Harry Potter: Dumbledore's Family Tree, Explained (2024)

The many magical characters and families of the Wizarding World became household names when Harry Potter became a phenomenon. Dumbledore is one of the first names that even casual viewers think of when Harry Potter comes to mind, but Albus was not the only Dumbledore who held importance in wizarding history. With both magical and Muggle roots, the Dumbledore family was one of the most prominent English wizarding families.

The oldest known member of the family was Mr. Dumbledore, the great-great-grandfather of Albus Dumbledore. The family had a known affinity to great birds, the Phoenix being the most notable. Mr. Dumbledore himself had a pet Phoenix, which took off when he died and never returned. While not a lot is known about the oldest known Dumbledore, he gave rise to nearly five generations of Dumbledores who impacted the Wizarding World.

Percival Dumbledore Was a Misunderstood Father

Percival Dumbledore was married to Kendra. Together, they gave birth to three children: Albus, Aberforth, and Ariana. His name has been heard countless times as one of the many middle names of Albus Dumbledore, but Percival was a fiercely loving parent. When Ariana was assaulted by three Muggle men, Percival avenged his daughter's trauma by attacking the men himself. Sadly, he bore the consequences of theirs and his own crime.

When he was captured, Percival did not reveal that the Muggles had attacked his daughter so that she wouldn't be taken away to St. Mungo's for her delicate mental and magical condition. Therefore, his actions were perceived as a hate crime towards Muggles because of blood purity, which soiled Percival's reputation forever. He died in Azkaban in or around 1891.

Kendra Dumbledore Landed On Death's Doorstep Because of Her Daughter

Kendra was born between 1850 and 1851, and she married Percival Dumbledore. After Ariana's attack, Kendra decided to move from Mould-On-The-Wold, which was the Dumbledores' true home, to Godric's Hollow, which tied the Dumbledores to the Potters who died there. A lot about Kendra's true nature is shrouded in mystery, as many described her as a "fine woman" while her own children resented her greatly.

Aberforth did not appreciate how Kendra raised them to be secretive and reticent, teaching them to lie and withhold information on her lap. Conversely, Albus' resentment for his mother stemmed from the fact that she passed away before he was scheduled to go on a world tour and live life as a young man, which forced him to stay home and care for his family. Kendra was killed when Ariana lost control of her magic, ending in a fatal explosion.

Albus Dumbledore Was the Oldest Dumbledore Sibling

Albus Dumbledore, eldest son of Kendra and Percival, was a complex character. Albus was drunk on his own intelligence and brilliance as a young man, which led him down a dark path with Grindelwald. He had to care for his sister and brother at a young age, which made him frustrated. His friendship with Grindelwald made him neglect his responsibility, and by the time he realized it was too late, a spat with Grindelwald and Aberforth led to a stray spell that killed Ariana.

Dumbledore had the same affinity for phoenixes that his great-great-grandfather did, with Fawkes being his very own pet Phoenix, who helped him several times. Dumbledore never married or had children, but he understood the error of his ways. Albus dedicated his life to the fight against evil, defeating Grindelwald but living a lonely life where he spent his days lamenting his losses in private. However, in an effort to see his sister one last time, Dumbledore cursed himself and later made him a carefully placed victim at the hands of snape that would be used to defeat Voldemort.

Aberforth Dumbledore Was Very Different From His Talented Brother

The middle Dumbledore child, Aberforth, was very different from his elder brother. He owned the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade, opting for a quieter life than the flamboyant one that Albus led. He didn't get along too well with his brother because he never agreed with his reckless activities with Grindelwald. After Ariana was killed, his relationship with Albus soured further, and he broke his nose at Ariana's funeral.

Aberforth preferred to work at a ground level to dismantle Voldemort's rule. He kept the DA alive when Harry wasn't around and then sheltered the Golden trio when they escaped from Malfoy Manor. Aberforth fed and cared for Hogwarts students in a dark time and fought the Battle of Hogwarts. Ariana was his closest confidante and friend.

Ariana Dumbledore's Was the Youngest Dumbledore Sibling

The sweetest and most gentle Dumbledore, Ariana's entire life changed with one incident. She faced unbearable cruelty at the hands of three Muggle boys when she was only six years old, which traumatized her for life. This made her magic turn inwards and turned her into an Obscurial. After this, Ariana's life became unpredictable and sad, as she couldn't control her powers.

The youngest Dumbledore sibling's life was cut short when she got hit by a curse in a duel between Grindelwald and her brothers. Ariana lived on in the portrait in Hog's Head, protecting the tunnel that led to Hogwarts. She deserved a lot more in life but was faced with a lack of humanity that altered her potential forever.

Aurelius Dumbledore Was Fathered By Aberforth

The Fantastic Beasts trilogy introduced Credence Barebone to the franchise, who was an Obscurial. He spent his childhood abused and ill-treated, and eventually, fans learned that Credence was, in fact, Aurelius Dumbledore, Aberforth's son. He ended up in America with his aunt and had a tough life after that. He initially joined Grindelwald's forces but later renounced his allegiance and went home to be with Aberforth.

Nobody knew who Aurelius' mother was, but he suffered just like his aunt, Ariana. The Dumbledore family was incredibly powerful, but some of them had an unfair share of grief and trauma in their lives. Aurelius was one of these members, but he eventually had some semblance of a happy ending when he returned to his father.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise follows the adventure of a young boy introduced a whole new world of magic, mayhem and darkness. Traversing the obstacles in his path, young Harry's rise to heroics pits him against Lord Voldemort, one of the most dangerous wizards in the world and all his minions.

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Latest Film

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

Upcoming TV Shows

Harry Potter

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson , Maggie Smith , Alan Rickman , Helena Bonham Carter , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon

Where to watch

HBO Max

Spin-offs (Movies)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald , Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Character(s)

Harry Potter , Voldemort

Video Game(s)

Hogwarts Legacy , LEGO Harry Potter Collection , Harry Potter: Wizards Unite , Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells , Harry Potter: Magic Awakened , Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets , Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2