This Dutton Family Tree Shows How Seven Generations of 'Yellowstone' Characters Are Related

This Dutton Family Tree Shows How Seven Generations of 'Yellowstone' Characters Are Related
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The Yellowstone universe is constantly evolving. And with the ever-expanding cast of characters, it can be hard to keep up with how each one is related. Taylor Sheridan's creation has expanded to include the Dutton family origin story with 1883 and 1923, and with new installments (1883: The Bass Reeves Story and 6666) on the horizon, we don't expect the world to be simplified any time soon.

Some of the show's stars have admitted that even they are confused by the characters' relationships (and we suspect Taylor Sheridan is being intentionally cryptic about some of the connections), but fear not: We're here to clear up some of the confusion with the Dutton family tree. Save this link as we will be updating the information as more details are known and as new characters join the cast. [SPOILERS AHEAD: If you're not caught up on all three shows, proceed with caution.]

dutton family tree
Paramount

James Dutton

pictured tim mcgraw as james of the paramount original series 1883 photo cr emerson millerparamount © 2021 mtv entertainment studios all rights reserved
Emerson Miller

Country superstar Tim McGraw stars as the patriarch from 1883, a Civil War soldier who leads his family West. He's married to Margaret, and they have three children: Elsa, Spencer, and John Dutton Sr. The character is also seen during flashback scenes in season 4 of Yellowstone. James has two siblings: Claire, who shares the screen in 1883, and Jacob, who makes his appearance in 1923.

Margaret Dutton

James's wife Margaret is portrayed by his real-live love, Faith Hill. She's a strong woman and mother of three (Elsa, Spencer, and John) who joins James in their perilous journey west, eventually settling in Montana.

Jacob Dutton

harrison ford as jacob dutton in 1923 streaming on paramount 2022 photo credit james minchin iiiparamount
James Minchin

James's brother, Jacob (Harrison Ford), is the leader of the Dutton family in 1923. He and his wife Cara do not have children of their own, but they helped raise their nephews.

Cara Dutton

Played by Helen Mirren, Cara is another strong, independent woman in the Dutton family tree. When her husband, Jacob, is injured, she takes over running and protecting the ranch and calls upon her nephew Spencer to come home to help.

Claire Dutton

Claire (Dawn Olivieri) and her daughter Mary Abel join James and his family on their journey, but their story meets a tragic and brutal end.

Mary Abel Dutton

Mary Abel (Emma Malouff) is Claire's last surviving child, until she too meets her demise in 1883. Her mother, so distraught by the loss of her child, ends her own life.

Elsa Dutton

pictured isabel may as elsa of the paramount original series 1883 photo cr emerson millerparamount © 2021 mtv entertainment studios all rights reserved
Emerson Miller

Elsa (Isabel May), daughter of James and Margaret, serves as the narrator in both 1883 and 1923. A fearless and free-spirited young woman, she meets and falls in love with Sam, but their love is cut short by tragedy.

Sam

Sam (Martin Sensmeier) is a Comanche warrior who encounters the Dutton family along their journey in 1883. He and Elsa fall in love and marry in an unofficial ceremony.

John Dutton Sr.

james badge dale as john dutton sr of the paramount series 1923
Paramount

John is the only character to cross over between 1883 and 1923. He is portrayed as a child by Audie Rick in 1883 and then as an adult by James Badge Dale in 1923. In 1923, he is married to Emma and they have a son, Jack. It's unclear if John and Emma are also the parents of John Jr. James Badge Dale admitted to TV Insider that he's not sure how his character is related to John Jr. and therefore John III (Kevin Costner): "I have no idea. If someone figures it out, they can let me know." John Sr. is killed during an ambush in the third episode of 1923.

Emma Dutton

John Sr.'s wife Emma (Marley Shelton) has one son that we know of: Jack. Her relationship to John Jr. and John III has not yet been revealed.

Spencer Dutton

julia schlaepfer as alexandra and brandon sklenar as spencer dutton of the paramount series 1923 photo cr emerson millerparamount © 2022 viacom international inc all rights reserved
Emerson Miller

Spencer is sibling to Elsa and John Sr. He is a former soldier-turned-big game hunter who is called home from Africa to help his family defend their land. While in Africa, Spencer meets and falls in love with Alex (Julia Schlaepfer), and they return to Montana together to help his family. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brandon Sklenar, the actor who portrays Spencer, said he's unsure how Spencer is related to Kevin Costner's John Dutton III: "It’s something that Taylor [Sheridan] is keeping very close to the vest. I have my own theories, but it’s to be told, to be written, to be seen. He’s always moving all that stuff around."

