The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black Family heritage Blood status Pure-blood

Notable family members

Phineas Nigellus Black Sirius Black (disowned) Bellatrix Black Regulus Arcturus Black Narcissa Black Andromeda Black (disowned)

Status

Extinct in the male line; female line extant through a disowned Black and through the Malfoy family Relationships

Related families

Blishwick family Bulstrode family Burke family Crabbe family Crouch family Flint family Gamp family Hitchens family Malfoy family Macmillan family Lestrange family

Longbottom family Lupin family Potter family Prewett family Rosier family Tonks family Weasley family Yaxley family Many other distant relatives Affiliation

House(s)

Slytherin (most of the family) Gryffindor (Sirius Black) Death Eaters (several members) Order of the Phoenix (two members)

Loyalty

[Hide][Hide][Source] "Of course, any time the family produced someone halfway decent they were disowned." Sirius Black on his family[src] The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black is one of the largest and oldest pure-blood wizarding families in Britain. Many wizarding families in Britain are distantly related to the House of Black. The Black family tree is displayed in the drawing room of the family home at 12 Grimmauld Place in London, England on an intricate tapestry. It starts in the Middle Ages and shows the dominant line of the family up to the present day.[1] By the late twentieth century, the House of Black had become extinct in the male line with the deaths of Sirius and Regulus Black, neither of whom had children. The female line remained extant through the Malfoy family and Teddy Lupin, though the latter descends from a Black who was disowned.

Contents
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HistoryEdit
"...my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal..."

Sirius Black to Harry Potter on his family's values[src]

Sirius Black being pushed to his death by a curse of his cousin's, ending the male line of the House of Black. Added by Cubs Fan2007 The Black family traces its origin back to the Middle Ages. They claim to have entirely magical ancestry, but as Sirius Black informed his godson Harry Potter, no true pure-blood families existed by the twentieth century. The pure-blood families like the Blacks simply removed Muggles and Squibs from their family trees. The Blacks place a great importance on blood purity, considering themselves akin to royalty in the wizarding world and disdaining Muggles, Squibs, Blood traitors and Muggle-borns. The family motto, which can be found on the family crest, is Toujours Pur, which means "Always Pure" in French. Many members took this phrase very seriously.[2] Because of their views, a large number of the Black family members practise the Dark Arts and supported Lord Voldemort during the First and Second Wizarding Wars. A few Blacks even became Death Eaters, while many others never took the Dark Mark but believed in the "purification" of the wizarding world nevertheless.[2] A few members of the family, however, disagreed with the traditional views of their family; Sirius Black, for example, joined the Order of the Phoenix, as did Nymphadora Tonks, a distaff member of the Black family. Both were murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange ne Black, Sirius's cousin and Tonks's aunt, in battle. With Sirius's death, the male line of the Black family ended; the female line continues through the descendants of his cousins Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy, his second cousin, once removed, Arthur Weasley, the Burke family, the Crouches, the Longbottoms and possibly the Potter family[3].

Family TreeEdit
"This is the Black family tree... I hated the lot of them." Sirius Black to Harry Potter[src]

Added by Seth Cooper Legend: Names in grey were removed from the tree by Walburga Black. The published tree does not contain descendants of side branches of the family. See also:

Another Version of Black Family Tree, which shows the Blacks are additionally related to the families Longbottom, Weasley, Flint, Rosier, Macmillan, Yaxley, Prewett, Crabbe, and Crouch. HP Lexicon Tree.

"Blasted Off"Edit

Sirius' burn mark on the Black family tree. Cooper

Added by Seth

"Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my flesh! Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers!" The portrait of Walburga Black screaming at her "traitor" son[src] The original tree described from Grimmauld Place was subject to some magical interference. According to Sirius Black, his mother Walburga blasted names of "blood traitors" off the tapestry without hesitation.[2] The Black family motto of Toujours Pur ("always pure") was followed assiduously by family members; any who disagreed with the notion of blood purity or married Muggles or people of different blood statuses were disowned and blasted off the family tree, as were any Squibs. Thus, family members that remain on the tapestry can be assumed to have married fellow pure-bloods. Some even married their own cousins; Walburga and Orion Black, for instance, were second cousins. Generations of this practice resulted in inbreeding, which in turn has caused problems such as low fertility and mental instability.

