The House Stark family tree, as depicted in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO series Game of Thrones, centers on Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark, his wife Catelyn Tully, and their six children, alongside Ned’s bastard son Jon Snow, whose true parentage is revealed to be Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. The family’s direct line extends back through Ned’s father Rickard Stark, his brother Brandon, and his sister Lyanna, with the Stark lineage itself tracing to the legendary founder Bran the Builder, though the full historical tree is only partially detailed in the source texts.
Ned Stark and Catelyn Tully’s Children
The core of the modern Stark family is Ned and Catelyn’s marriage, which produced five children, all of whom play significant roles in the saga. Their eldest son, Robb, becomes King in the North during the War of the Five Kings and is killed at the Red Wedding. Their eldest daughter, Sansa, marries Tyrion Lannister (a marriage never consummated) and later becomes Queen of the North after the series’ conclusion. Arya, the younger daughter, trains as a Faceless Man in Braavos and ultimately kills the Night King in the show, though this does not happen in the books. Bran, the second son, becomes the Three-Eyed Raven and is crowned King of the Six Kingdoms at the end of the series. Rickon, the youngest, is killed by Ramsay Bolton at the Battle of the Bastards.
Jon Snow: The Hidden Targaryen
Jon Snow is presented for most of the story as Ned Stark’s illegitimate son, but the truth is that he is the son of Ned’s sister Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, making him a legitimate Targaryen heir (in the show, they are secretly married). This is revealed in the Tower of Joy flashback in the books and in the show’s sixth season, and confirmed by Bran’s visions. Jon’s real name is Aegon Targaryen in the show (though the books do not specify a name). He is raised by Ned as a bastard to protect him from Robert Baratheon’s wrath, as Robert believed Lyanna was kidnapped by Rhaegar. Jon’s true parentage makes him the nephew of Ned, not his son, and places him in a direct line to the Iron Throne, though he never claims it.
Ned’s Siblings and Parents
Ned Stark was the second son of Lord Rickard Stark and his wife Lyarra Stark (though Lyarra’s name is only mentioned in the books, not in the show). Rickard was the Lord of Winterfell who was brutally killed by King Aerys II Targaryen (the Mad King) when he demanded a trial by combat and was burned alive. Ned’s older brother, Brandon, was also killed by Aerys, strangled trying to save his father. Ned’s younger sister, Lyanna, died of a fever in the Tower of Joy after giving birth to Jon Snow. Ned also had a younger brother, Benjen, who joined the Night’s Watch and disappeared beyond the Wall; his fate is left ambiguous in the books, but in the show he is killed by the White Walkers.
The Stark Lineage: From Bran the Builder to Rickard
The Stark family claims descent from Brandon the Builder, the legendary founder of House Stark and the builder of the Wall and Winterfell, who lived during the Age of Heroes, thousands of years before the events of the series. The historical record of the Starks is sparse; the books mention several Kings in the North and Lords of Winterfell, but the complete family tree is not provided. Known ancestors include King Torrhen Stark, the “King Who Knelt” to Aegon the Conqueror, and Cregan Stark, who briefly served as Hand of the King during the Dance of the Dragons. The family’s sigil is a grey direwolf on a white field, and their words are “Winter is Coming.”
How the Family Tree Works in the Narrative
In the story, the Stark family tree is crucial for understanding the political and magical stakes. The Stark children are all “wargs,” able to enter the minds of their direwolf companions, a trait inherited from their First Men ancestors. The line of succession matters for the claim to Winterfell: after Ned’s death, Robb is declared King in the North, and after Robb’s death, Bran is the rightful heir, though he is presumed dead, so Sansa and Jon (as a bastard) are considered. The revelation of Jon’s parentage reshapes the succession entirely, as he has a stronger claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys Targaryen (who is his aunt). The family’s ties to the Old Gods, the weirwood trees, and the White Walkers are also tied to their bloodline, making them central to the prophecy of the Prince That Was Promised.
Common Misconceptions About the Stark Family Tree
One common misconception is that Jon Snow is Ned’s son; while Ned raises him as such, the truth is he is Lyanna’s son. Another is that the Stark children are all full siblings; they are, except for Jon, who is a cousin. Some readers also mistakenly believe that Benjen Stark is the Night King, which is a fan theory that the show briefly played with but ultimately debunked. Additionally, the show’s ending has Sansa becoming Queen of an independent North, which is not in the books, where the story is unfinished. The family tree in the books also includes characters like Artos Stark, who avenged his brother’s death, but these are minor historical figures.
Comparisons with the Targaryen Family Tree
The Stark family tree is much simpler and more stable than the Targaryen one, which is riddled with incest, civil wars, and multiple claimants. The Targaryens practiced brother-sister marriage to keep their bloodline pure, leading to madness and instability, while the Starks married into other noble houses, such as the Tullys, to forge alliances. The Stark tree is also more focused on a single line of succession, whereas the Targaryen tree has many branches and cadet branches, like the Blackfyres. This contrast highlights the thematic opposition between the Starks’ honor and the Targaryens’ ambition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the mother of Jon Snow?
Jon Snow’s mother is Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister, and his father is Rhaegar Targaryen. This is revealed in the show’s sixth season and in the books through Bran’s visions, though the books have not yet explicitly confirmed it in the published text.
Are Sansa and Arya related to Jon?
Yes, they are cousins, but they were raised as siblings. Jon is the son of Lyanna Stark, making him the nephew of Ned, so he is a first cousin to Sansa, Arya, Robb, Bran, and Rickon.
Why is Jon Snow’s real name Aegon?
In the show, Jon’s birth name is Aegon Targaryen, given by his parents Rhaegar and Lyanna. In the books, the name is not specified; some fans theorize it might be Jaehaerys or Aemon, but this is not confirmed.
Who is the rightful heir to Winterfell after Ned’s death?
After Ned’s death, his heir is his eldest son Robb, who becomes King in the North. After Robb’s death, the heir is Bran, as the next legitimate son, though he is presumed dead by most characters. In the show, Bran eventually becomes King of the Six Kingdoms, and Sansa becomes Queen of the North.
Is Benjen Stark dead?
In the show, Benjen is killed by the White Walkers in season 7, after saving Jon beyond the Wall. In the books, his fate is unknown; he disappeared beyond the Wall and is presumed dead, but his survival is a subject of fan speculation.
How many Stark children are there?
There are six Stark children in the main family: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, and Jon Snow (who is actually a cousin). Ned and Catelyn had five biological children, and Jon was raised as a sixth.
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