They say three only can keep a secret if two of them are dead… but we are not so sure about that. Throughout generations, many families have managed to keep some very dark, bizarre secrets buried. However, the truth will always see the light in the end, or so we would like to believe. Below, we share some of the juiciest and most bizarre family secrets people have undercovered. Grab some popcorn!
“My great-grandfather died on this motorcycle not long after this photo was taken. He was 19.”
This is a perfect example of how knowing the back story of a picture can completely change the way you look at it. If we hadn’t known that this person’s grandfather passed away not long after, we might not found the picture very special, but knowing that this is probably one of the last pictures of him is heartbreaking. He was really young… such a shame.
“Apparently, my parents did know how to party back in the day. This is them on Halloween in 1979.”
Well, this is a pleasant surprise, right? Finding out that your parents used to have fun, dress up and behave as you do know might be a bit shocking for some people. but it’s great to know that your parents were so fun and good-looking, right?
“My dad’s school picture in 1961.”
We are not sure we really want to know what happened to this little kid back in the day. Maybe he just hit his face, who knows? That sure looks like it must have hurt a lot. But we are glad to know that he was able to put on a happy face anyways.
“My parents got into a big fight after my mom saw this photo. My dad actually slept on the couch for a week.”
Yikes. Well, this dad might not be the finest example of good parenting, and he definitely won’t win an award for dad of the year. But we don’t think this was all in good fun, right? The kid doesn’t even look faced by it.
“My grandparents after grandma ran away from her Amish family to be with him.”
This is the type of love story we love to see! No matter, who or where you are, running away and leaving everything behind just for the one you love will always be considered one hell of a brave act. Congrats to grandma over here! And we love to know that they have been together for decades! Love is always worth it.
“I looked up my mom’s old photos and found this from the 90s. I’m no doctor but I think she was involved in something sketchy.”
Who are we to judge, really? Does this guy’s mom’s picture look a bit weird and suspicious? Maybe. Could she potentially be involved in something sketchy? Based on the pile of bills resting on the bed, yes. But that’s not enough evidence to go after someone, so we rather just leave it at that. Sometimes, the less you know, the better.
“My handsome grandpa Sam… after crashing a P38 and spending 2 years in a military hospital as they put him back together.”
Well, that’s a survivor right there. Crashing a P8 airplane, surviving, and spending over two years in a hospital recovering? That’s not something you hear every day! And this man sure did look handsome while doing so.
“My grandpa’s schoolhouse in Texas in the 1930s. He was always embarrassed by this picture because he was too poor to afford shoes.”
Well, this is just heartbreaking. This goes to show how much of an impact childhood trauma can have throughout our entire lives. This person’s grandpa still remembers how embarrassed he felt for not being able to afford shows, so sad and unfair. We just feel like giving him a tight hug.
“My mother and father being young and awesome in Santorini Island, Greece, in 1985. I was conceived there.”
We don’t think life can’t really get much better than this. Embracing the person you are in love with on a beautiful Greek Island? Feeling young, in love, and free? We. Want. That. Also, how funny is it that this person knows this is where they were conceived?! Spicy.
“My mother-in-law and her then-boyfriend back in the late 1970s…It turns out she dated Steve Martin!”
People tend to forget that celebrities weren’t always famous. Steve Martin’s big break came in 1976 after he hosted Saturday Night Live. It seems that before that, in the early 1970s, he actually dated this girl’s mother-in-law, how cool is that?!
“My badass grandad almost lost his life after he wrecked his first motorcycle.”
Ufff, that sure must have hurt. Apparently, this person’s badass grandpa barely made it after wrecking his motorcycle back in the day. The man gashed his chin, chipped 2 teeth, fractured his nose, and got a black eye and a bloody scalp. But not one ounce of regret on his face, no sir.
“My mom and dad at prom. My mom was very poor but didn’t want anyone to know. She actually had to make her dress from leftover fabric.”
This one is bittersweet. Is sad to know that this girl felt embarrassed about not having enough money to afford a brand-new dress. On the flip side, it’s great to know that she was talented enough to make her own dress. Also, how cute is it that these high school sweethearts have been together since the 1970s? That’s the type of story we love to hear.
