This is a list of historical and living Albanians (ethnic Albanians or people of full and partial Albanian ancestry) who are famous or notable, sorted by occupation and alphabetically.

Religious

Priests

• Dhimitër Frangu (1443 – 1525), friar and scholar of a noble family, treasurer and councilor of Giorgio Castriota, in 1480 wrote the first biography, in Latin, on the life of Skanderbeg, from which all later writers drew.
• Father Marin Barleti (1450 – 1513), Catholic ecclesiastic and writer, author of the life of Scanderbeg.
• Gjon Buzuku (1499 – 1577), bishop Catholic, author of the oldest known document in Albanian: a translation of the Roman Missal, "Meshari" (1555).
• Pjetër Budi (1565 – 1622), Catholic priest and writer, published three books in Albanian and I leave several poems in his native language.
• Papa Luca Matranga (1567 – 1619), priest and scholar, author of the first literary expression arbëresh of the Albanians in diaspora.
• Frang Bardhi (1606 – 1644), Catholic bishop, lexicographer, folklorist and ethnographer, author of the first dictionary of the Albanian language known so far.
• Pjetër Bogdani (1630 – 1689), Catholic bishop and writer, author of the first Albanian work in prose.
• Papa Nikollë Filja (1691 – 1769), priest and writer.
• Nicoleta Kenini (2005-), writer and priest
• Mons. Giuseppe Crispi (1781 – 1859), one of the major figures of the Arbëresh community of Sicily of that era, wrote a number of works on the Albanian language.
• Papa Francesco Antonio Santori (1819 – 1894), writer, poet and playwright.
• Nikoll Kaçorri (1862 – 1917), Catholic religious, politician and patriot, deputy prime minister with Ismail Qemali, in the first Albanian government (1912–1913).
• Gjergj Fishta (1871 – 1940), Franciscan friar, poet, politician and translator.
• Mons. Theofan Stilian Noli (1882 – 1965), bishop and intellectual, writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, founder of the Orthodox Church of Albania.
• Papa Marco La Piana (1883 – 1958), priest and scholar, gave his contribute through his studies on Albanian language.
• Anton Harapi (1888 – 1946), Franciscan friar, teacher, writer and politician.
• Zef Valentini (1900 – 1979), Italian Jesuit, albanologist, byzantinist and historian, naturalized Albanian.
• Cyril of Bulgaria (1901 – 1971), the first Patriarch of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, born of an Albanian family.
• Father Zef Pllumi (1924 – 2007), Franciscan priest and writer, author of the memoirs of Christian religious persecution in Albania.
• Mons. Ercole Lupinacci (1933 – 2016), Bishop of Italo-Albanian Catholic Eparchies of Piana degli Albanesi and Lungro.
• Mons. Sotir Ferrara (1937 – 2017), the Bishop of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, a diocese of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church in Sicily, Italy.
• Papa Eleuterio Francesco Fortino (1938 – 2010), priest of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church, Archimandrite in the Eparchy of Lungro in Calabria, served as the Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and albanolog.
• Arch. Rrok Kola Mirdita (1939 – 2015), Catholic archbishop.
• Mons. Angelo Massafra (born 1949), metropolitan archbishop of Scutari-Pult and president of the Albanian Episcopal Conference.
• Mons. Donato Oliverio (born 1956), Bishop of the Eparchy of Lungro.
• Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Islamic scholar (specialising in the field of Hadith sciences) and Muslim revivalist in the 20th century. He is well known for his anti-extremist leanings all over the Muslim world.

Martyrs

• Papa Kristo Negovani (1875 – 1905), religious leader and writer for the Albanian cause.
• Father Daniel Dajani (1906 – 1946), Jesuit religious and martyr, of the Catholic Church, killed by the regime during the communist dictatorship in Albania.

Pope

• Pope Clement XI (1649 – 1721), Pope of the Catholic Church.

Saints and blessed

• Saint Papa Josif Papamihali (1912 – 1948), priest of Byzantine rite, formed in the Albanian communities of Italy, martyr of the Albanian Greek-Catholic Church, arrested, sentenced to forced labor, and killed during the communist dictatorship in Albania.
• Saint Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997), Roman Catholic religious and missionary.
• Saint Astius (2nd century AD), bishop of Dyrrhachium, martyr and saint venerated by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
• Saint Pelinus (c. 620 – 5 December 662), native of Dyrrhachium and later Bishop of Brindisi in Italy.
• Saint Angelina of Serbia (1440–1520), the Albanian Despotess consort of Serbian Despot Stefan Branković (r. 1458–1459), and a daughter of Albanian nobleman Gjergj Arianiti. She was proclaimed a saint and venerated as such by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
• Saint John Koukouzelis (1300–c. 1350) recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• Saints Eleutherius and Antia venerated as Christian saints and martyrs in Greece and Albania by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Literature

Writers

A–G

H–L

M–S

T–Z

Poets

Screenwriters

Journalists

Folklorists

Translators

Academic sciences

Scientists

• Teki Biçoku (1926–2009)  – geologist; former member and president of the Academy of Sciences of Albania
• Gjon Gazulli (1400–1465) – astronomer
• Pandi Geço – geographer
• Shtjefën Gjeçovi (1874–1929)  – ethnographer
• Sotir Kuneshka – physicist
• Rexhep Meidani  – physicist
• Laura Mersini-Houghton  – Albanian-American cosmologist and theoretical physicist; associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; proponent of the multiverse hypothesis which holds that our universe is one of many
• Betim Muço – seismologist
• Ferid Murad (1936–2023)  – physician and pharmacologist; co-winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Shefqet Pllana (1918–1994) – ethnographer
• Niko Qafzezi (1914–1998)  – agronomist and pedagogue
• Nijazi Ramadani (born 1964)  – ethnographer
• Andrea Shundi (born 1934) – agronomist of the 20th and 21st century
• Xhezair Teliti  – mathematician

Philosophers

Social scientists

• Gëzim Alpion  – academic, political analyst, writer, playwright, and civil society activist
• Albert Doja (born 1957)  – social anthropologist, member of the National Albanian Academy of Sciences and University Professor of Anthropology at the University of Lille, France.

