singer
 * Maureen Jennings (born 1939) – novelist
 * Claudia Jessie (born 1990) – actress
 * Seth Johnson (born 1979) – footballer, Derby
 * Ann Jones (born 1938) – tennis player; former World No. 2, 8 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon champion in 1969
 * Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham (born 1955) – director-general of the Confederation of British Industry
 * Felicity Jones (born 1983) – actress
 * Geoffrey Jones – business historian
 * John Jones (1858–1937) – cricketer
 * Justin Jones (born 1964) – musician
 * Simon Huw Jones (born 1960) – musician and photographer
 * Nikita Kanda (born 1995) – radio presenter and socialite
 * Ace Kefford (born 1946) – musician
 * Mike Kellie (1947–2017) – musician, Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones
 * David Kelly (born 1965) – Republic of Ireland footballer
 * Albert Ketèlbey (1875–1959) – composer
 * Sir Rupert Alfred Kettle (1817–1894) – county court judge and noted strike arbitrator
 * Guz Khan (born 1986) – comedian
 * Jaykae (born 1991) – rapper
 * Robert Kilroy-Silk (born 1942) – politician and television presenter
 * John Andrew King (born 1964) –politician and singer
 * Lorna Laidlaw (born 1963) – actress
 * Denny Laine (born 1944) – Paul McCartney and Wings
 * Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946) – maker of the first petrol-driven car in Britain
 * Bunny Larkin (born 1936) – footballer
 * Bob Latchford (born 1951) – footballer
 * Dave Latchford (born 1949) – footballer
 * Peter Latchford (born 1952) – footballer
 * Ian Lavender (born 1946) – actor
 * Alfred Law (1862–1919) – Warwickshire cricketer and umpire
 * Stewart Lee (born 1968) – comedian
 * Vaughan Lee (born 1982) – ex-UFC fighter
 * Russell Leetch (born 1982) – musician
 * Joleon Lescott (born 1982) – footballer with Manchester City, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers
 * Adrian Lester (born 1968) – actor
 * Dick Lilley (1866–1929) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
 * Letty Lind (1861–1923) – actress and dancer
 * John Lodge (born 1945) – musician
 * Jane C. Loudon (1807–1858) – writer of prose and verse and The Mummy
 * Joseph Lucas (1834–1902) – founder of Lucas Industries
 * Joe Lycett (born 1988) – comedian
 * Jeff Lynne (born 1947) – musician; co-founder of the Electric Light Orchestra
 * Clare Maguire (born 1988) – musician born in Solihull but a resident of London
 * Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – sportsman, F1 driver
 * Lee Mantle (1851–1934) – U.S. Senator from Montana
 * Sarah Manners (born 1975) – actress
 * Tony Martin (born 1957) – musician; singer of Black Sabbath
 * Eric Maschwitz (1901–1969) – lyricist
 * Herbert Mason (1891–1960) – film director, producer, stage actor, stage manager, choreographer, and army officer in the First World War
 * Hilary Mason (1917–2006) – actor
 * Nick Mason (born 1944) – musician, Pink Floyd; did not reside in Birmingham
 * Robert McCracken (born 1968) – boxer, Commonwealth Middleweight champion, and World Title challenger
 * Zena McNally (born 1979) – singer, Mis-Teeq
 * Christine McVie (1943–2022) – musician, Fleetwood Mac
 * Gil Merrick (1922–2010) – footballer and club manager
 * Ken Miles (1918–1966) – sports car racing driver, engineer
 * Shazia Mirza – comedian
 * Mist (born 1992) – rapper
 * Alan Moore (born 1950) – musician
 * William Moore (1916–2000) – actor
 * Anisa Morridadi (born 1990) – social entrepreneur
 * Everett Morton (1950–2021) – drummer, The Beat
 * Henry Vollam Morton (1892–1979) – journalist and travel writer
 * Peter Mucklow (born 1949) – cricketer
 * George Muntz (1794–1857) – pioneering industrialist and MP
 * Laura Mvula (born 1986) – singer-songwriter
 * Stanley Myers (1930–1993) – film music composer
 * M1llionz (born 1997) – rapper
 * Malkit Singh (born c. 1963) – Punjabi Bhangra singer

N–Z

 * Constance Naden (1858–1889) – poet and philosopher
 * Alan Napier (1903–1988) – actor
 * Ritchie Neville (born 1979) – singer, Five
 * Neil Newbon (born 1978) – actor
 * Ernie Newman (1887–?) – professional footballer
 * Ernest Willmott Norton (1889–1972) – cricketer
 * Ursula O'Leary (1926–1993) – actress
 * John Oliver (born 1977) – comedian, host of Last Week Tonight, and former 'Senior British Correspondent' of The Daily Show
 * Ozzy Osbourne (born 1948) – singer, Black Sabbath
 * Anri Okita (born 1986) – singer and former pornographic actress
 * Carl Palmer (born 1950) – musician, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
 * Janet Parker (1938–1978) – medical photographer and last recorded person to die from smallpox
