Yellowstone fans have a lot going on at the moment.
For one, Season 5 of the Western series is in the middle of a painful hiatus. (Sorry, folks. You'll have to wait for the summer to dive back in!) Not only that, but we're also in the midst of Yellowstone's origin story, 1923!
The Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren-led spinoff was also on a brief pause. But luckily for us, 1923 is set to resume its story on February 5. And in even bigger news—1923 was just confirmed to be renewed for a second season. Yeah, this universe literally never ends! 😅
And as exciting as this all is—after five seasons of the original show, two aired prequels, and another two in the works (based on the 6666 Ranch in Texas and 1883: The Bass Reeves Story)... things can get a little confusing. After all, there are now seven generations to keep track of! 🤯
Don't worry! We mapped out the Dutton family tree for you, so you can see just how everyone in the bloodline is connected. Like, how is 1923's Jacob Dutton related to Yellowstone's John Dutton III? Or who is James Dutton to John Dutton Jr.? Read on for everything you need to know about this ever-expanding family, and let us know which fact surprised you the most!
James Dutton
James (Tim McGraw) was the original cowboy on the Dutton Ranch in 1883—the first Yellowstone prequel. His leadership is essentially what started the Dutton story we know today. Traveling west with his wife and children from Tennessee after the Civil War, James ultimately decided that Montana would remain his home after suffering the loss of his daughter, Elsa.
Margaret Dutton
Margaret (Faith Hill), married to James, was the original leading lady of the Dutton family. She served as a nurse in the Civil War in which James fought in. She was the mother to three children (whom we meet in 1883), Elsa, John, and Spencer.
Jacob Dutton
We're new to the story of Jacob (Harrison Ford), who is one of the main protagonists of 1923. But we know that Jacob was the brother of James and husband to Cara Dutton. He ends up taking over the Dutton Ranch in the 18th century from his brother when tragedy strikes and he raises James' two sons as his own. He's presumably the great-great-grand-uncle of John Dutton III.
Cara Dutton
Cara (Helen Mirren) was a woman of power, and also the wife to Jacob in 1923. Originally from Ireland, she helped run the Dutton Ranch during the Prohibition Era.
Claire nee Dutton
Claire (Dawn Olivieri) was the sister to James and Jacob whom we met in 1883. Claire's story just might be the most tragic: She was a widow who also lost six of her children to death. So, when we meet her, she's traveling west with her brother James, bringing along her remaining daughter, Mary Abel. When Mary was killed after their wagon was ambushed, Claire decides to end her life at her daughter's grave.
Mary Abel
Mary Abel (Emma Malouff) was the daughter of Claire Dutton (making her the niece to James, Jacob, Margaret, and Cara). We briefly met her in 1883, where she was killed during the Dutton's journey out west.
Elsa Dutton
Elsa (Isabel May) was the oldest child of James and Margaret Dutton, and also the voice of 1883's narrator. Her story is a sad one, as she ultimately dies in the end of the series. However, we face a lot more complexity before that happens. Throughout her journey, she falls in love twice—her first time being with a cowboy named Ennis. Though they formed a strong connection, it ends when Ennis was killed halfway through the season. Soon after, she met and sparked a relationship with Sam, a Comanche warrior whom avenges her from danger on her journey. The two planned to start a life together once Elsa's parents find the land they are looking for. This never happens though, as she was killed in combat before she could return.
John Dutton Sr.
John Sr. was the first son of James and Margaret who we meet as an infant in 1883. We meet him again in 1923 as an adult played by James Badge Dale. He works alongside Jacob in 1923 to help preserve the land. He's married to Emma and they have a son, Jack. It's also presumed that he's the grandfather of John Dutton III (aka, Yellowstone's main character).
Emma Dutton
Emma (Marley Shelton) was the wife of John Dutton Sr. and mother of Jack Dutton in 1923. (Again, she might be the parent of John Dutton Jr., though we still are awaiting to confirm that.)
