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The most famous ghosts in history

The most famous ghosts in history attributed to spirits of real persons researched by paranormal investigators. Renowned cases in Australia, Japan, Spain and South America, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, continental Europe, USA, the ghosts of the White House, the most famous ghosts caught on camera and our pick as the most famous ghost in history
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The most famous ghosts in history

A ghost is the spirit of a departed that can appear to the living. Manifestations range from an invisible presence to a translucent mist or a fully formed apparition.

There are intelligent ghosts that interact with the living through sounds, voices or moving objects, residual hauntings in which past events are replayed like echoes by visible ghosts without responding to observers and poltergeist activity which includes unexplained knocks and noises, objects moving without apparent physical cause and sudden temperature shifts.

This article compiles the most famous ghosts in history, attributed to spirits of real persons that have been researched by paranormal investigators. Renowned cases in Australia, Japan, Spain, South America, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, continental Europe, USA, the ghosts of the White House, the most famous ghosts caught on camera and our pick as the most famous ghost in history. Do you believe in ghosts?

11The most famous ghost in Australia

The most famous ghost in Australia is The Monte Cristo Homestead Phantom, in Junee, New South Wales, in the South of country. The homestead was built in 1885 by Christopher Crawley, a wealthy landowner whose family occupied the house for generations. Today it is regarded as the most haunted residence in Australia for the apparitions of Mrs. Elizabeth Crawley, the matriarch of the estate.

Elizabeth Crawley (1842-1933) lived in the house from its construction until her death. She was a devoutly religious woman who rarely left the homestead after her husband’s death in 1910.

According to family accounts Elizabeth became increasingly reclusive, spending much of her time in prayer and in strict management of the household. Shortly after her death in 1933, rumors began to circulate of the woman’s presence lingering in the upper rooms.

The Monte Cristo Homestead, the most haunted house in Australia.

The first accounts of her ghost date from the mid-20th century, when new occupants and visitors described seeing a stern female figure in period dress on the staircase and in the bedrooms.

Witnesses stated that they experienced sudden cold spots, lights switching on and off or the sound of footsteps when no one was present. Some visitors claimed to feel an oppressive atmosphere in the rooms Elizabeth frequented most in life.

The mansion became the focus of paranormal investigations in the 1960s, when it had already gained a reputation as a site of repeated apparitions. Teams using audio recorders and electromagnetic sensors documented unexplained voices (EVPs – Electronic voice phenomenon), fluctuations in temperature and visual anomalies.

The ghost is attributed specifically to Elizabeth Crawley because the apparition is described as a woman in clothing from her era and because the manifestations are concentrated in the rooms where she lived and died. Today, the house has become a tourist attraction.

10The most famous ghost in Japan

Japan is a country with a long tradition for ghosts, known as yūrei – faint spirit. Their presence is deeply rooted in both Buddhist and Shinto traditions.

According to Buddhism, a soul that is unable to detach itself from earthly suffering can remain in this plane. According to Shintoism, an improper burial or a violent death can turn a deceased into a ghost. In Japan, the title of the most famous ghost is disputed by Taira no Masakado and Oiwa;

Taira no Masakado was a samurai of the Heian period who led a rebellion against the imperial court in 939. Declaring himself “New Emperor” in the eastern provinces. He challenged Kyoto’s authority until his death in battle in 940, after which his head was cut off for public display.

The head was taken to the capital and displayed as a warning but soon after rumors circulated that the remains had not decayed and that its eyes still glared with rage. According to medieval legends, the head became so filled with anger and spiritual energy that it rose into the air on its own and flew east, landing in what is now Tokyo, where it was buried.

From the 14th century onward, shrines were erected to pacify Masakado’s spirit, without much success since the disasters that occurred in Edo were often attributed to the anger of the beheaded samurai. During the Edo period officials noted misfortunes whenever his grave was disturbed.

In the 20th century, after WW2, the Japanese government attempted to relocate his remains to build offices over the grave. During the works, accidents and sudden deaths of workers occurred again until the project had to be abandoned.

