Lord John Grey probably wouldn't be related to Lady Jane Grey

The world of Outlander regularly brings real historical figures into the story. Then there are others who could be related to real historical figures. One character we need to look at is Lord John Grey. What are the chances he could be related to a significant real person in history within the story?

The Grey family will mean a lot. We’re talking about Lady Jane Grey, who was also known as the Nine Day Queen. My Lady Jane will bring us an alternate history story for the girl, but what about the real figure. Could Lord John Grey be related?

Lord John Grey could be distantly related to Lady Jane Grey

Just based on the name alone, it would suggest that they are related in some way. This would likely be distantly related. Outlander follows real historical events, so we know that the Nine Day Queen existed. Lady Jane Grey was around in the 1550s, though. Lord John Grey is around in the 18th century. So, we’re looking at 200 years difference.

It would make Lord John and Lady Jane distantly related by multiple generations. He also wouldn’t be a direct descendant of the ill-fated girl. Lady Jane Grey was executed at around the age of 16 or 17, and she had no children with her husband Lord Guildford Dudley.

So, the connection would be through Jane’s family. She had two sisters. They would have taken on the names of their husbands, which means Lord John’s family line isn’t from Jane’s or her father’s Henry Grey.

John’s grandmother was Dutch in Outlander

Eventually, we could probably go back through all the lines to find where they combine. However, it’s not going to be a major connection. We know very little about John’s family beyond that his father was accused of being a Jacobite traitor. We know Gerald’s mother was Dutch, but nothing about his father.

There were plenty of Greys back in the 16th and 18th centuries. In fact, we can go back earlier to other prominent Greys. Elizabeth Woodville’s (wife of King Edward IV) first marriage was to a Sir Grey. This could be where Lord John Grey’s line comes from eventually forming into what we know of them in the 18th century, but again, it just shows how popular the Grey name was.

It’s likely just a name that Diana Gabaldon picked up knowing that the Grey family name held some power throughout history in England. I don’t imagine him being connected to any of the major Greys written about in history.