Much research in biological sciences involves significant samples of materials readily subject to repeat examination and investigation. As the field of paleoanthropology emerged, it was different: reliant on a small sample (or unique specimens) of individual fossil hominin finds. Their description was undertaken by a limited number of specialists whose interpretation was highly influential. One result has been the enthusiasm to name newly studied finds as a new species, or even a new genus, many of which in time would be merged with others. We have listed 104 different hominin names for a genus or species introduced since 1864. The inevitable subjectivity of these research scientists reflected their disciplinary background and training, their national and geographical context, as well as the approaches, prejudices and expectations of the period in which they were active, and their individual personalities. Some were influential mentors and developed their own school of followers. Here, we consider one genealogy or “phylogeny” of individuals active in the narratives of hominin evolution, working across current or former areas of Britain or its dominions: from Grafton Elliot Smith (1871–1937), Davidson Black (1884–1934), Joseph Shellshear (1885–1958), Raymond Dart (1893–1988), Phillip Tobias (1925–2012) to Lee Berger (1965–).