Spencer Dutton
He doesn't make an appearance in 1883, but Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) was James' and Margaret's third child, who begins his storyline in 1923. He was a World War I veteran and currently working in Africa.
Jack Dutton
Jack (Darren Mann) is the son of John Sr. and Emma in 1923. He's a young man who helped his father and great-uncle (Jacob Dutton) on their relatively new land. He was set to marry Elizabeth Dutton.
Elizabeth Dutton
Formally known as Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph), this character was set to marry Jack Dutton in 1923.
John Dutton II
Again, we *assume* that John Dutton Jr. was the son of John Dutton Sr. and Emma Dutton, whom we meet in 1923. He initially appears as an older man in flashback episodes of Yellowstone, but has been rumored to make an appearance in 1923, too.
Peter Dutton
According to a quick mention in Yellowstone, Peter Dutton was the son of John Dutton Jr. and Elizabeth Dutton. He was John Dutton III's brother but he died only hours after he was born.
John Dutton III
John Dutton III (Kevin Costner) is a man that hardly needs any form of introduction. John III leads what is known as the Dutton Ranch today. He is the cowboy in charge of it all, and now current governor of Montana. He's a wealthy man who doesn't allow that part of himself to get to his head. The widow was married to Evelyn Dutton (who we only see in flashbacks) and together they had four children—Lee (who dies in the first season of Yellowstone), Beth, Kayce, and Jamie (who we later find out was adopted).
Evelyn Dutton
We never got to really know Evelyn (Gretchen Mol), as she's the deceased wife of John Dutton III. The mother of his four children (Lee, Beth, Kayce, and Jamie) died just as the kids were young after encountering a horseback riding accident.
Lee Dutton
Lee (Dave Annable) was John's oldest son, and expected leader of the Yellowstone ranch after his father. But Lee died in the first season of Yellowstone, disrupting the family balance once more.
Beth Dutton
Beth (Kelly Riley) is the force to be reckoned with on Yellowstone. Daughter of John III and Evelyn, she has a fierce persona that both helps her ward off villains while also getting her into some trouble. We get to see a bit of her tender side through her romance with husband, Rip Wheeler.
Jamie Dutton
Jamie (Wes Bentley) is the adopted son of John III and Evelyn. Things with Jamie are a little complicated, as he doesn't find out that John isn't his biological dad until later in his adult life. And when we find out his real story, well, it's all just a bit tragic. He is truly the odd one out, and that's clear when you see the resentment and respect in which he both feels for his family.
Kayce Dutton
Kayce (Luke Grimes) is the third son of John III and Evelyn. His character always seems to be surrounded by conflict, heartbreak, and death. He is not the closest with his father, but their relationship isn't necessarily bad, either. He is the husband to Monica Dutton; together, they share a son named Tate.
Christina
Christina (Katherine Cunningham) was romantically involved with Jamie, while also being one of his employees during his campaign for state attorney general. And though they share a kid together, it doesn't seem like that was enough to keep them together.
Unknown Dutton
We don't know too much about Jamie and Christina's son other than that he was just recently born and would be named after his father.
Rip Wheeler
Rip's story is a bit tragic-turned-sweet. He stumbles upon the ranch as a teenager, during a time when he needed it the most. John III took him under his wing—which is how Rip met Beth, and slowly grew feelings for her. Not only is he the husband to Beth, but he is John's number one trusted man.
Monica Long Dutton
Monica (Kelsey Asbille) is the wife to Kayce, mother to Tate, and teacher on the Broken Rock Reservation where she was raised.
Tate Dutton
Tate (Brecken Merrill) is the son of Kayce and Monica. He has both western and Native American blood in him, which is somewhat of an irony and a metaphor, as he walks on the land that was once stolen from his ancestors.
Josiah Soto is the assistant editor of news and social for The Pioneer Woman. He helps manage the website’s social channels, in addition to writing high-performing news and entertainment content daily.
