44 Hand-Me-Down Facts About The Weasleys

June 18, 2018 | Joy Watson

44 Hand-Me-Down Facts About The Weasleys


“My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford," sneers Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Au contraire, Malfoy! Throughout the Potter series, the Weasley family prove themselves true Gryffindors with their courage, determination, and bravery (not to mention their excellent skills on the Quidditch pitch). This jolly, ginger clan of nine provide the heart of the series and give the orphaned Boy Who Lived the family he has always craved. Read on for some deeper insight into Weasleys of the past, present, and future!


44. A Pack of Proud Blood-Traitors

In the 1930s, a book called The Pureblood Directory cataloged the "Sacred Twenty-Eight" wizarding families who could still claim pureblood status—no Muggle blood, that is—including the Malfoys, the Blacks, and, yes, the Weasleys. Although some families are proud of their inclusion in the directory, the Weasleys scoff at the classification and instead offer friendship to Muggles and wizards with no magical heritage.

The Weasleys facts

43. Poor Ron

Harry envies Ron for having a large, supportive family, but at times it appears that Ron would trade it all for some of Harry’s riches. The Weasleys experience many financial hardships as their children grow up, creating some bitterness in their youngest son about his second-hand belongings; he cannot afford a new wand when his is broken by the Whomping Willow, he has a substandard broomstick, and he has to wear embarrassing thrift shop dress robes to his first school dance. Ron’s attitude about money improves as he faces life-or-death struggles that have nothing to do with material possessions.

The Weasleys facts Potter more

42. Saving the World While Looking Fierce

Many members of the magical community lose their fashion sense when trying to pass in the Muggle world. In Goblet of Fire, the campsite manager Mr. Roberts complains about “a bloke walking ‘round in a kilt and a poncho.” One character without these sartorial issues is Bill Weasley, who is basically the epitome of cool. He has long hair tied back in a ponytail, boots made of dragon skin (not sure his brother Charlie would approve), and jewellery made from fangs. The scars given to him by Fenrir Greyback in Half-Blood Prince surely add to his bad-boy aesthetic.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

41. A Pair of April Fools

Throughout the Harry Potter novels and films, characters go through many changes and moods, but the Weasley twins remain consistently riotous and fun-loving. Fittingly, Fred and Geroge were born on April Fools’ Day.

The Weasleys facts IMDB

40. A Wizarding Enclave

The Weasley family’s homestead is located in the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, along with fellow wizarding families like the Lovegoods, the Diggorys, and the Fawcetts. This fictional town is located in the county of Devon, but it may be based on the real-life village of Ottery St. Mary, which is located near Exeter—where J.K. Rowling attended university.

The Weasleys facts Lions tigers

39. Curses and Cursing

Swear words are only alluded to in the Harry Potter books (as in, “Ron cursed”), perhaps to keep things family-friendly for younger readers. However, this all changes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. No reader can forget the moment Mrs. Weasley views Ginny caught in a deadly duel with bloodthirsty Bellatrix Lestrange and screams “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU B*TCH.”

The Weasleys facts Youtube

38. Mad-Eye? More Like Dad-Eye

Brendan Gleeson first appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as the slightly-unhinged Mad-Eye Moody. Soon after, his real-life son Domhnall Gleeson was cast as Bill Weasley. This fact brings special significance to the scene in Deathly Hallows where Bill is the one to break the news to the Order of the Phoenix of Moody’s murder by Voldemort.

The Weasleys facts

37. Ron Weasley is a Time Lord?

There are many fan theories about the Harry Potter universe, some more legitimate than others. One of the fringe theories is that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is actually—wait for it—a time-traveling Ron Weasley. The evidence? Amongst the more abstract reasoning behind the theory are these gems: the two both have long noses, Albus had auburn hair in his youth, and the scar on Dumbledore’s leg is a result of Ron’s broken leg in Prisoner of Azkaban. Molly Weasley would definitely not approve of her son time traveling in this manner.

The Weasleys facts Creators

36. But Maybe He Can Glimpse the Future?

Another theory is that Ron can predict the future. He and Harry treat divination class as a joke and make up their predictions seemingly at random…but many of Ron’s forecasts into the beyond end up coming true. Ron predicts that Harry will come into some money unexpectedly, and the next year Harry wins one thousand galleons in the TriWizard Tournament. Amongst other fulfilled prophesies, Ron muses aloud that maybe Tom Riddle was honored with his special services award for murdering Moaning Myrtle (he did murder her).

