Britannica Sources used in this answer

How many siblings did Jane Austen have?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Portrait of Jane Austen seated, wearing a light blue dress and bonnet, holding a closed book on her lap with a thoughtful expression. — Jane Austen Jane Austen, a 19th-century engraving likely derived from a portrait by her sister, Cassandra Austen, c. 1810.

Jane Austen had seven siblings, making her one of eight children born to George and Cassandra Austen.12

The children in her family, listed in order of birth, were:

James Austen (1765–1819)
George Austen (1766–1838)
Edward Austen (Knight) (1767–1852)
Henry Austen (1771–1850)
Cassandra Austen (1773–1845)
Francis Austen (1774–1865)
Jane Austen (1775–1817)
Charles Austen (1779–1852)13

Jane was the seventh child and second daughter in this lively family circle, which provided a stimulating environment for her development as a writer. Her closest companion throughout her life was her elder sister, Cassandra.23