“My mom got to ‘hang out’ with Marvin Gaye one night…”
Look, whether we like to think about it or not, our parents were once young and wild. We can only hope this person’s mom had the time of her life while hanging out with Marvin Gaye way back when… We are pretty sure that man sure knew how to party. Good for her!
“I found some details of my grandfather’s prison life in the 30s. It turns out he was known as the ‘Vesper Ghost Killer’.”
Yikes, that one hurt. We can’t even imagine how awful it must be to know that a member of your family committed such awful crimes, even if you haven’t even met that person in your lifetime. That sure must hurt. However, we truly believe that a person should never be judged by their family’s actions.
“My mother was a bellydancer, much to my horror as a young kid.”
Let’s make something very clear from the get-go: we believe that every person is entitled to do whatever they please with their body. However, we can also empathize with this poor kid. Seeing your mom dancing in front of that many people sounds like a very embarrassing experience. Apparently, his dad loved it, tho. Understandable.
“Bob Marley actually took this picture of my grandma and grandpa.”
Apparently, in Jamaica in 1973 this person’s Finnish grandma asked a man to take a picture of her and her husband. The guy answered: “You sure you don’t wanna take a picture of me, I’m Bob Marley, haven’t you heard my new single, I Shot The Sheriff”. The couple kindly refused. Apparently, Bob Marley still wasn’t “that big” in Finland in the early seventies…
“In 1976, my mom ran away from home when she was a teenager and joined the circus.”
We can’t think of a better example of teenage rebellion than this. Being a frustrated teenager? Check! Running away from home and leaving everything behind? Check! Joining the circus and traveling all over the country? Check! Having a super-badass-fire-eating-act? Check! This person’s mom sure is the coolest.
“So my mom just decided to tell me she dated John Legend secretly when I was 10?”
This woman kept the fact that she was dating an actual celebrity even from her own children! We honestly don’t know how we would handle dating a celebrity, maybe it’s actually for the better to keep it on the download, right? Privacy is something very important for some people and not everyone is ready for the spotlight. What do you think?
“My parents fell in love while serving in the Air Force during the Romanian Revolution in 1989.”
How badass is that? This person’s parents met while they both were serving in the Rumanian Air Force in the 1980s. When the Rumanian Revolution took place in 1989, the young officers met and fell in love. She is so beautiful and he looks so handsome in that uniform! They could be co-stars in a movie!
“My mom was always very strict with me while I was growing up. Turns out she was a pretty rebel back in the day.”
Sometimes the strictest parents are the ones with the most problematic and rebellious pasts. Who knows, maybe once she got older, this former beautiful punk rock girl turned decided to prevent her child from getting into trouble in the same way she did when she was younger. We are not saying she is right, but we get where she is coming from.
“Apparently, my Mom is way cooler than I thought. She recently busted out this picture of her doing a handstand on her skateboard while riding down A1A in Florida.”
Well Sherry, a.k.a “mom”, sure does sound like a fun girl to hang out with. Anyone who can do a handstand on her skateboard while riding down the A1A deserves all of our praise and attention. Apparently, we are no the only ones who think like that, since this person feels like a whole new side of their mom has been revealed in front of their eyes.
“My great-grandfather actually met Hellen Keller in Japan, in 1937.”
Wait, you are telling us that your great-grandfather met THE Hellen Keller?! How crazy is that? What was she like? How did it happen?! We sure like to know mor about it, please! Details Please!
“Apparently in 1895, my great-great-great-grandfather had a wooden leg and was chased by law enforcement after beating three guys up. They called him ‘the Newest Holy Terror of Fort Pickering'”.
Talking about chaotic energy… this person’s great-great-great grandpa, Moses Groom was a notorious one-legged tough known as the “Holy Terror of Fort Pickering”. On one occasion he beat up three men at the point of a shotgun. Despite his wooden leg, he then ran several hundred yards, rolled down the bluff, and was about to shove off in a rowboat when he was finally captured.
‘My grandmother in 1965. She died in a car accident soon after the picture was taken.”
