From a historical viewpoint, famous witches are defined in many ways. Self-proclaimed practitioners of witchcraft are witches. As are those society deemed witches without their consent. Officials labeled the unfortunate souls who they burned alive during the witch trials as such. Society has even mythologized peculiar folks rumored to have mysterious powers. Then, there are the witches from folklore who historians can’t prove for certain existed. In short, witches come in many forms.
Many will know some of the most famous witches throughout history. Artists have recycled their names in popular films, books, and TV shows. But it takes a deep fascination with the occult or a scholarly penchant for mythology to know all of the famous witches on this list.
The Most Famous Witch: Aleister Crowley
Probably the most famous witch on this list of famous witches is Aleister Crowley. This famed occultist was born in 1875 and died in 1947. He was a member of the secret society known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In time, Crowley would create a mystical religion, Thelema, and his own order, “A∴A∴.” The magician’s writings also influenced other occult societies throughout Europe and the United States.
As a practice, we’ve mythologized famous witches into supernatural figures, and this is exactly what occult society did to Crowley over the years. Many modern occultists and practitioners of witchcraft view Crowley as a type of demigod magician, overflowing with “magickal” power. Others, however, see him as an unstable individual who had an unhealthy obsession with defying God. And, that’s something Crowley would’ve appreciated.
Famous Witches: Gerald Gardner, The Father of Wicca
Wiccans should hold Gerald Gardner as one of the famous witches, though not the most famous witch by any means. His claim is more of a historical significance than a popular one. Unfortunately, our publication’s sample showed that few Wiccans knew his name at all. Gardner is “the father of Wicca.” Not only did he develop the neo-pagan religion, he created it.
Gardner borrowed writings from his peers, such as Aleister Crowley, and occult societies to formulate his spiritual blend. Eventually, the magician would form the first Wiccan coven. Historians argue if this was New Forest Coven or Bricket Wood Coven, though it doesn’t really matter. Gardner was involved with both.
Throughout his life, Gerald Gardner would become a member of several occult orders and write multiple occult classics. He even ran the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft until he passed away in 1964. His tombstone reads, “The Father of Wicca.”
Famous Witches from Salem: Bridget Bishop
Bridget Bishop is one of the most tragically famous witches from history. Her story, however, is an unfortunate one. In 1692, Bishop was the first woman executed in the Salem witch trials, and as such, history has immortalized her name. She’s a famous witch, not only in Salem, Massachusetts, but in fiction and on-screen.
In truth, no one can say whether or not Bridget Bishop practiced witchcraft in secret, but it doesn’t matter. There’s nothing wrong with holding personal spiritual beliefs. That said, scholars generally hint that Bishop was only a witch in accusation, even though courts cleared her of of previous witchcraft charges in 1680 as well.
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Famous Witches of England: Mother Shipton
The British Isles knew Mother Shipton by many names. Properly, she was Ursula Southeil when she was alive in the 16th century. According to folklore, Shipton was a witch with the gift of prophecy.
Historic accounts describe Shipton as looking much like you’d expect of a fairytale witch, with a hunchback and big eyes that pop from her head. People believed this witch was so powerful that the cackles she made as a baby could quell storms. However, this isn’t the source of her fame.
One book made Mother Shipton famous, published nearly a decade after her death. This manuscript was allegedly a book of prophecies, and while these predictions weren’t anything too fantastic, the myth surrounding them made her a legend. The public has passed down and butchered her story ever since.
Famous Scottish Witches: Isobel Gowdie
Isobel Gowdie is another unfortunate addition to this list of famous witches. Like Bridget Bishop, authorities tried Gowdie for practicing witchcraft. Though, Gowdie’s story took place in 1662’ Scotland. Historians don’t know much about the supposed witch outside of her confessions, but they were some of the most detailed confessions to date.
These admissions are likely false as they were produced either under duress or mental disturbance caused by ergot poisoning. Gowdie claimed she was part of a satanic coven that cast spells and produced charms. Her relationship with the Devil was a lustful one, physical, and she was acquainted with the fairy monarchy.
Unlike Bishop, we know so little about Gowdie that we can’t say for certain if the Church executed her or released her. It’s possible that her absurd tales garnered her freedom since other trials saw similar occurrences.
