Laing Family Genealogy & History

Jamie Laing is an English presenter and television personality, renowned for his role on the reality TV series Made in Chelsea since 2011 and as the founder of Candy Kittens, a confectionery company specializing in vegan sweets. His career highlights include hosting popular podcasts like "Newly Weds," "Private Parts," and "6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer." Laing has showcased his versatility by acting in shows like Hollyoaks and participating in Strictly Come Dancing, where he reached the finals in the eighteenth series. He is also recognized for his appearances on shows like Celebrity Hunted and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off.

Born in Oxford in 1988, Jamie Laing is the son of Penny and Nicholas Laing, and has two siblings, Alexander and Emily. He is a descendant of Sir Alexander Grant, 1st Baronet, the creator of the McVitie's digestive biscuit, and is related to the Lord Laing of Dunphail. Laing received his education at Summer Fields School and Radley College before attending the University of Leeds.

Sandra Laing, born on 26 November 1955, is a South African woman whose life story gained international recognition through the award-winning film "Skin" and several documentaries. Despite being born to white parents, apartheid-era authorities classified her as "Coloured," leading to her expulsion from an all-white school at age 10. This decision had a profound impact on her life, resulting in legal battles and estrangement from her family. Laing later embraced her identity, attended a Coloured boarding school, and faced numerous challenges in her personal life, including strained family relations and economic struggles.

Sandra Laing was born to Susanna Magrietha "Sannie" Roux and Abraham Laing, Afrikaners in Piet Retief, South Africa. Her paternal grandparents were Alfred Laing from Memel, Germany, and Hester Sophia Goosen, while her maternal grandparents were Adriaan Roux and Susanna Magrietha Veldman. Despite her family's white ancestry, Sandra's African physiognomy led to her being classified as "Coloured," disrupting her life and family dynamics during the apartheid era.

R. D. Laing, born Ronald David Laing, was a prominent Scottish psychiatrist renowned for his work on mental illness, especially psychosis and schizophrenia. His approach challenged conventional psychiatric methods, emphasizing existential philosophy over chemical treatments. Laing was closely linked with the anti-psychiatry movement and New Left politics, gaining public attention for his innovative views on schizophrenia as an adaptation to societal dysfunction. He co-founded the Philadelphia Association and launched a psychiatric community project at Kingsley Hall. His works, including "The Divided Self," have influenced psychotherapy and mental health discourse, making him a significant figure in 20th-century psychiatry.

Born on 7 October 1927 in Glasgow, Laing was the only child of civil engineer David Park MacNair Laing and Amelia Glen Laing (née Kirkwood). He described his parents as demanding and somewhat anti-social, particularly his mother, which colored his views on family dynamics. Despite a complex family environment, Laing excelled academically, studying medicine at the University of Glasgow and later becoming the youngest consultant in the country.

Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing, born January 26, 1948, is a celebrated Canadian rock drummer renowned for his role in the pioneering hard rock band Mountain, alongside guitarist/vocalist Leslie West. Laing contributed to Mountain's classic hits like "Mississippi Queen" and was integral to albums such as "Climbing!" and "Avalanche." Beyond Mountain, he co-founded the blues-rock trio West, Bruce and Laing and worked with notable artists including Bo Diddley and Ian Hunter. His collaborations extend to bands like Cork and ventures like Corky Laing's Mountain, showcasing his enduring influence on rock music.