Most of us think our family history is a straightforward, open book. But what happens when you discover a hidden chapter, one that was intentionally ripped out? An online community posed a deeply personal question, asking people to share the most shocking secret they ever learned about their own family.

The responses that poured in were more than just skeletons in the closet; they were life-altering bombshells. These are stories of secret siblings discovered through DNA tests, grandparents who led double lives, and long-buried crimes that changed everything. We’ve gathered the most unbelievable revelations below. Prepare yourself.

More info: Reddit

• Read More: 33 Family Skeletons That Came Tumbling Out Of The Closet, As Shared By People In This Online Thread

#1

That my father was actually my stepfather who took care of six children who were all my siblings as if he was our own father with ever-loving love unconditional love. So much that we remember even after 25 years of his passing away.

His heart should have never stopped beating. How could it? It’s impossible. How could a heart stop beating when it’s made of gold?

Image credits: Martiallawtheology

#2

Grandpa ran away from home and joined the circus when he was a kid. Ran the shooting gallery. When he was old enough he joined the Air Force and fought in Korea. Was shot down and lived in a foxhole for 3 weeks, barely made it back to base with outdated codes. Came home, was a caddy for a famous golfer, Bill something out of Dallas after hitchhiking from Ohio. Started a family, and opened a bakery making donuts. Still kicking at 94. Takes zero medications, and lives alone now. Still mows his own yard, and plays golf.

Image credits: casper86ed

#3

On my mother’s 70th birthday after quite a few drinks, my mother told my sister and I she had another kid before we were born.

At her 80th birthday party, he was a guest.

Image credits: Even_Tangerine_4201

#4

When I was 12, I found out that the man I called dad all those years wasnt my bio dad. I still call him dad and he will always be my dad.

Image credits: KittyJun

#5

My great grandfather was a widower with 3 children. My great-grandmother agreed to marry him if he would get rid of the 3 children. He gave them to different family members and married my great-grandmother. They had 1 child together,but my great grandfather regretted turning away his children. He divorced his wife and married another woman. She was kind and brought the children back to where they belonged. All this happened around the 1920s.

Image credits: Lost-Meeting-9477

#6

Aunt had a child no one knew about (maybe aside from her parents) back in the 50s. My dad (her little brother) thought she “went away for school for a year” but didn’t connect the dots. 

My cousins and I had dinner with her (the baby, now a grown woman) and she’s absolutely fabulous. .

Image credits: dingdongdahling

#7

My cousin was due to marry this big Shrek looking guy. We had the invite to the wedding and it was about a month away. Suddenly it’s off and nobody is talking about it.

My mum told me at the time that he had hidden gambling debts from her and had planned for them to sell her house to pay them off when they got married.

I found out about 10 years later that although the gambling debts were real, the actual reason was that she found a laptop he had hidden in the attic which had CP on it and he had been sent to jail. (which was apparently tough to make happen because he was a policeman). I can understand why they didn’t tell anyone at the time.

Image credits: Wind_Yer_Neck_In

#8

My biological grandfather beat my grandmother to such an extent that, after many attempts, she was capable of leaving him (early 1960’s). My grandmother told her three daughters they had to choose. If they went with her they would never see their father again. My mother has a sister she hasn’t seen since 1962.

Image credits: eja1982

#9

My grandma did time in prison during the 60,s lol.

Image credits: flann007

#10

My maternal grandmother died after my grandfather infected her with HIV.

He was a pastor. Obviously they lied and they both died of ”cancer”.

Image credits: FknDesmadreALV

#11

My grandpa lived with his MIL, SIL and wife. Wife ran away, he slept with MIL and SIL, and the SIL who had the mental age of about 7 had a baby that they gave away for adoption. She carried a baby doll around for the rest of her life.

Image credits: JustWowinCA

#12

My dads named Gerald Jr. He, my grandpa, and great grandpa go by “jerry.” I was curious as to why he wasn’t Gerald the third, since he’s named Jerry after his father and his grandpa. Turns out, my great grandma named my grandpa “Gerald” thinking that was my great grandpa’s full name. Great grandpa’s name is Gerard, not Gerald.

Image credits: ashimo414141

#13

Aunt had a secret relationship with her sister’s husband for 2 years. Came to light when he got her pregnant. My aunts no longer talk to each other and my aunt who got cheated on blames her divorce on her sister. Her ex-husband claimed he was SAed by my aunt he cheated with and somehow some of the family believed this clown.

Image credits: Subject_Crow3048

#14

My grandfather owned a brothel in Detroit.

Image credits: PedalSteelBill2

#15

One of my uncles shot the other. He practically gave his life savings to the other to purchase land in his name, and instead it was gambled away.

Image credits: LittleBigCookieCat

#16

I grew up with a younger brother and wondered if there was a third child. My mother read books about adopted children finding their birth families. She had graduated a year later than her twin because of rheumatic fever, and I wondered if it had been “romantic fever”.

My dad died in 2006. In 2009, my mother called and said he had another daughter, who had been born and given up for adoption, before my father met my mother. My father told my mother about her when they dated, then swore her to secrecy. My father never, ever, wanted me or my brother to know about our sister.

So yes, I was right. In the happiest of circumstances, we live about 300 km apart. She’s my best friend, and my brother likes her and has accepted her.

Image credits: mermaidpaint

#17

At the age of 80 my dad got a visit from a kid he didn’t know about.

Image credits: Lumpy-Result9949

#18

My mother had affairs with my dad’s best friend & his brother. She married my dads best friends brother then proceeded to have an affair with his nephew – my dads best friends son.
Then she had another affair and left my dad’s best friends brother and moved out of town to be with him & left us all.
She is the most high & mighty ‘my sh!f doesn’t stink’ individual I know.
She’s on her 5th husband now.
She’s exhausting.

Image credits: mykittenfarts

#19

My great great grandma was Native American and literally purchased by my great great grandfather. My grandma thinks this is “so romantic” and it’s “so sweet they fell in love.” Meanwhile, my mom and I are still trying to get her to stop talking about it and romanticizing it.

Image credits: EvilAbed57

#20

Not as shocking as some, but I found out that one of my cousins had a child out of wedlock when she was in highschool. Her parents sent her to a ‘boarding school’ out in California, where she had a little boy that she gave up for adoption. Not sure if it was her choice to do that, but this was the 50s. Plus her parents were well regarded in the community and this would have made them, especially my military uncle, look very bad to have a ‘wayward daughter.’

Interesting follow up: Years later, my uncle went to the trouble of tracking down that child, and found him still in California with a wife and kids, and doing well. He asked his SIL (my mom) and his wife if he should tell my cousin, and it was decided not to. My cousin had gotten married in the meantime to a man who had a couple of kids from his first marriage, and I suspect his wife had never told him about the son she gave up.

Not very exciting, just heartbreaking. I don’t know if the son ever tried to find his bio family.

Image credits: Head_Razzmatazz7174

#21

That my grandfather was part of the reason my uncle shot himself at 13. The day of his funeral, my grandfather laid on his grave and cried in the rain. Because he lost his only boy.

At a later point, my grandmother dared step outside their front door to stop some kids that were bullying my aunt out front. My grandfather came home from work and saw her and beat her. Which led to her losing her pregnancy. Which was in fact a boy. 

Bob died back in 2024 but I found out everything after. .

#22

There may have been some light treason.

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