At the center of the Yellowstone universe is the Dutton family. Owners of the largest ranch in Montana and committed to family, the Dutton clan feels like a more modern version of the Targaryen family from House of the Dragon. Yellowstone’s spin-offs, 1883 and 1923, both offer a more detailed look into the current seven generations of the Dutton family.
While Yellowstone has primarily centered on John Dutton III, the spin-offs have shown how the family came into power. However, the family tree is unclear regarding how the 1883 and 1923 Dutton characters are related to John III. Harrison Ford’s character, who is at the center of 1923, is not a direct ancestor of Kevin Costner’s character, muddying the direct lineage established with Tim McGraw’s James Dutton in 1883. Two more prequels set in the 1940s and the 1960s will serve as more connective tissue to the modern-day Dutton’s.
1883
James and Margaret Dutton
1883 introduces the patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton Family in James (Tim Mcgraw) and Margaret (Faith Hill). Both were involved in the Civil War on the Confederate side, with the family having origins in Tennessee. The couple had three kids; Elsa, John, and Spencer. The family originally had plans to relocate to Oregon by way of the Oregon trail until Elsa’s death at the end of 1883 season 1.
Elsa Dutton
Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) is the eldest child of James and Margaret. Elsa also serves as the narrator of 1883 and among its central characters. She was a skilled horseback rider, as well as a cowgirl. She fell in love with a cowboy named Ennis and sought to wed him before he was killed. She later found another lover named Sam, who was a Comanche warrior. They planned to spend their life together after the Dutton family settled, but Elsa succumbed to wounds she received from an arrow attack.
John Dutton Sr.
John Dutton Sr. (James Badge Dale) is the namesake of Yellowstone’s John Dutton and is the second child of James and Margaret. He is just a child in 1883, but is a grown man by the events of 1923. John, along with his parents, survives the treacherous route the Dutton family takes in order to settle in Montana eventually. However, John’s story doesn’t have a happy ending, as he is killed early on in 1923. His death causes some confusion with the Dutton family tree, as he is only shown to have one kid, Jack, with his wife Emma, calling into question who John Dutton III’s father is.
Claire Dutton
Claire Dutton (Dawn Olivieri) was the sister of James Dutton and the aunt of Elsa, John, and Spencer. Claire initially started on the voyage out west with her brother. She passed away not far into the trip, as she died by suicide after bandits killed her daughter.
1923
Jacob and Cara Dutton
Portrayed by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, Jacob and Cara are the patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton family at the start of the 1923 spin-off. The two oversee the ranch after the deaths of James and Margaret. They also raise their surviving kids John Sr, and Spencer, as their own, along with John’s son Jack. They have no biological children of their own and are not in the direct lineage of the current Dutton clan.
Jack Dutton
Jack Dutton is the only currently revealed son of John Sr and his wife, Emma. Jack works on the ranch under the guidance of his great-uncle Jacob. One of the series’ mysteries is whether Jack is the same John II that is the father of Kevin Costner’s John III. The true nature of John III’s father will likely be revealed in the 1940s and 60s spin-offs currently planned.
Spencer Dutton
Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) is the youngest child of James and Margaret, having not yet been born during the 1883 timeline. In 1923, Spencer is in Africa after serving in World War I. He is currently on the way to Montana after being sent for by his aunt Cara. Spencer will likely assume a leadership role with the declining health of Jacob and the injuries to his nephew, Jack.
Yellowstone
John Dutton III
John (Kevin Costner) is the current patriarch of the Dutton family and Yellowstone’s main character. Not only is he the head of the ranch, but he has also become the governor of Montana, surpassing the exploits of his predecessors. With his late wife, Evelyn, he is the father of three biological children, Lee, Beth, and Kayce, and an adopted son, Jamie.
Lee Dutton
Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) is the eldest child of John Dutton III and the first member of the 6th generation of the seven generations of the Dutton family. Lee was tragically killed in Yellowstone season 1 after a confrontation with Broken Rock Reservation members.
Beth Dutton
Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) is John Dutton III’s second child and only daughter. Beth is Rip Wheeler’s wife, the ranch’s current manager. She is also a shrewd businesswoman and protector of the family. Beth has a strong rivalry with her adopted brother, Jamie.
Jamie Dutton
Jamie Dutton Sr. (Wes Bentley) is a complicated family member. Jamie is the adopted son of John and Evelyn, and the biological son of Garrett Randall, who allegedly killed his birth mother. Jamie eventually kills his biological father and has an estranged relationship with John after being disinherited. This has led to an intense rivalry between Jamie and Beth. Jamie has a son with his ex-campaign manager Christina named Jamie Jr.
Kayce Dutton
Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) is the youngest child of John and Evelyn. Kayce is the new Montana Livestock Commissioner, like his father was before him. He initially had an estranged relationship with his father because he married Monica, a woman from the Broken Rock Reservation. They have since reconciled due to John wanting to be close to his grandson, Tate. Along with Tate, Kayce had another son, John IV, who died in childbirth.
Tate Dutton
Tate is the youngest biological descendant of the Dutton family. Tate is bi-racial, culminating over a century of unease between the Native Americans and the Dutton clan. It is unknown how long the Yellowstone series will last, but Tate taking over the Yellowstone Ranch would be culturally significant. Tate is currently following in the family’s footsteps and learning how to be a cowboy.