The Weasleys facts Retro Ent

35. A Birth to Celebrate a Battle

Bill and Fleur Weasley named their daughter Victoire, which is French for "Victory." She was born on the first anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, where the forces of good triumphed over Lord Voldemort.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia RU

34. Help a Brother Out

After he worked as an Auror for a few years at the Ministry of Magic, Ron left to work with his brother George at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Perhaps he finally got a family discount?

The Weasleys facts Bustle

33. A Testament to Mum

Percy Weasley named one of his two daughters Molly, after his mother. This is especially touching since Mrs. Weasley took his self-imposed estrangement from the family the hardest.

The Weasleys facts Pop Sugar

32. The Burrow Survives the Series

Although the film version of Half-Blood Prince includes a scene of Death Eaters attacking the Weasley home and burning it to the ground, Rowling never actually wrote this event. The Weasley home is a safe and cozy sanctuary for Harry on his visits, which makes it so shocking when dark wizards finally do break through the protective enchantments and attack Bill and Fleur’s wedding in Deathly Hallows.

The Weasleys facts Muggle Net

31. An Honored Name

George Weasley went on to marry Angelia Johnson, former Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. The two went on to have two children, naming their only son Fred II.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

30. Weasleys Stick Together

Julie Walters and Rupert Grint play mother and son once again in the 2006 film Driving Lessons.

The Weasleys facts Kino Mania

29. Nomenclature

The first names of the Weasley family often reference Arthurian legends. Molly’s uncle is named Lancelot, Mr. Weasley is Arthur, Percy connects to Percival, a Knight of the Round Table, and Ginny (full name Ginevra) as a form of Guinevere.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

28. A Fair Question About Muggles

In Chamber of Secrets when Harry first meets Arthur Weasley, the Weasley patriarch grills Harry about various aspects of Muggle life. In the film version, actor Mark Williams completely improvised the “What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?” line, coining an instantly classic bit of dialogue that sums up Arthur’s characterization—and that had his fellow cast mates in hysterics.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

27. A Hand-Knit Souvenir

Chris Rankin, the actor who played the fastidious Percy, stole Percy’s Weasley jumper as a souvenir—but ultimately had to return it when people on the set noticed that it was missing. His rule-obeying character would definitely not approve.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Knits

26. Teenage Dream

Bill’s daughter Victoire eventually starts dating the son of Remus and Tonks, Teddy Lupin. Teddy was born during the Second Wizarding War, and Victoire was born the year after the War ended. If the timeline in The Cursed Child is correct, the pair have by then been together for upwards of seven years.

The Weasleys facts Harry Albus Potter Wikia

25. She’s Just a Witch, Standing in Front of a Wizard, Asking Him to call Her ‘Mollywobbles’

Although she spends most of the series trying to rein in her unruly brood and keep things running smoothly, Molly gets to have her silly moments. Readers discover through Harry’s overhearing that she likes Arthur to call her “Mollywobbles” in private, harbors a huge crush on Gilderoy Lockhart, and loves the music of old-fashioned singer Celestina Warbeck because she and Arthur used to dance to her songs when they were young.

The Weasleys facts Kino

24. Who Would Ron Root For?

The Holyhead Harpies are an all-female Quidditch team mentioned several times within the series; Ginny Weasley becomes a professional player for the Harpies for several years. She would likely play against her brother Ron’s favorite team, the Chudley Cannons.

The Weasleys facts Superiorpics

23. Bludgers First, Babies Later

Ginny did very well on the Quidditch pitch for some years, and then left the league to start her family and become a Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet newspaper.

The Weasleys facts Pptter more

22. An Outing to the Quidditch World Cup

Rowling penned a stand-alone look at the series’ main characters in the future, including some Weasleys. Written in the voice of Rita Skeeter reporting on the 2014 Quidditch World Cup, Skeeter snidely reports that, “Almost all of the Weasley family are supporting Brazil. Certainly nobody can have expected Ronald to cheer on his wife’s ex-boyfriend [that would be Krum]."

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

21. Percy Needs a Study Buddy

Unlike his brilliant and ambitious character Percy, Chris Rankin did terribly on his A-Level exams. Rankin blames his poor performance on his own lack of self-discipline, and claimed that the on-set tutors were more preoccupied with the younger members of the cast and thought Rankin could do fine on his own.