Famous Witches of Voodoo: Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau isn’t just another of the famous witches. She’s THE Voodoo priestess. Before her death in 1881, Louisiana knew Laveau as the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.” She was a benevolent practitioner, and those in her community believed she possessed many gifts. Foremost, this Vodouisant was a healer, but she also provided the public with charms and spells.
Laveau lived for her community, guiding them and caring for their health like it was her job. As the queen, everyone came to her for advice, often with cash in hand. Black or white, it didn’t matter. Marie Laveau provided them all with insight and protection against evil. She also led the rituals for the large Voodoo scene in New Orleans multiple times per week.
Media of all sorts have used Laveau’s likeness. The most well-known portrayal may be in American Horror Story: Coven, where Angela Bassett played Laveau.
Famous Witches from Mythology: Circe
Though a minor god of the Greek pantheon, Circe is a sorceress. As far as famous witches from Ancient Greece are concerned, Circe behaves more like a classical witch than you may expect of a petty goddess. Her mythological powers included the use of herbs and potions. When she cast magic, she did so with a wand. And, in cliche fashion, Circe was well-known for turning people into animals.
For a list of famous witches, you may have thought that Hecate would make an appearance; she’s usually on lists about witches. However, Hecate wasn’t a sorceress. She was the goddess of magic and patron to witches. Circe, on the other hand, is more witch-like than just about anything from Ancient Greece.
Other notable mentions from this mythology are the Oracle of Delphi and Medea. Though, we wouldn’t consider the oracle a witch by today’s standards. Medea, however, was a classic sorceress who helped Jason find the golden fleece.
Famous Witches of Buckingham: Margery Jourdemayne
This member of the famous witches’ club hails from Buckingham – Buckingham Palace to be exact. Margery Jourdemayne, also known as “The Witch of Eye,” has reached folklore status. She was a real woman who authorities accused of witchcraft in the 1400s before they executed her in 1441.
Stories say Jourdemayne had a fascination with witchcraft her whole life, but there isn’t much that indicates she practiced the art. Just stories and whatever nonsense accusers proclaimed at her trial.
Allegedly, the Duchess of Gloucester consulted The Witch of Eye in matters concerning King Henry V. As the story goes, this is how Jourdemayne ended up on the chopping block. The witch prophesied the Duchess would be queen by the summer, and the king’s court didn’t appreciate this prediction.
Authorities, allegedly, used the prophecy to charge Jourdemayne, the Duchess, and some scholars with directing sorcery against the king. They subsequently burned The Witch of Eye on a stake at the site where Buckingham Palace stands today.
Famous Witches of Arthurian Legend: Morgan Le Fay
Morgan Le Fay is as famous as famous witches come, second only to the wizard Merlin. Both of these figures come from the legends of King Arthur, but we’ll focus on Morgan since we’re discussing witches.
Depending on the story, Morgan Le Fay is the half-sister to the boy-king. She’s something magical in every legend, though. Most modern depictions portray Morgan in opposition to Arthur, often out of jealousy for his status. This was different in older stories where Le Fay was a healer who ruled Avalon. Those stories showed Morgan caring for Arthur rather than working against him. Regardless, literary enthusiasts generally consider Le Fay benevolent or misguided over outright malicious.
This witch is often tied to the fairies in one way or another. It makes sense since her name translates to “Morgan the Fairy,” but it wasn’t until recently that authors and artists portrayed her as a member of the fairy world. These modern portrayals of Le Fay get confusing, though, since there are so many. They range from fantasy novels to TV shows and even the Marvel Universe.
The Most Famous Biblical Witch: The Witch of Endor
Christian texts tend to feel a specific way about witches. Take, for example, the Malleus Maleficarum, which was the manual for all things witch hunts. The Bible isn’t shy about admonishing witches either, going so far as to advocate for their deaths. So, who would’ve thought that one of the most famous witches throughout history would come from this Christian text?
The Witch of Endor is a sorceress who appears in the Old Testament. In the book of Samuel, King Saul visits the conjurer to summon the spirit of Samuel. The witch obliges him, and the prophetic spirits give Saul some bad news: He’s going to die in battle against the Philistines tomorrow, along with his sons. Maybe fate would’ve turned out differently if he hadn’t outlawed witchcraft and banished the witches beforehand.