 * Kay Parker (1944–2022) – pornographic actress
 * Alexander Parkes (1813–1890) – inventor of the world's first plastic
 * Henry Parkes (1815–1896) – Australian politician, "Father of Federation"
 * Norman Partridge (1900–1982) – Warwickshire cricketer
 * Liam Payne (born 1993) – singer, One Direction
 * Dave Pegg (born 1947) – musician, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull
 * Kia Pegg (born 2000) – actress and television presenter
 * Stephen Perryman (born 1955) – Warwickshire cricketer
 * Gerry Peyton (born 1956) – footballer and goalkeeper coach
 * James and Oliver Phelps (born 1986) – Harry Potter movie actors
 * Jess Phillips (born 1981) – politician
 * Michael Pinder (born 1941) – musician, The Moody Blues
 * Jacki Piper (born 1946) – actress
 * Sadie Plant (born 1964) – writer
 * John Poole (1926–2009) – sculptor
 * Enoch Powell (1912–1998) – politician, poet and classical scholar
 * Peter Powell (born 1951) – disc jockey
 * Anthony E. Pratt (1903–1994) – inventor of Cluedo
 * Bernard Quaife (1899–1984) – cricketer
 * Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881–1955) – anthropologist
 * Ranking Roger (1963–2019) – musician, The Beat
 * Mick Rathbone (born 1958) – footballer
 * Adil Ray (born 1974) – actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter
 * Nick Rhodes (born 1962) – musician, Duran Duran
 * Micah Richards (born 1988) – Manchester City F.C. defender
 * Walter Richards (1863–1917) – cricketer and umpire
 * Pat Roach (1937–2004) – actor and wrestler
 * Dave Robinson (1948–2016) – footballer
 * John Rogers (1505–1555) – Bible editor and martyr
 * Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward) (1883–1959) – novelist
 * Mark Rowley (born 1964) – Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London)
 * Adam Ruckwood (born 1974) – swimming Commonwealth Champion (200m backstroke)
 * Les Ross (born 1949) – radio disc jockey
 * Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1778–1856) – writer on women in society and religion; slavery abolitionist
 * Gary Shaw (born 1961) – footballer
 * Martin Shaw (born 1945) – actor
 * Visanthe Shiancoe (born 1980) – American football player
 * Sukshinder Shinda (born 1972) – English-born Punjabi music producer and artist
 * Graham Short (born 1946) – micro-artist
 * Paul Simm (born 20th century) – musician
 * John Simmit (born 1963) – actor and comedian; known for playing Dipsy on Teletubbies from 1997 to 2001
 * Jane Sixsmith (born 1967) – hockey player
 * 1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston (1891–1970) – military commander
 * Sarah Smart (born 1977) – actress
 * Alan Smith (born 1936) – cricketer and England selector
 * Joshua Toulmin Smith (1816–1869) – political theorist
 * Tiger Smith (1886–1979) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
 * Maya Sondhi (born 1983) – actress
 * Sir Benjamin Stone (1838–1914) – photographer
 * Dean Sturridge (born 1973) – footballer
 * Daniel Sturridge (born 1989) – footballer
 * Simon Sturridge (born 1969) – footballer
 * Ernest Suckling (1890–1962) – cricketer
 * Phil Summerill (born 1947) – footballer
 * James Sutton (born 1983) – actor
 * Andrew Symonds (1975–2022) – cricketer
 * Connie Talbot (born 2000) – singer
 * John Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
 * Roger Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
 * Bobby Thomson (1943–2009) – footballer
 * Will Thorne (1857–1946) – trade union leader; member of Parliament
 * Charlie Tickle (1884–1960) – footballer
 * Andrew Tiernan (born 1965) – actor
 * Charlie Timmins (1922–2010) – footballer
 * James Vaughan (born 1988) – Tranmere Rovers FC striker
 * Johnny Vincent (1947–2006) – footballer
 * Murray Walker (1923–2021) – racing driver and commentator
 * Kate Walsh (born 1981) – television presenter (Live from Studio Five)
 * Julie Walters (born 1950) – actress
 * Bill Ward (born 1948) – drummer, Black Sabbath
 * Clint Warwick (1940–2004) – musician, The Moody Blues
 * Carl Wayne (1943–2004) – musician, The Move, The Hollies
 * Graham Webb (1944–2017) – World Amateur Road Race Champion 1967
 * Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901) – theologian and Bishop of Durham
 * Peter Weston (1943–2017) – science fiction fan
 * Ian Westwood (born 1982) – cricketer
 * Fred Wheldon (1869–1924) – footballer
 * Toyah Willcox (born 1958) – singer and television presenter
 * Emma Willis (born 1976) – model
 * George Willis-Pryce (1866–1949) – artist
 * Jimmy Windridge (1882–1939) – England footballer
 * Muff Winwood (born 1943) – musician
 * Steve Winwood (born 1948) – musician – solo and co-founder, Traffic
 * Colin Withers (1940–2020) – footballer
