Tom Riddle’s Grave: The Real-Life Inspiration for Voldemort in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, just a stone’s throw from the bustle of the Grassmarket, lies a quiet, shadowed place full of stories. Greyfriars Kirkyard is one of the city’s most atmospheric graveyards — all crooked stones, worn lettering, and whispering trees. It’s beautiful in the daylight, haunting in the dark, and famous for more than just the loyal dog who kept watch at its gates.
Because hidden among the moss-covered tombs is a name that fans of Harry Potter will instantly recognise.
Thomas Riddell.
Did Lord Voldemort Begin Here?
In a back corner of the kirkyard, the gravestone of Thomas Riddell Esq. rests beneath a weathered wall. He died in 1806, aged 72 — long before Voldemort ever appeared on the page. But the name? It’s nearly identical to Tom Riddle, the birth name of He Who Must Not Be Named.
J.K. Rowling lived in Edinburgh while writing the early Harry Potter books. She wrote just around the corner, in cafés like Nicolson’s and The Elephant House. And she often walked through Greyfriars, which is nestled right behind George Heriot’s School — another place long rumoured to have inspired Hogwarts.
It’s hard to believe she didn’t notice the Riddell grave. Or that the name didn’t plant itself, quietly, into her imagination.
Other Familiar Names...
Thomas Riddell isn’t the only name that feels oddly familiar here.
William McGonagall, widely known as one of Scotland’s worst poets, is buried nearby. His name may have inspired Professor McGonagall — though Rowling gave her far more talent.
There’s also a grave for someone named Moodie, and fans have drawn links to Mad-Eye Moody.
The gravestones are real, the stories behind them long forgotten — but somehow, pieces of them live on in a magical world millions now know by heart.
A Graveyard of Inspiration
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a place where fact and fiction blur. Where names rise from the stone and slip into storybooks. Whether Rowling deliberately borrowed these names or simply absorbed them from her surroundings, we may never know. But as you walk among the tombstones, it’s easy to imagine you’re walking in her footsteps — passing the same names, seeing the same shadows and piecing together the magic of a world just about to be born.
Want to uncover more hidden stories in Edinburgh’s streets? Browse our Edinburgh History Walks Map
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