Historians

Economists

Publishers

Scholars and linguists

Rulers

• Skanderbeg (1405–1468) – 15th-century Albanian lord; "Hero of Christianism"; initiated and organized the League of Lezhë, which proclaimed him Chief of the League of the Albanian people

Politicians and diplomats

• Ramiz Alia (1925-2011)
• Taulant Balla (born 1977)
• Sali Berisha (born 1944)
• Enver Hoxha (1908-1985)
• Besiana Kadare (born 1973)
• Ravesa Lleshi (born 1976)
• Ilir Meta (born 1969)
• Fatos Nano (born 1952)
• Agim Nesho (born 1956)
• Ismail Qemali (1844-1919)
• Edi Rama (born 1964)
• Ibrahim Rugova (1944-2006)
• Mehmet Shehu (1913-1981)
• Hashim Thaçi (born 1968)
• Esad Toptani (died 1920)
• Ahmet Zogu (1895-1961)

Visual arts

Multimedia artists

• Ilia Xhokaxhi (1948–2007)  – scenographer
• Saimir Strati (born 1966)  – multi-media artist, achieved six Guinness World Records
• Anri Sala (born 1974) – contemporary artist
• Burim Myftiu (born 1961) – contemporary photographer

Architects

Painters

Cartoonists and illustrators

• Ali Dino (1889–1938)  – cartoonist
• Shyqri Nimani (1941–2023)  – graphic designer
• Fahri Axhanela  – cartoonist
• Agim Sulaj (born 1960)  – illustrator and cartoonist

Sculptors

Photographers

Performing arts

Actors and actresses

Comedians and satirists

• Spiro Çomora (1918–1973)
• Besim Dina (born 1971)
• Zyrafete Gashi (1955–2013)

Film and television directors

Dancers and choreographers

Models and beauty pageant participants

Television personalities

Music

Composers

Pianists

• Ilir Bajri (born 1969)
• Mariela Cingo (born 1978)
• Lola Gjoka(1910–1985)
• Paul Leka (1943–2011)

Violinists

• Shkëlzen Doli (born 1971)

Guitarists

• Dren Abazi (born 1985)
• D.J. Ashba (born1972)

• Petrit Çeku (born 1985)
• Faton Macula (born 1972)
• Bledar Sejko (born 1972)

Singers

Tenors and sopranos

Sports

Football players

• Ansi Agolli (born 1982)
• Kosovare Asllani (born 1989)
• Fatmire Bajramaj (born 1988)
• Migjen Basha (born 1987)
• Valon Behrami (born 1985)
• Besart Berisha (born 1985)
• Erjon Bogdani (born 1977)
• Loro Boriçi (1922–1984)
• Lorik Cana (born 1983)
• Sulejman Demollari (born 1964)
• Mehmet Durakovic (born 1965)
• Blerim Džemaili (born 1986)
• Elseid Hysaj (born 1994)
• Andi Lila (born 1986)
• Cyme Lulaj (born 1989
• Admir Mehmedi (born 1991)
• Perlat Musta (born 1958)
• Shkodran Mustafi (born 1992)
• Panajot Pano (1939–2010)
• Altin Rraklli (born 1970)
• Armando Sadiku (born 1991)
• Hamdi Salihi (born 1984)
• Artim Shaqiri (born 1973)
• Xherdan Shaqiri (born 1991)
• Ervin Skela (born 1976)
• Thomas Strakosha (born 1995)
• Igli Tare (born 1973)
• Rudi Vata (born 1969)
• Qemal Vogli (1929–2004)
• Granit Xhaka (born 1992)
• Taulant Xhaka (born 1992) - captain the Switzerland national team.

Martial artists

• Enver Idrizi – Karate World Champion
• Majlinda Kelmendi – Judo World and Olympic Champion (2017)
• Xhavit Bajrami – boxer and kickboxer
• Elis Guri – wrestler
• Besim Kabashi – kickboxer
• Majlinda Kelmendi – judoka
• Luan Krasniqi – boxer
• Ilir Latifi – MMA fighter
• Azem Maksutaj – kickboxer
• Sahit Prizreni – wrestler
• Kreshnik Qato – boxer
• Shaban Sejdiu – wrestler
• Nuri Seferi – boxer
• Naim Terbunja – boxer
• Shaban Tërstena – wrestler
• Valdrin Vatnikaj – kickboxer
• Gzim Selmani  – MMA fighter and pro wrestler

Other sports

• Ermal Kuqo (born 1980) – basketball player for the Turkish team Anadolu Efes
• Aldo Zadrima (born 1948) – former national chess champion
• Erjon Tola (born 1986) – Olympic skier
• Frank Leskaj (born 1971) – Olympic swimmer
• Donald Suxho (born 1976) – US Olympic team volleyball player
• Adem Yze (born 1977) – Australian rules footballer
• Emerson Jeka (born 2001) - Australian rules footballer
• Harley Reid (born 2005) - Australian rules footballer -
• Tie Domi (born 1969) – ice hockey player
• Molly Qerim (born 1984) – sports anchor and moderator for ESPN's First Take.
• Rrapush Papoj (born 1965) – cyclist, coach

Ottoman era Albanians

Others

See also

Native communities

• Arbanasi
• Arbëreshë people
• Arvanites
• Cham Albanians
• Albanians in Kosovo
• Albanians in Montenegro
• Albanians in North Macedonia

References