Paranormal researchers in Japan have since catalogued testimonies from office workers near the site who spoke of oppressive atmospheres, sudden illness and unexplained mechanical failures.

On the right, Taira no Masakado attacking an opponent on horseback, painted by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in 1886. On the left, Onoe Kikugoro III as the ghost of Oiwa in the play Yotsuya Kaidan, 1836.

Oiwa was a woman that lived in Edo during the early 17th century, poisoned by her husband, who wanted to marry someone else. She died in agony, her face disfigured by the effects of the poison.

Soon after neighbors in the Yotsuya district claimed they saw her ghost in mirrors and heard her voice in the house where she had lived. By the 18th century her story had been dramatized in kabuki theater. The haunting was already known locally and was treated as a real case of a restless spirit.

Actors and workers who worked on theatrical productions about the history of Oiwa, such as the play “Yotsuya Kaidan” written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, began to recount accidents, illnesses, and deaths.

Out of fear they developed the practice of visiting Oiwa’s shrine in Yotsuya to pray for protection before performances. This custom continues today and Oiwa is the most cited female ghost in Japan.

9The most famous ghost in Spain and South America

Ghost sightings in countries with a Catholic tradition have had less public dissemination because they were repressed by the Catholic Church until relatively recently.

In essence, there have always been rumors and legends about ghosts, such as the “Santa Compaña” in Spain or “La Llorona” in South America but there have been no cases as resoundingly famous as that of Anne Boleyn in England.

According to Catholic doctrine, when someone dies, they go to heaven, purgatory or hell. Therefore, apparitions were nothing more than superstition, nosense, rumor or hearsay, except in the case of saints, the Virgin Mary or divine intervention.

Raimundita – Palacio de Linares. One of the most haunted places in Spain is the Linares Palace (originally called Palacio de Murga, Madrid, built in the 19th century). The palace was built between 1877 and 1900 by José de Murga, first Marquis of Linares, and his wife Raimunda de Osorio.

The Murga Palace (now Linares) photographed from the Plaza de Cibeles in 1884.

After marrying, the marquises discovered they were half-siblings. To avoid public scandal, the couple allegedly decided to kill their daughter, Raimundita and bury her within the palace walls.

Whether true or fictional, the most frequently seen ghost in the palace is that of a young girl. Visitors and staff have reported hearing cries and footsteps within the building.

The premises are one of the favorite spots of paranormal researchers. Since the child’s birth was kept secret, there is no archival evidence that a baby girl called Raimunda or “Raimundita (little Raimunda)” ever existed.

Rufina Cambacérès is one of the most famous real cases, outside of folklore, in South America. Rufina Cambacérès (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1883–1902) was a young woman, daughter of the writer and politician Eugenio Cambacérès and the Italian dancer Luisa Bacichi.

On her 19th birthday in 1902, she collapsed suddenly and was declared dead by three doctors. She was buried in the family mausoleum at La Recoleta Cemetery, the most prestigious burial ground in Buenos Aires.

Rufina Cambacérès and her mausoleum.

Some days later the cemetery caretaker noticed strange and loud noises coming from the family vault. Fearing that grave robbers might have broken in to steal the jewels she had been buried with, the tomb was inspected.

When her coffin was opened, scratches were found on the inside of the lid and on the body of the deceased, leading to the belief that the unfortunate woman had been buried alive during a cataleptic episode. Catalepsy is a condition in which a person may appear dead, showing no pulse or breathing, while actually still alive.

Since then Rufina’s ghost has been seen wandering near her mausoleum. Tour guides, caretakers and visitors have described seeing her pale figure in elegant dress.

In terms of the paranormal, Rufina is the most famous ghost in Argentina and her mausoleum is one of the most visited in South America. The statue on her tomb shows a young woman opening a door, a symbol of death and the far beyond, reinforcing the legend.