The Weasleys facts Youtube

20. A New Generation of Marauders Emerge

The Marauder’s Map was bequeathed to Harry by the Weasley twins, and plays a huge part in the series—revealing Peter Pettigrew’s faked death and Barty Crouch Jr.’s impersonation of Mad-Eye Moody—and it may continue to do so for years. Rowling has since written that she suspects that Harry and Ginny’s children probably snuck the map out of their father’s desk, although knowing Harry he probably left it unlocked on purpose.

The Weasleys facts Sueños fuera del Silencio

19. Penitent Percy

Percy becomes estranged from the other Weasleys when he chooses allegiance with the corrupt Ministry of Magic over family loyalty. After several years of estrangement, he redeems himself at last by showing up for the Battle of Hogwarts and fighting side by side with his family. Percy later finds a balance between work and family and becomes the Head of the Department of Magical Transportation (he also loses his trademark red hair to baldness).

The Weasleys facts Hero Complex - Los Angeles Times

18. Brutal Cuts

Julie Walters appears as Molly Weasley in all of the Harry Potter films except for The Goblet of Fire, which she was cut from because of worries about the length of the film.

The Weasleys facts PBS

17. Movie Magic Requires No Explanation

Of course, the films couldn’t include every detail from the books, but it must’ve been confusing for some to see George and Fred Weasley go from impoverished kids to wildly successful business owners (with a central location in Diagon Alley, no less). The twins are given the money by Harry, who wins a thousand galleons at the end of Goblet of Fire. When Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes opens, Harry is told to take anything he wants for free—an offer that does not get extended to their brother Ron.

The Weasleys facts UVM

16. Two Ladies Who Rule Their Roosts

Julie Walters almost lost the role of Molly Weasley to the actress Lesley Nicol, who you might know better as Mrs. Patmore in Downton Abbey. Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Patmore happen to have many similarities as characters: They both spend most of their time cooking amazing feasts, organizing the young people around them, scolding anyone who steps out of line, and offering advice and tea to anyone who wants it.

The Weasleys facts The Telegraph

15. A Mother and a Friend

Just like her mother Molly, Ginny Weasley has only one daughter. Her first name is Lily, named after her husband Harry’s mother. Her middle name also honors another significant woman in the pair’s life: Luna.

The Weasleys facts Time

14. Close Call for Ron

Rowling made a promise to herself to never kill any members of the main trio (Ron, Hermione, and Harry), but while going through some depression, she almost broke that promise in order to kill Ron. The author has since said that it was “out of sheer spite.”

The Weasleys facts Business Insider

13. The Most Elusive Weasley Son

Charlie Weasley is the second-oldest son of Molly and Arthur, and perhaps the most mysterious family member. He is a dragon trainer who works in Romania and spends his time off trying to recruit new members to the Order of the Phoenix. Hagrid has a soft spot for Charlie because of their shared love for animals, especially dangerous ones, and even entrusts Charlie with the care of his beloved young dragon Norbert.

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

12. The Slimiest Weasley

The Weasley Family is crammed together in the Burrow, a space issue not helped by the family ghoul who occupies their attic. Described as resembling a “slimy, buck-toothed ogre,” the Weasley Ghoul mostly spends its time moaning, thrashing, and making a commotion right over Ron’s bedroom ceiling. The Weasley Ghoul has a moment of glory, however, when it moves downstairs and masquerades as Ron (in a red wig in pajamas) in order to convince the Ministry that he is ill with Spattergroit instead of hunting Horcruxes.

The Weasleys facts Potter more

11. A Hogwarts Quidditch Legend

During his time at Hogwarts, Charlie was the seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was such an impressive player that Quidditch-fanatic Oliver Wood remarked, “He could’ve played for England.”

The Weasleys facts IMDB

10. Quidditch Player? Must be a Weasley

Could Hogwarts Quidditch even survive without the talent of the Weasley family? In their years at Hogwarts, a Weasley child has played in every position: Charlie as Seeker, Fred and George as Beaters, Ron as Keeper, and Ginny as Chaser and Seeker. While it is unknown if Bill ever played for the team, Percy definitely did not stir from his studies to hit the pitch.