Etymology of Given NamesEdit

Most Black family members are named after stars or constellations. For example, the star Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major (the Dog). What's more, Sirius Black, an Animagus, could morph at will into a black dog named Padfoot. Another example is Bellatrix, the third brightest star in the constellation Orion, which is also the name of Sirius's father and Bellatrix's uncle. Cygnus, Andromeda, and Cassiopeia are also constellations, and Regulus, Alphard and Arcturus are stars as well. Some members of the extended family have also chosen to follow this naming pattern. For example, Narcissa Malfoy ne Black named her son Draco, which is the name of a constellation. In turn, he named his son Scorpius, which is one of the constellations of the zodiac, known as Scorpio in Western astrology. Narcissa herself, however, was not named in keeping with this convention. She was instead named after the flower Narcissus.

Blood RelativesEdit

Bellatrix Lestrange (ne Black).

Added by Justinnsaur

Alexia Walkin Black Alphard Black removed posthumously for leaving money to his disowned nephew Andromeda Tonks ne Black removed for marrying a Muggle-born, Ted Tonks Arcturus Black I Arcturus Black II Arcturus Black III Bellatrix Lestrange ne Black Belvina Burke ne Black Callidora Longbottom ne Black Cassiopeia Black Cedrella Weasley ne Black removed for marrying a blood traitor, Septimus Weasley Charis Crouch ne Black Cygnus Black I Cygnus Black II Cygnus Black III Dorea Potter ne Black Eduardus Limette Black removed for an unknown reason Elladora Black

Sirius Black.

Added by KickAssJedi

Isla Hitchens ne Black removed for marrying a Muggle, Bob Hitchens Lucretia Prewett ne Black

Lycoris Black Marius Black removed because he was a Squib Misapinoa Blishwick ne Black Narcissa Malfoy ne Black - wife of Lucius Malfoy and mother of Draco Malfoy Orion Black - Walburga's husband. Phineas Nigellus Black Phineas Black removed for supporting Muggle rights Pollux Black Phoebe Black Regulus Black I Regulus Black II Sirius Black I Sirius Black II Sirius Black III removed for being a blood traitor; removed after he ran away. Walburga Black - mother of Sirius and Regulus Black.

Relatives by MarriageEdit

Lucius Malfoy.

Added by Thai420

Bob Hitchens husband of Isla Black Caspar Crouch husband of Charis Black Charlus Potter husband of Dorea Black Druella Rosier wife of Cygnus Black III Ella Max wife of Cygnus Black I Harfang Longbottom husband of Callidora Longbottom ne Black Herbert Burke husband of Belvina Black Hesper Gamp wife of Sirius Black II Ignatius Prewett husband of Lucretia Black Irma Crabbe wife of Pollux Black Jimbo Blishwick husband of Misapinoa Blishwick ne Black Lucius Malfoy husband of Narcissa Malfoy ne Black Lysandra Yaxley wife of Arcturus Black I Melania Macmillan wife of Arcturus Black III Rodolphus Lestrange husband of Bellatrix Lestrange ne Black Septimus Weasley husband of Cedrella Black

Ted Tonks husband of Andromeda Tonks ne Black Tripe wife of Mr. Black Ursula Flint wife of Phineas Nigellus Black Violetta Bulstrode wife of Cygnus Black II

Distant RelativesEdit

Four of the Weasley children.

Added by Cavalier One

Draco Malfoy.

Added by KickAssJedi

Nymphadora Tonks. Jayce Carver Distant Relative Arthur Weasley Molly Weasley ne Prewett Gideon Prewett Fabian Prewett

Added by Varda

Barty Crouch Jr..

Added by

Relation to the House of Black Son of Cedrella Weasley ne Black[4]. Wife of Arthur Weasley and niece of Lucretia Prewett ne Black[5]. Nephew of Lucretia Prewett ne Black[5]. Nephew of Lucretia Prewett ne Black[5].