8The most famous ghosts in Scotland, Ireland, Wales

In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, it is said that if a building is older than your grandmother, it probably comes with its own ghost. Each country boasts hundreds of catalogued hauntings, with Scotland alone listing over 70 haunted castles and historic sites;

Scotland – The Green Lady of Stirling Castle is considered the most famous ghost in Scotland. The legend dates to the 16th century and is tied to Mary, Queen of Scots. The Green Lady is believed to have been either a lady-in-waiting who died in a fire while trying to save the queen or the daughter of a castle commander who committed suicide after her lover was murdered.

Rumors of a ghost began in the mid‑16th century. Witnesses report seeing a woman in a green dress wandering the halls, often mistaken for a staff member before vanishing. This apparition’s favorite haunting grounds are the queen’s chamber and the Great Hall.

Mary, Queen of Scots and Stirling Castle.

One of the oldest recorded incidents dates to the 1820s, when sentries experienced strange sounds and apparitions in the Governor’s Block area. Later, in the 20th century, soldiers and staff continued to report seeing a woman in a green gown, with a wave of apparitions in the 1940s and 1950s just before fires or other mishaps occurred at the castle.

Ireland – The Dark Lady of Loftus Hall is the most famous ghost in Ireland. The story centers on Anne Tottenham, a young woman who lived at Loftus Hall in County Wexford during the 18th century. According to legend, a mysterious stranger visited the hall during a storm and was later revealed to be the Devil.

Anne fell ill shortly after and was confined to a room where she eventually died. Her ghost reportedly haunts the house, appearing in windows and walking the halls. Sightings increased after renovations in the 20th century.

Loftus Hall used to be completely boarded up and abandoned, its furnishings lost over the years and through various owners, yet its interior emptiness and decay could not disguise its former opulence. After serving as a ghostly tourist attraction, in 2025 the palace began its transformation into a luxury hotel, complete with its own ghost.

Visitors have experienced cold spots, unexplained noises and captured photographs showing a female figure. Loftus Hall is considered Ireland’s most haunted house and has been the subject of multiple investigations and documentaries.

Wales – Gwenllian Ferch Gruffydd of Kidwelly Castle is the most famous ghost in Wales. Gwenllian (1097-1136) was a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth who led troops against Norman invaders in 1136. She was captured and beheaded near Kidwelly Castle.

When the Great Welsh Revolt against the Normans began in 1136, Gwenllian led a raid on the Norman fortress at Kidwelly, while her husband was away in a trip seeking military support. She became the only woman recorded in Wales to lead an army into battle in the Middle Ages. Captured while fighting outside the town of Kidwelly, she was executed at a spot still called Maes Gwenllian (The Field of Gwenllian). Her headless ghost has been seen roaming this field for centuries.

Her ghost has been seen for centuries, especially in the place known as Maes Gwenllian. Witnesses describe a headless female figure roaming the battlefield. The legend is tied to a real historical figure and a documented military conflict.

Kidwelly Castle, one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Wales, is open to the public. As a result, sightings of the ghost are still reported.

7The most famous ghost in the continental Europe – The Green Lady of Brissac

The most famous ghost in continental Europe is the Green Lady of Château de Brissac, located in Brissac-Quincé, Loire Valley, France. The haunting is tied to Charlotte de Brézé (1446-1477), the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII of France and Agnès Sorel. She was married to Jacques de Brézé, the lord of the castle.

In the late 15th century, Charlotte was discovered having an affair with a huntsman. Her husband allegedly murdered both lovers inside the château. Their bodies were hidden within the castle walls. No formal trial or documentation survives, the story has persisted through oral tradition and local records.

The Château de Brissac has been extensively reformed since the 15th century. It comes with 200 rooms spread across 7 floors, 4 bathrooms, a garden of 70 hectares (173 acres) and a ghost in green dress.

The first sightings of Charlotte’s ghost date back to the 19th century, though the legend likely circulated earlier. Witnesses describe a female apparition in green attire with hollow or mutilated facial features.