Sadly, this person’s grandmother passed away in a car accident in 1965. Understandably, her daughter has a very hard time talking about it, however, it’s great to know that all the family still keeps her in their memories, as painful as it might be.
“My aunty Mary and her ‘friend’ Ruth in 1910.”
They seem to be such good friends… right? Look, we don’t know the nature of the relationship between Mary and Ruth, and we don’t want to make any assumptions either, but from the tenderness of this picture, you can tell that they sure did love each other very much back in the day. We just hope they were able to be happy together, even if they had to keep a low profile.
“I only found out I had a sister a few months ago. Here is a photo of me meeting her for the first time after 31 years separated by adoption.”
Apparently, this man’s sister was given up for adoption two years before he was born, and unfortunately, they spent more than 31 years apart before they could meet. They face-timed for over nine months until they were finally able to meet in person. How crazy is that?!
“My 91-year-old grandma 85 years ago as a model for a bread company.”
How cute is that?! This person’s grandma sure looked adorable while eating her sandwich. Those beautiful eyes! And that adorable curls, she is the picture-perfect model for this type of ad, don’t you think?
“My grandma turned 89 yesterday. She always swore to me that she had never drunk alcohol. This is her in 1967 with a beer in her hand.”
We might think we know everything there is to know about our loved ones. However, you can never fully know anyone. Apparently, this person hadn’t seen their grandma drink in 42 years of life. However, it seems that grandma did know how to have fun back in the sixties. Here she is having a beer in 1967.
“Not many people know, but my parents were in a cult. They left when I was still young but they used to harass our family a lot when I was growing up.”
This one is very rough. Apparently, this person’s parents were in a cult in the 1980s, with their dad being a pretty high-ranking guy. They left when they were still young but had to deal with the cult’s harassing them for decades. Just awful stuff, we can not imagine what it must be like to grow up in under this kind of stress.
“My grandpa on his motorcycle in 1946. That was actually the day he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force.”
How crazy it is that knowing the back story of a picture can change your entire perspective of it? At first glance, this picture just shows a handsome man riding his bike. However, knowing that this was actually the day that this man changed the course of his life in 1946 gives the image a whole new meaning. Crazy.
“My mom was a vet while I was growing up and for a short period, we actually had a pet lion.”
That’s definitely something you don’t get to see every day. Apparently, this man’s mom was a veterinarian in the 1950s and for a short while there, the family actually owned a lion cub. However, they had to keep the family mascot a secret to prevent neighbors from finding out. Crazy, right?
“I was today years old when I found out that my Great Grandfather was a part of the Mexican Revolution! Circa 1910s.”
The Mexican Revolution started in 1910 when liberals and intellectuals began to challenge the regime of dictator Porfirio Díaz, who had been in power for 34 years, violating the principles and ideals of the Mexican Constitution of 1857. It must be really cool to know that one of your ancestors was part of such a significant event, right?!
“Not many people know this, but my dad was in a submarine mission in 1983. He is the one diving off the starboard fin of the submarine.”
Not many people can say they have jumped from a submarine and into the great Pacific Ocean. However, this person’s dad definitely can! We are not sure why he would want to keep it a secret though… Maybe he was in some type of secret mission? Who knows… the 1980s were a weird time.
“My mom in Moscow, in 1975. From all the stories she’s told me about her travels, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a spy.”
We are not sure if this person’s mom was in fact a spy, but she definitely had the outfit and the looks that pull it off! What an amazing coat, my god! And that gorgeous hair is to die for! She is giving very strong Charlie’s Angels vibes.
“My grandpa met Elvis in the Army in West Germany.”
That’s history right there! It’s amazing to find pictures of famous celebrities from way back when they might not be so famous. And look at this person’s grandpa’s face, he is so happy and excited he can’t even hide it. We would be as well if we had ever met “The King” in person.
“I always thought my grandparents had a happy marriage, but looking at this family portrait I’m not so sure.”