Bill Weasley Charlie Weasley Percy Weasley Fred Weasley George Weasley Ron Weasley Ginny Weasley Victoire Weasley Dominique Weasley Louis Weasley Molly Weasley II Lucy Weasley Fred Weasley II Roxanne Weasley Rose Weasley Hugo Weasley Nymphadora Tonks Remus Lupin Teddy Lupin Draco Malfoy Scorpius Malfoy Ignotus Peverell Antioch Peverell Cadmus Peverell Marvolo Gaunt Merope Gaunt Morfin Gaunt James Potter I Harry Potter James Potter II Albus Potter Lily Potter

Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black. Daughter of Andromeda Tonks ne Black. Husband of Nymphadora Tonks. Maternal grandmother is Andromeda Tonks ne Black. Son of Narcissa Malfoy ne Black. Paternal grandmother is Narcissa Malfoy ne Black. Descendant is Charlus Potter. Brother's descendant is Charlus Potter. Brother's descendant is Charlus Potter. Gaunt family's cousins are Potter family. Gaunt family's cousins are Potter family. Gaunt family's cousins are Potter family. Possible relation of Dorea Potter ne Black. Possible relation of Dorea Potter ne Black and husband of Ginny Weasley. Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black; possible relation of Dorea Potter ne Black. Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black; possible relation of Dorea Potter ne Black. Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley ne Black; possible

Tom Marvolo Riddle Granfather is Marvolo Gaunt.

relation of Dorea Potter ne Black. Araminta Meliflua Hermione Granger Fleur Delacour Audrey Weasley Angelina Johnson Frank Longbottom Alice Longbottom Neville Longbottom Barty Crouch Sr. Barty Crouch Jr. First cousin of Walburga Black, probably niece of Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe Wife of Ron Weasley Wife of Bill Weasley Wife of Percy Weasley Wife of George Weasley Possible relation of Callidora Longbottom ne Black. Wife of Frank Longbottom. Possible relation of Callidora Longbottom ne Black. Mother is most likely Charis Crouch ne Black. Paternal grandmother is most likely Charis Crouch ne Black.

Part of the family tree tapestry from the film Added by Lord Valensus Thus, the Blacks are related to the Max, Blishwick, Flint, Hitchens Gamp, Bulstrode, Burke, Yaxley, Macmillan, Crabbe, Potter, Peverell, Gaunt, Longbottom, Fortescue, Weasley, Delacour, Johnson, Granger, Crouch, Prewett, Rosier, Lestrange, Meliflua, Potter, Tonks, Malfoy, and Lupin families (albeit most of them distantly) but are related to all wizarding families as all families were once pure-blood and all pure-blood families are related. Also, muggle-born people are descendants of Squibs who are born into either apure-blod family or a half-blood family (which is part pure-blood). Therefore, all wizarding families (and some Muggle ones) are related to the House of Black.

EtymologyEdit
Black can be considered a colour, though it is more accurately the absence of colour. In Western culture, the colour black has typically been associated with evil, darkness, and witchcraft, but also with prestige and sophistication appropriate for the House of Black. Black has also been associated with life and prosperity by other cultures. In ancient China, black was the symbol of the element of water, which also corresponds to Slytherin, the Hogwarts house of almost all members of the Black family. In English heraldry, black represents darkness and ignorance; a possible allusion to the prejudice common to members of the House of Black.

However, the English word black is derived from either the Old English blc, meaning "black", or blac, meaning "pale".[6] Pallor is associated with sickness and the colour white, which is usually held to symbolize purity in Western and Indian culture, and death in East Asian cultures. This mirrors the typical colouring of members of the House of Black dark hair and pale skin[7]. Tapestry of the Black family tree. At the trunk is Phineas Nigellus Black, and at the left side are decipted even more ancient ancestors of the family. Added by Starstuff

Orion and Walburga Black on the family tree Valentinijan

Added by Lord

Behind the scenesEdit

A hand drawn copy of the most recent section of the family tree was donated to a charity auction for Book Aid by J. K. Rowling, in February 2006. The drawing was purchased on behalf of Daniel Radcliffe for 30,000. Walburga and Orion Black were second cousins. Another version of the family tree tapestry appeared in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film). When filmmakers told Rowling that they needed to "visualise Sirius Black's family tree," she faxed them the complete Black family tree, going back eight generations. On that tree the name Phineas is misspelt Phineus.[8] Many members of the House of Black have died at considerably younger ages than is the norm for wizards and witches. Of those whose dates of birth and death are shown on the

family tree, none lived to be older than one hundred, and most died between the ages of fifty and eighty[1]. Many members of the family are said to have great good looks, with a touch of aristocratic arrogance to it. After Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the only pure-blood members who weren't dead or imprisoned are: Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Scorpius Malfoy, Andromeda Tonks, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Ron, and Ginny. It is also possible that the female Black line continues in Harry Potter, as he is possibly related to Charlus Potter and Dorea Black.