She is seen in mirrors, heard moaning at night and felt as a cold presence in the tower bedroom. Visitors have have witnessed whispering voices, sudden drafts and sightings near the grand staircase. The current owners, descendants of the Brézé family, acknowledge the legend but do not confirm personal encounters.

The Green Lady is considered the most famous ghost in continental Europe due to the château’s historical prominence, the royal connection and the persistence of eyewitness accounts. The castle is the tallest in France, with over 200 rooms and remains open to the public.

6The most famous ghost in the USA – The Bell Witch

Arguably the most famous ghost in American history is the Bell Witch. In 1817, at a farmhouse near the Red River in northwest Robertson County, Tennessee, close to the present-day town of Adams, a violent and persistent poltergeist began tormenting the Bell family. The haunting lasted until 1821.

The disturbances began with scratching, knocking and rapping sounds inside the Bell home. Furniture was shoved, bedclothes were ripped off and family members were slapped, pinched and taunted.

The entity even spoke, reciting prayers, mimicking voices and quoting Scripture. It sang hymns during prayer meetings and argued theology with visitors.

The Bell family’s 12 year old daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Bell, was a frequent target. She fainted, entered trances and was physically attacked. The spirit expressed hostility toward her engagement, when she turned 15, to a local man named Joshua Gardner.

The Bell Witch farm no longer exists. The Bell Witch Cave near Adams has become a popular tourist site, as later versions of the legend claim the Bell Witch retreated to the cave after leaving the Bell household in 1821.

John Bell, the family patriarch, suffered mysterious physical symptoms and died on December 20, 1820. According to the entity, it had poisoned him with a vial of black liquid.

The following spring, the spirit departed but promised to return in seven years. It allegedly reappeared in 1828 for a brief visit with John Bell Jr.

The ghost identified itself as “Kate, claiming to be the spirit of Kate Batts, a neighbor who believed she had been wronged by John Bell.

The Bell Witch is one the most famous ghosts in the United States because it involves named historical individuals, a documented death and a wide range of physical and auditory phenomena.

The case was recorded in detail by newspaper editor Martin V. Ingram in his 1894 book “An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch”, which remains the primary source.

The haunting attracted national attention and even drew a visit from General Andrew Jackson, who reportedly fled after encountering the spirit.

5Ghosts of the White House

The White House is roamed by at least 11 ghosts. The most famous is Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) 16th President o the United States. His apparition has been seen in the Lincoln Bedroom and Yellow Oval Room.

First Lady Grace Coolidge reported seeing him in 1927, standing at a window gazing toward the Potomac. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands claimed she saw Lincoln in his top hat outside her bedroom door in 1942 and fainted on the spot.

Winston Churchill said Lincoln appeared by the fireplace while he was stepping out of a bath, cigar in hand. Churchill allegedly greeted him with, “Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage”, after which Lincoln vanished.

Abraham Lincoln’s ghost is frequently seen wearing his iconic stovepipe hat. Lincoln often tucked important papers inside the hat’s lining while traveling. It functioned as a portable filing cabinet.

Eleanor Roosevelt never saw Lincoln’s ghost but said she felt his presence and her dog Fala often barked at empty corners of the Lincoln Bedroom. Staff from the Roosevelt administration also experienced sightings. Other ghosts of the White House are;

  • Dolley Madison (1768–1849) First Lady – Appears in the Rose Garden. Reportedly seen by gardeners during the Wilson administration
  • Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) 7th President – Heard stomping and swearing in the Queens’ Bedroom. He was mentioned by Mary Todd Lincoln during séances
  • Abigail Adams (1744–1818) First Lady – Seen carrying laundry in the East Room. Staff report scent of lavender
  • Willie Lincoln (1850–1862) Son of Abraham Lincoln – Seen by White House staff in the 1870s
  • John Tyler (1790–1862) 10th President – Said to haunt the Blue Room, proposing to his second wife
  • William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) 9th President – Haunts the attic. he was the 1st president to die in office
  • David Burnes (1739–1800) Original landowner – Heard or seen in the Yellow Oval Room
  • Unnamed British Soldier (d.1812) War of 1812 casualty – Roams the grounds holding a torch
  • The Thing (1911) an unidentified boy of about 14–15 years old, not tied to any known historical figure – Frightened staff during the Taft administration. He was said to manifest as a light pressure on people’s shoulders

The ghost of Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) 3rd President’s ghost allegedly plays violin in the Yellow Oval Room. Mary Todd Lincoln claimed to hear him during séances held in the Red Room in the 1860s.