That’s it. That’s the extent of the Witch of Endor’s story in the Bible. But that was enough to prompt several works of art in her name. Something about the mystery surrounding this witch inspires creatives to fill in the gaps of her tale.
A Famous Witch to the Czars: Grigori Rasputin
Even though most people might not think of Grigori Rasputin as a witch, he really is one of the most famous witches of all time. Of course, the real Rasputin was simply a holy man who wasn’t great at regulating his impulses. Members of the royal family disdained him because of his behavior, so they assassinated him. This is where the story of the witch Rasputin starts, at his death.
Since his assassination, people have spread rumors about Rasputin’s superpowers like a game of telephone. The monk was allegedly fascinated with the occult. They say he dabbled in black magic. Because of his powerful abilities, he survived his assassins stabbing him, shooting him, dragging him by a horse, drugging him with horse drugs, and beating him to death. Most of this is just legend, however.
Rasputin may not have been an actual witch, but he was a spiritual man who spent portions of his life living in monasteries. His legendary reputation is why he makes the list of famous witches.
Famous Witches of Tennessee: The Bell Witch
Tennessee isn’t the best place to find famous witches, but there was one. Urban legend says the Bell Witch inhabited Bell Witch Cave outside of Adams, Tennessee. This is where she allegedly haunted the Bell family.
The Bell family moved onto the farm in Adams in 1804. Their cabin made strange noises that, over time, turned into whispers and voices. Unnatural animals began to appear on the property. They were distorted things not of this world. The family believed this was the work of the Bell Witch, who lived in the mysterious cave on their new property.
The witch terrorized the family. The voices she conjured turned to ravings that drove John Bell, the patriarch, to beat his daughters. (We don’t buy it either.) Eventually, John would die a mysterious death, and someone would find an empty vial near his bed. This was also the handiwork of the Bell Witch.
Everything about the Bell Witch is a legend passed down from the early 1800s because… This witch likely never existed at all.
Famous Witches by Association: Sybil Leek
Sybil Leek was a witch with ties to another of the famous witches on this list: Aleister Crowley. Crowley visited Leek often, and she wrote about these memories in her books. That doesn’t mean Leek was a fan of Crowley’s breed of occultism. In fact, she says in her diary that Crowley turned to black magic while she followed the purity of Wicca.
Leek claimed to come from a line of witches dating back to the witch trials of Europe. To our knowledge, nobody has ever completed a significant genealogy project to validate this claim. However, that didn’t stop Leek from becoming one of the most famous witches in the United States after she moved there from England in the ‘60s. According to TIME Magazine, Leek’s spiritual book sales made her quite the rich and popular woman back then.
A Famous Witch with a Movie Franchise: The Blair Witch
Few famous witches have inspired chilling movie franchises like the Blair Witch Project. That claim to fame is for the real Blair Witch, Moll Dyer. Though she wasn’t as terrifying as the movies, she certainly made her mark.
According to St. Mary’s Historical Society, Dyer was charged with witchcraft in 1698 in Leonardtown, Maryland, after influenza plagued the town. Many died, and someone needed to take the fall, so they blamed the natural occurrence on this indentured servant. Instead of executing Dyer, as was common during trials, the townspeople burned her house down and banished her from the village.
Some accounts say Dyer cursed the town on her way out before haunting the woods around Leonardtown. Other myths say the townspeople found Dyer frozen to death the morning following her exile. The rock on which her body lay was imprinted with the shadow of her hand and arm, symbolizing her death curse. In truth, a woman was forced into a deadly situation to satisfy the town’s need for blame.
Famous Witch with Her Own Statue: Agnes Nutter
A statue of Agnes Nutter stands in Lancashire, England, to commemorate her unfair execution. Nutter was a noble lady who inquisitors hanged during the Pendle witch trials. Her crimes, her prosecutors claimed, included going to a witches’ coven and killing a man with sorcery. To make the story more absurd, her initial accuser was a 9-year-old child.
Britain knows Agnes Nutter more widely than anywhere else. But if anyone made Nutter one of the most famous witches, it was Terry Pratchett with his fiction title Good Omens. This isn’t the only place you’ll find Nutter though. She’s been the subject of books and other media for years.