Look, it’s easy to idealize the past. Simpler times, when you married the love of your life right after high school to live happily ever after. However, having nine kids can definitely take a toll on anyone, so we really can’t blame this person’s grandpa for looking happy in the family portrait. Maybe he was just having an off day, who knows…
“Apparently, my grandfather was in one of these cool ships. He was in the Yugoslav Royal Navy.”
This person’s handsome grandpa was on compulsory military service at the Yugoslav Royal Navy in the 1950s and he was on board that super cool ship! It’s crazy to think how our parents look so strong and handsome and some point in life, right?
“Apparently, my grandpa was a boxer back in the day. Here is a poster advertising a boxing match on USS Canberra between my Grandpa and Shamus Grady in 1944.”
How cool is that? Finding out your grandfather was a boxer in the 1940s much be a very cool experience. We are sure George “Shane” Korey must have been a hell of a fighter back in the day. We wonder who ended up winning that day. It’s a shame that we will actually never know.
“My sister used to date Usher in high school and she is just now telling me.”
Oh my god, this is so cute! Not many people get to say that they actually dated a celebrity in high school. And not just any celebrity, Usher, nonetheless. We really don’t get why Usher’s ex-sister-in-law wasn’t aware of her sister dating him, but we guess she probably had good reason to keep it on the low, who knows…
“My grandma just showed me this picture from 1916. Apparently, the woman on the right is my great-great-grandmother, accompanying her 102-year-old friend to vote for the first time ever.”
Finding out that one of your family members used to be a suffragette must be a very pleasant surprise, right? This photo is just so, so deeply touching. Seeing a lady voting for the first time at 102 years old is definitely a humbling experience. It really makes us reflect on how far we’ve come as a society, and on how we should never take anything for granted.
“I had to remove the devil (my grandma) from my grandpa’s shoulders. She was such an evil woman.”
Yikes. When most of us think of our grandma we think of a lovely, picture-perfect, old lady with nothing but love and goodness in her heart. Sadly, that’s not the case for everyone. We don’t know what this person’s grandma did, but it sure sounds like she was up to no good. We are glad to know that at least they love their grandpa very much. A win is a win.
“My grandma recently went into a nursing home. I’ve always known she was a hoarder but this shocked me. We had to have the state step in because she refused to leave her house.”
This is just heartbreaking. Knowing that this person’s grandma had to live in these conditions is just awful. The thought of her not being able to ask for her family’s help is also very haunting. We can only imagine how her entire family must have felt when they were faced with this hard truth. So, so sad.
“My great-great-grandmother in 1930. She is the one throwing the punch.”
Well, talk about being ahead of your time. We didn’t even know woman’s boxing was a thing back in the 1930s! Apparently, it was, and this person’s great-great-grandmother was one hell of a boxer, at least that’s what the picture makes it look like. She sure must have been a tough cookie.
“For some reason, my mom never told me she went to school with Adam Sandler. I only found out today, when she showed me her yearbook.”
How cool is that?! Apparently, Adam Sandler was voted “Most popular” back in school, which is now surprising now, considering how funny and famous he turned out to be in the end. Also, how cool is it that this person’s mom got to share her school years with him?! That’s not something you hear every day.
“I recently discovered that my great-grandfather totally bounced with a new family. That’s why he’s not in this picture.”
Never underestimate how long a family secret can be kept for. This man only found out decades later that his grandfather actually had another family. Apparently, It took him going down the “Ancestry rabbit hole” to undercover this family scandal. Crazy, right?! That’s the power of the internet right there.
“My great granpa sauntering with Eliot Ness. He had a gambling problem and likely snitched to get protection.”
Yikes. This man’s great-grandfather sure must have been in a dire situation if he thought that snitching to the police was his best alternative. But how cool is it that he got to have a picture standing next to no other but Eliot Ness? That’s history right there.
“Apparently, my grandparents were amazing water skiers back in the day.”
This person recently discovered that his grandfather was a Navy recovery diver in the Korean War. He went in after downed pilots and he was incredible in (and on) the water. In the 60s, he did waterski shows for visiting dignitaries. The lady in this picture is their grandmother on his shoulders.
“My favorite picture of my grandparents. My grandfather had just got back from war. They eloped that day.”