Although Jefferson never lived in the White House, staff have attested to hearing faint strains of violin music with no known source.

4The most famous ghost caught on footage – The Hampton Court Palace ghost video

The most famous ghost caught on camera is the “Skeletor” figure filmed at Hampton Court Palace in October 2003. The footage was captured by the building’s closed-circuit security cameras.

The incident occurred over several nights but the most notable clip was recorded on October 19. It shows a tall figure in a long robe opening a heavy metallic fire exit door, which had been mysteriously triggered several times despite being locked from the inside. The video was released to the public by palace officials on December 20, 2003 and quickly circulated through major outlets including BBC, CNN and NBC News.

Hampton Court Palace in Richmond upon Thames, London, is one of England’s most haunted buildings. Built in the early 16th century and once home to King Henry VIII, the palace has always been associated with ghost sightings, especially in the so-called Haunted Gallery.

Top left, screenshot of the Skeletor ghost, published by Historic Royal Palaces in 2003. Below, a vintage postcard of the ghost of Queen Jane Seymour (1508–1537), 3rd wife of Henry VIII, seen as a pale figure near the Silverstick Stairs at Hampton Court Palace. Seymour died on October 24, 1537 from postnatal complications after giving birth to Prince Edward. Her ghost is said to appear annually on October 12, the anniversary of Edward’s birth.

The ghost in the video, although not definitively identified, could be the spirit of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s 5th wife. Born circa 1521 and executed in 1542 for adultery, Catherine was arrested at Hampton Court and ran screaming down the gallery begging for mercy.

Witnesses over the centuries have claimed to hear her cries and seeing a female apparition in Tudor dress. The palace staff confirmed that no one was present when the Skeletor video was captured and that the doors had been locked from the inside.

This is one of the most credible filmed ghosts because the footage was captured by official security equipment installed by Historic Royal Palaces. It was released by a reputable institution and viewed by millions.

3Top undebunked photograph of ghosts

Lord Combermere (photo taken in 1891) – The picture of Lord Combermere is a long-exposure photograph, taken in the library of Combermere Abbey, Cheshire. The image revealed the faint figure of a man sitting in a chair. At the exact time, the 2nd Viscount Combermere (1818–1891), Wellington Henry Stapleton‑Cotton, was being buried 4 miles (6.5km) away, having died after being struck and fatally injured by a horse‑drawn carriage.

The Ghost of Lord Combermere, faintly visible in the chair to the left. This spectral figure appeared in a long exposure photograph taken in 1891 inside the library of Combermere Abbey, Cheshire, at the very hour the 2nd Viscount was being buried miles away.

Freddy Jackson (photo taken in 1919) – The face of the ghost of Frederick “Freddy” Jackson was captured in the RAF squadron photo of Sir Victor Goddard. Freddy’s face can be seen behind one of the airmen. Jackson, a mechanic, had died on April 13, 1918 after accidentally walking into a spinning aircraft propeller. Several members of the squadron identified the mechanic in the photograph.

The face of Freddy Jackson behind one of the airmen on the top row.

The Tulip Staircase Ghost (photo taken in 1966) – The ghost was captured in an image taken by Reverend Ralph Hardy when he was photographing the spiral staircase at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. The image showed a robed figure grasping the banister. No one was present at the time and Kodak technicians later confirmed the negative had not been tampered with.

The Tulip Staircase Ghost, in classic ghost attire. Captured in 1966 by Reverend Ralph Hardy at the Queen’s House in Greenwich, the shrouded figure appears to be ascending the historic spiral staircase.