Alex Dutton

Free-spirited Alex ran away with Spencer in Africa. The two got engaged and were married by the ship captain after their harrowing time at sea. Alex and Spencer are making their way to Montana to help Spencer's family.

Jack Dutton

darren mann as jack dutton of the paramount series 1923 photo cr emerson millerparamount © 2022 viacom international inc all rights reserved
Paramount

Jack's parents are John Sr. and Emma, and he works on the ranch with his family. He is engaged to Elizabeth. Jack is a common nickname for John, so some fans speculate that he is actually John Jr., but that has not been revealed.

Elizabeth Strafford

Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) appears in 1923 as the fiancé to Jack. The two were set to be married before she was injured in the ambush by the sheep farmers that also killed her father. After tragedy, Elizabeth and Jack recite their vows to each other, and Elizabeth confides in Cara that she is pregnant.

John Dutton Jr.

This is where things get a little confusing. The character has appeared as an older man in Yellowstone, and he is presumed to be the son of John Sr. and father of John III. He has not yet made an appearance in 1923, so his exact spot in the family tree is unclear.

John Dutton III

kevin costner in yellowstone next to a horse leaning on a fence with rope in hands wearing a faded blue denim shirt and beige cowboy hat
Paramount

Kevin Costner's John Dutton is the most famous of the family patriarchs who now serves as governor of Montana. His wife, Evelyn, passed away before the Yellowstone story began, and together they had Kayce, Beth, and Lee (who also died). John raised Jamie as his own but he is not his biological father. John has one biological grandchild, Tate.

Evelyn Dutton

Only seen in flashbacks, Evelyn (Gretchen Mol) is John's wife and mother of Kayce, Beth, and Lee and adopted mother to Jamie.

Peter Dutton

John Dutton III's brother died as an infant.

Lee Dutton

The oldest Dutton sibling (Dave Annabel) died in season 1 during a dispute over cattle. He served as a livestock agent and was set to take over the ranch for his father, John Dutton III.

Beth Dutton

Beth (Kelly Reilly) is the only daughter of the Dutton family, and she helps run the family's business operations. The self-described "tornado" has a takes-no-prisoners approach to dealing with anyone who threatens her family, including her adopted brother Jamie. Beth married longtime love Rip Wheeler in an unconventional ceremony in season 4.

Rip Wheeler

beth dutton and rip wheeler from yellowstone
Paramount

Fan-favorite Rip (Cole Hauser) is the manager of the Dutton ranch and has been an unofficial member of the family since his teenage years. He made that connection official when he married Beth.

Kayce Dutton

The youngest Dutton sibling (played by Luke Grimes) is torn between obligations to his father, John III, and his wife, Monica, and their son, Tate. After living off the ranch, he's now poised to return to run the ranch while Rip is away with the herd of cattle.

Monica Dutton

kelsey asbille as monica dutton on yellowstone
Paramount

Monica (Kelsey Asbille) has faced more than her share of tragedy, but she remains devoted to her husband, Kayce, and understands his connection to his family. She was raised on the Broken Rock Reservation and suffered a devastating accident in season 5 that resulted in the loss of her baby.

Tate Dutton

Tate (Brecken Merrill) has grown up during the 5 seasons of Yellowstone, and he is the future of the Yellowstone ranch. As the only grandchild of John Dutton III, he is the heir apparent to the family land.

Jamie Dutton

Adopted son of John and Evelyn, Jamie (Wes Bentley) was raised as one of their own. Now a lawyer, he's grown up to become an adversary to his father and betrayed him by calling for his impeachment. He has an unnamed baby after a relationship with Christina.

Christina

After a brief relationship, Jamie and Christina (Katherine Cunningham), who worked on his political campaign, had a baby together, but they are no longer romantically involved.

Baby Dutton

Jamie and Christina's baby has been shown on Yellowstone and Jamie said he named him after himself.

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