Aw, how romantic! Imagine: you finally get to be with the person you love after months, maybe years, of being apart! You finally get to hold them, kiss them, and apparently, also marry them on that same day. Who can really blame them? People do crazy things when they are in love, especially being so young.
“My dad and his brother-in-law. Dad wasn’t a gangster. My uncle, however…”
Everyone is entitled to a little privacy, we know that. However, we would be lying if we said that we aren’t a little curious and wouldn’t like to hear more about the uncle who might or might not have been a gangster. What we know for sure is that both of them do look very smooth.
“My parents actually met in a refugee camp. The picture on the left is when they first met in 1983. Years later they were able to move to Montreal, Canada. “
My parents are originally from Cambodia. In the 1980s, they were sent to a refugee camp called Khao-I-Dang on the Thai-Cambodia border. The picture on the left is when they first met at the refugee camp in 1983. Years later they were able to move to Montreal, Canada.
“Apparently, my great-grandfather was a badass! He fought in the Civil War, was an IRS Agent who hunted moonshiners, and was the son of pioneers.”
Apparently, this guy’s Grandmother didn’t get along with her inlaws and banished all pictures, mementos, and mention of them. That’s why it took so long for this guy to find out that his great-grandfather was, in fact, a badass who fought both in the Civil War and later against moonshiners. How cool is that?!
“I did a lot of searching through Ancestry during the last two years and I found this article about my paternal great-grandfather.”
Okay, we have SO many questions! Was this person’s great-grandpa the victim or the criminal of this heinous crime?! How come nobody noticed this sooner?! Did they ever catch the person who did this? The people need to know! Don’t leave us hanging like this! We might start our own investigation if we don’t get answers soon…
“Not many people know this, but my grandpa is a Holocaust survivor. He had never met anyone with the same tattoo as him until he attended a reunion in Germany today.”
That’s a powerful story. Every family deals with trauma differently, so it makes sense that some delicate issues are not discussed among family members, and some memories can be very painful. Having said that. is great to hear that this person’s Granpa is willing to be more open about his story now. Good for him.
“My dad has 6 fingers on each hand.”
Well, that’s not something you see every day! This is the first we’ve heard of someone having six fingers on each hand. We are not sure if this one really qualifies as a secret, but the fact itself was so striking to us that we HAD to talk about it. Also, this man looks pretty proud of his hands. According to his son “He uses two fingers to flip someone off”.
“My grandpa in 1967. He was a Hells Angel.”
Even if you know nothing about motorcycles, you’ve probably heard about the Hell’s Angels at some point. The idea of a bunch of strong, sometimes scary-looking men riding their motorcycles together sure does sound very intimidating. However, this person’s grandpa looks nice enough, right?
“I visited my grandma today and found this picture of my grandpa with his ‘best friend’ in 1935… I’m a little confused by the definition of ‘friend’.”
How is going to tell her…? Look, we don’t want to assume anything, especially when it comes to other people’s private lives… However, this person’s grandpa and his best friend sure do look in love. What was grandma’s answer? “It was a simpler time then”.
“I asked my dad to sum up his college days. He sent me this picture. He is always very put together, I definitely wasn’t expecting this.”
This makes us question how much we really know about the people in our lives. You never really know everything about a person, do you? Not even the ones closest to you. It seems that this person’s very-put-together-dad had some fun during his college years. Good for him! You only live once, right?
“My dad (left) holding me (right). No one knows that I’m actually black.”
Damn, genetics is just so weird. Although this man’s dad is clearly black you wouldn’t think so by looking at him. It must be crazy to walk around life looking like something you actually aren’t and having to disclose this information over and over again. Sounds exhausting. Despite having different skin colors, we do see some sort of family resemblance, what do you think?
“It turns out my grandfather was in The Luftwaffe…That moment you wish a family secret had stayed that way.”
Knowing that your grandfather was part of, the “Luftwaffe”, the aerial-warfare branch of the German Wehrmacht before and during World War II, has to be hard for every decent person out there. But you know what? We actually believe that you shouldn’t let your family or the place you come from define you. At the end of the day, it’s your actions that define who you are, and nobody else’s.