Muggle-born

Muggle-born is the term given to a witch or wizard who is born to two non-magical parents (Muggles). Their magical abilities do not seem to be significantly affected by their parentage — in fact, many Muggle-borns have been among the most powerful witches and wizards of their time.

The magic of a Muggle-born witch or wizard has been explained by J.K. Rowling. It seems that Muggle-borns had wizarding relatives generations before them, but they were descendants of Squibs who would marry Muggles and soon would no longer know of the wizarding legacy they come from. The magical gene is still carried on through the generations and resurfaces unexpectedly, as it did for Hermione Granger and Lily Evans.

Muggle-born witches and wizards are often derided by those of pure wizarding families ("purebloods"), and are usually given derogatory names such as "Mudblood", a term implying that Muggle-borns are somehow dirty and impure.

The proportion of the wizarding population that is Muggle-born is on the rise as the pure-blood families shrink in size and number. Of the annual Hogwarts intake, 25% are Muggle-born and 25% are pure-bloods.

Known Muggle-Borns

 * Hermione Granger
 * Lily Evans
 * Colin Creevey
 * Dennis Creevey
 * Justin Finch-Fletchley
 * Penelope Clearwater
 * Ted Tonks
 * Dirk Cresswell
 * Mary Cattermole
 * Alderton

People that have called others Mudblood

 * Bellatrix Lestrange
 * Draco Malfoy
 * Lucius Malfoy
 * Lord Voldemort
 * Severus Snape
 * Phineas Nigellus Black
 * Kreacher
 * Hermione Granger, called herself one.

Related articles

 * Blood purity