The Back Seat Ghost In March 1959, Mabel Chinnery visited her mother’s grave in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Eager to try out her new camera, she took several photos of the gravestone. With one frame left, she turned and snapped a picture of her husband in the driver’s seat.

The Back Seat Ghost photograph as published by The Hartford Courant on June 27, 1959. The newspaper is based in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Established in 1764, The Hartford Courant is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States.

When developed, the image revealed the face of her recently deceased mother sitting in the back seat. Photo experts found no evidence of double exposure.

2The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, the most famous photograph of a ghost

The most famous photograph of a ghost in history is the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. It was taken on September 19, 1936 by Captain Hubert C. Provand and his assistant Indre Shira while they were photographing the interior of Raynham Hall for “Country Life” magazine.

As they were setting up a shot of the grand staircase, Shira saw a misty figure descending the steps. He shouted to Provand, who triggered the camera.

The resulting image showed a semi-transparent woman in what appeared to be a brown dress. After being published in the December 1936 issue of “Country Life”, it quickly became the most widely circulated ghost image of the 20th century.

Built in 1619, Raynham Hall is a manor located in Norfolk, England, ancestral home of the Townshend family for over 400 years. It had long been associated with paranormal phenomena including flickering lights, unexplained sounds and sightings of a mysterious woman.

Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, the most famous photograph of a ghost, taken on September 19, 1936.

The original glass plate negative was lost, which has prevented detailed forensic analysis. Both photographers and “Country Life” maintained the image was genuine. No credible evidence of double exposure or manipulation has ever surfaced.

The ghost is believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, born in 1686 and sister to Robert Walpole, Britain’s first prime minister between 1721 and 1742. She married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend and lived at Raynham Hall.

After rumors of infidelity, Dorothy was confined to the house by her husband and died of smallpox in 1726 in Raynham Hall.

Since the early 1800s, multiple witnesses recounted seeing seeing a woman in a brown brocade dress with hollow eyes gliding silently through the halls. She doesn’t acknowledge anyone present, doesn’t gesture and shows no interest in interaction.

The apparition is always described as moving with eerie calm, sometimes carrying a lamp and occasionally pausing to stare directly at observers before vanishing into thin air.

1The most famous ghost in history – Anne Boleyn

The most famous ghost in history, as selected by col2.com is Anne Boleyn (1501–1536), the second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I. She was executed on May 19, 1536 at the Tower of London after being convicted of adultery, incest with her brother George Boleyn and treason.

The charges were fabricated to allow Henry to marry Jane Seymour, a very hazardous endeavor for women. Anne was beheaded by a French swordsman, a rare courtesy granted by a king whose idea of romance involved trial, execution and remarriage.

The earliest and most persistent sightings of Anne’s ghost occur at the Tower of London, where she met her end. In 1864, Captain J. D. Dundas, a British Army officer who was living at the Tower at the time, saw a white figure believed to be Anne gliding through the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where she was buried. Guards have also claimed to witness a headless woman wandering the grounds.

Anne Boleyn and the Tower of London, where she was executed and her ghost is most frequently seen.

Anne’s ghost is also said to appear at Blickling Hall in Norfolk, her birthplace. Each year on May 19, she arrives in a spectral carriage drawn by headless horses, holding her own head in her lap. The driver is her brother George Boleyn, also executed for treason. The apparition vanishes at dawn.

Other locations where the ghost has been seen include Hever Castle, her childhood home, Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle, where she lived during her marriage. At Hampton Court, she appears in a blue dress, walking slowly with a sad expression.

Anne Boleyn is the most famous ghost not only because she was a well-known historical figure, her execution shocked Europe and her daughter became one of the most important monarchs in England’s history. Over the centuries, Anne Boleyn’s ghost has been witnessed by dozens in documented accounts and hundreds more in anecdotal claims.

She is also the only Tudor queen who routinely shows up holding her own head, which is hard to beat in the ghost celebrity rankings.

¿Crees en fantasmas? Do you believe in ghosts?

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