 * Chris Woakes (born 1989) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
 * Chris Wood (1944–1983) – musician; co-founder, Traffic
 * Roy Wood (born 1946) – musician; co-founder, Electric Light Orchestra
 * Richie Woodhall (born 1968) – world champion boxer
 * John Wyndham (1903–1969) – writer
 * Kal Yafai (born 1989) – world champion boxer
 * Dorian Yates (born 1962) – six-time Mr. Olympia
 * Mark Yates (born 1970) – footballer and manager
 * Benjamin Zephaniah (1958–2023) – poet

Lived in or associated with Birmingham

 * W. H. Auden (1907–1973) – poet and author
 * W. V. Awdry (1911–1997) – author of The Railway Series
 * Sir Granville Bantock (1868–1946) – composer
 * Connor Ball (born 1996) – bassist and singer, The Vamps
 * John Baskerville (1707–1775) – printer and inventor of typefaces
 * Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897) – first female shorthand teacher and reporter in England
 * William Booth (1776–1812) – forger
 * John Bright (1811–1889) – politician
 * Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951) – architect
 * Elihu Burritt (1810–1879) – US consul to Birmingham
 * Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – broadcaster and artist
 * Jazzy B (born 1975) – Punjabi singer
 * Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914) – politician, Mayor of Birmingham
 * Bruce Chatwin (1940–1989) – author
 * Lee Child (born 1954) – author
 * George Dawson (1821–1876) – preacher
 * Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) – author of Sherlock Holmes
 * John Boyd Dunlop (1840–1921) – industrialist, built Fort Dunlop
 * Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist (originally from Kingston, Jamaica)
 * Lucy Edwards, disability rights activist, educator, and TikToker
 * Rev. Richard Enraght (1837–1898) – vicar, religious controversialist
 * Allan Ford (born 1968) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
 * Philippa Forrester (born 1968) – television presenter, attended Birmingham University
 * Foji Gill – singer, music producer
 * Joseph Gillott (1799–1872) – industrialist
 * Tommy Godwin (1920–2012) – racing cyclist and Olympic medallist
 * Ashia Hansen (born 1971) – track and field athlete
 * James Hinks (1829–1878) – bred the Bull Terrier dog
 * William Ick (1800–1844) – botanist
 * Washington Irving (1783–1859) – author
 * Elizabeth "Tetty" Johnson (1689–1752) – wife of Samuel Johnson
 * John Joubert (1927–2019) – South African-born composer
 * Roi Kwabena (1956–2008) – author
 * Simon Le Bon (born 1958) – studied drama at the University of Birmingham before joining Duran Duran in 1980
 * Louis MacNeice (1907–1963) – poet
 * Stuart Maconie (born 1961) – radio DJ and television presenter
 * Josiah Mason (1795–1881) – industrialist and philanthropist
 * Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – racing driver
 * Cardinal Newman (1801–1890) – theologian and founder of the English Oratory
 * William McGregor (1846–1911) – instrumental in forming the football league
 * William Murdoch (1754–1839) – inventor of gas lighting
 * Bill Oddie (born 1941) – comedian and ornithologist
 * John Peel (1939–2004) – radio DJ
 * Geoffrey Pernell (born 1971) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
 * Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) – chemist and dissenting clergyman
 * Sir Simon Rattle (born 1955) – conductor of CBSO 1980–1998
 * John Ray (1627–1705) – "Father of English natural history"
 * Sir Peter Rigby (born 1943) – entrepreneur
 * Mary Rollason (1764/5–1835) – steel toy maker and businesswoman
 * Kevin Rowland (born 1953) – singer for Dexys Midnight Runners, formed in Birmingham
 * Frank Skinner (born 1957) – comedian
 * Mike Skinner (born 1979) – musician, The Streets
 * Meera Syal (born 1961) – actor, writer
 * Dave Swarbrick (1941–2016) – musician
 * J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) – author
 * Joshua Toulmin (1740–1815) – non-conformist preacher
 * Ruby Turner (born 1958) – singer (originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica)
 * UB 40 – Reggae group
 * James Watt (1736–1819) – inventor and member of the Lunar Society
 * Una White (1938/9–1997) – subject of public art-work
 * William Withering (1741–1799) – doctor, discoverer of digitalis
 * Victoria Wood (1953–2016) – actress
 * John Skirrow Wright (1822–1880) – social improver
 * Alastair Yates (1952–2018) – radio and television presenter
 * Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) – Pakistani activist
 * Lauren Zhang (born 2001) – winner of BBC Young Musician 2018 (originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America)