The Weasleys factsBustle

9. The Weasley War Effort

The Weasley family played a significant part in the Second Wizarding War, and will probably be included in wizarding history books for their impressive accomplishments. The oldest members joined the Order of the Phoenix, the younger family members joined Dumbledore’s Army, many fought in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower (where Bill was badly injured by Fenrir Greyback), and the whole family fights at the climactic Battle of Hogwarts.

The Weasleys facts Taringa

8. Ginny Holds Down the Fortress

Not only did Ginny Weasley survive being possessed by Lord Voldemort in her first year at Hogwarts, she also came up with the name of Dumbledore’s Army, and eventually took over as co-leader with Neville Longbottom when Harry left on his Horcrux hunt.

The Weasleys facts Gamers decide

7. Mrs. Weasley Is Always Watching

Throughout the series there are constant references to the Weasley Clock, a special timepiece that shows when family members are home, traveling—and even when they are in mortal peril. Muggles in 2018 are now attempting to replicate the Weasley clock by syncing home clocks to cells phones in order to show the location of various family members.

The Weasleys facts Bookstr

6. Brawl in the Bookshop

Both the books and the films serve to show the animosity between Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy, animosity created when Arthur refused to believe Malfoy’s story about being bewitched into joining Voldemort’s side. In the Chamber of Secrets movie, we see the two throw a few insults at each other, but things go slightly different in the book version: Arthur tackles Lucius to the ground, and the two basically trash Flourish & Blotts bookshop.

The Weasleys facts Youtube

5. Method Acting

Oliver and James Phelps skipped a day of school in order to audition for the roles of the rule-breaking, authority-flouting Weasley twins.

The Weasleys facts Wikipedia

4. A Case of Typecasting

Actress Julie Walters has played a witch in two separate instances—as the formidable Mrs. Weasley in Harry Potter, and the Witch who curses the Queen in Pixar’s Brave.

The Weasleys facts Geek Tyrant

3. Percy Reveals His Love of Prestige

When Percy becomes Prefect, his proud parents gift him with new robes and his own owl. Percy might be revealing his arrogance in naming the owl Hermes; Hermes is a figure from Greek mythology who is “the messenger of the gods." But maybe he's just a fan of French luxury goods.

The Weasleys facts Wattpad

2. The More the Merrier

By the end of the story, the Weasley clan has gained many new members: Arthur and Molly have five new in-laws and 12 grandchildren. That’s a whole lot of knitting that Molly will have to accomplish in order to give everyone a Weasley jumper for Christmas!

The Weasleys facts Harry Potter Wikia

Happily ever after?

Most fans were thrilled with the happily-ever-after ending where Ron and Hermione married and grew a family, but most people don't realize that their union wasn't something J. K. Rowling believes wholeheartedly in, at least not in hindsight. Initially, Rowling had very different plans for Ron: she was "seriously considering" killing him off. Even though Ron survived, Rowling has second thoughts about their union. In an interview that set the internet ablaze in 2014, Rowling said, "I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment. That's how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron. I know, I'm sorry, I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I'm absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective on that. It was a choice I made for very personal reasons, not for reasons of credibility. Am I breaking people's hearts by saying this? I hope not."

She then went on to discuss how Harry and Hermione may have been a better fit, stating that, "In some ways Hermione and Harry are a better fit and I'll tell you something very strange. When I wrote Hallows, I felt this quite strongly when I had Hermione and Harry together in the tent! I hadn't told [Steve] Kloves that and when he wrote the script he felt exactly the same thing at exactly the same point."

For those that wish for the happily-ever-after life for two of the story's heroes, Rowling did leave us with this: "Oh, maybe she and Ron will be alright with a bit of counseling, you know. I wonder what happens at wizard marriage counseling? They'll probably be fine. He needs to work on his self-esteem issues and she needs to work on being a little less critical."

Ron Weasley facts

1. Mrs. Weasley's Sorrow

Molly Weasley gained her extreme hatred of the Death Eaters years before the novels when a group of them brutally murdered her two brothers, Fabian and Gideon, during the First Wizarding War, a tragedy of which she rarely speaks. In Order of the Phoenix, a boggart overpowers Molly and readers see that her greatest fear is the death of any more family members. In the Second Wizarding War, she loses her beloved son Fred, but thankfully the rest of her family survives.

The Weasleys facts Amino Apps

Sources12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.