If one were to ask people who the Duggars are, most would answer with the basics: They're a big family, they became famous on reality show 19 Kids and Counting, they're known for their super conservative beliefs, and boy, they sure can stir up a controversy. While this is all true, there are other Duggar tidbits that just might surprise people. There are many fun facts about the Duggar family that are out there, including the "oh my gosh, I didn't know" trivia that make this infamous family extremely relatable or a bit strange — depending on how you look at it, of course.
We know that some people have been following the Duggars since their first episode on TLC. They know all the Duggar facts, have seen all the highs and lows of their lives, and could ace any Duggars trivia … or could they? Sure, fans might believe they know everything about the Duggars, but we think we might have some facts that will surprise even the most die-hard devotees. We found some fascinating Duggar facts and compiled our favorites to share. So take a look at them and be prepared for the next time someone tries a Duggars trivia challenge.
J Names Weren't Intentional
Believe it or not, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar didn't intend to give all their kids J names. As the Duggars revealed on their family blog, Jim Bob and Michelle "continued the tradition so that none of their children would feel left out."
Makes sense.
Anna Fell in Love With Josh on a Reality Show
My, how things come full circle. Anna once revealed she fell for Josh "right away" after seeing him on 14 Children & Pregnant Again!
"As my family watched the video, I noticed how Joshua, then age 16, shared the importance of guarding his heart and waiting for someone who would really love him and wasn't going to just get carried away with their emotions," Anna once wrote on the couple's website. "I was so excited to see another family who was brought up so similar to the way our parents were training us, but never would I have dreamed what God had in store!"
Little did they know what the future held for them then (including marriage and lots of babies) — and there's definitely no way they could have dreamed a prison sentence would be in store for Josh, either. Yikes!
Jana Is a Real-Life Dr. Dolittle
Should you ever need someone to help deliver an animal for you, Jana is your gal. "Jana has delivered a calf before," her twin, John-David, once revealed during a TLC interview. "She did the full thing, you know, like, pull up in there — [using] olive oil — get the thing out."
Trips to the Beach Are No-Nos
Don't expect to see any of the Duggar kids catching rays and learning how to surf anytime soon. Matriarch Michelle once revealed that trips to the beach are banned, as "it's just too hard for the guys to try and keep their eyes averted."
Welp, it looks like times have changed — or certain Duggar siblings got a hall pass — as some of the Duggar gents have been photographed on a beach over the last several years, wearing shorts no less!
Jessa Is a 'Laundry Master'
According to People, Jessa has completed more than 5,000 loads of laundry, which is enough to make you say holy washer and dryer! That's a lot of laundry, though it's not hard to imagine considering Jessa grew up part of a rather large family and now has a growing family of her own.
Jessa & Michelle Went Skydiving
Talk about living on the wild side! Who else remembers Michelle and Jessa going skydiving in honor of Jessa's 18th birthday? People were shocked to see this mommy-daughter duo take on such a thrilling adventure, but they had a blast.
Jim Bob Has Some Serious Football Moves
Whoa — Interception!! Watching Jim Bob pick off son-in-law Ben Seewald during a football game before Jessa and Ben's wedding is everything.
"I still think I can whip up on these young ones," Jim Bob told 19 Kids & Counting cameras. "When I picked off Ben's pass, I could tell this is a sign of things to come."
If only the footage of this moment still existed on the internet!
Michelle & Jim Bob Recorded Their Wedding on a Cassette Tape
Talk about keeping it old school! In a TLC.com blog post, Michelle once revealed that her wedding day was recorded on a cassette tape instead of video — making us wonder if people gather around a boombox to relive their precious moments. Luckily, the couple did take tons of pictures for unforgettable visuals.
Birthday Trivia
With 19 children, you would think there would be at least one Duggar to represent each of the 12 months in the year, right? Wrong. As it turns out, none of the Duggar siblings were born in February, June, or September, which is pretty incredible when you think about it.
Jim Bob & Michelle Got Married in a Hallway
While most engaged couples envision their special day in some romantic venue, Jim Bob and Michelle said "I do" inside of a hallway — proving these two don't need anything fancy, just each other.
"Our church was still being built, so we were meeting in a big gymnasium for services," Michelle recounted in a Duggar family blog post. "We actually got married in the hallway of the building — we had set up folding chairs to use as pews."
Mom & Dad Must Be CC'ed on All Texts
Did you really think the Duggar courting rules did not include modern technology — like love notes you can whip up in an instant? In addition to no front hugs and Jim Bob approving all courtships, courting daughters must CC mama and papa Duggar on all text messages.
"In order to hold their daughters accountable, Mom and Dad Duggar ask to be CC'd on the girls' text messages while they're courting (or listen in on Skype calls, as you can see below)," an old TLC post revealed. "They make sure the conversation stays PG and help the girls focus on getting to know their suitors. Once engaged, the girls get a bit more privacy when communicating."
Jason Is a Homeowner
From the age of 17, Jason became a proud homeowner of a fixer-upper. The Duggar sibling purchased (Jim Bob cosigned) a 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, and two-bathroom single-family home that needs a little TLC. Talk about goals! It looks like he's taken his skills and put them into his construction business since then.
Jana Purchased a Tattoo Parlor — Kinda
You can only imagine the number of heads that turned at the thought of Jana buying a tattoo parlor. It's such a non-Duggar move and extremely controversial.
The now 32-year-old reportedly dropped $95,000 on a commercial property that used to be a tattoo and piercing parlor for some time, though it seems it has since become a community center.
Jim Bob Has Politician Roots
With all of the Duggar family's reality fame, it can be easy to forget that Jim Bob served in public office. Not only was papa Duggar a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, but he was also the vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee.
Jinger Can Wield a Bow
Katniss Everdeen better look out! While the Duggars know their way around the outdoors — and have been photographed with weapons — it's pretty cool to know that one of the Duggar ladies, Jinger, is into archery. We wonder if she's going to pass this hobby on to daughters Felicity and Evangeline?
Jana Is the Jane-of-All-Trades
Is there nothing Jana can't do?! She cooks, cleans, loves spending time at Lowe's, and apparently is a pretty savvy handywoman — which can definitely come in clutch. Not to mention the fact that we've seen her tackle some big DIY projects and her garden is incredible.
You go, girl!
The Duggar Kids *Did* Watch TV Growing Up
Despite the Duggars boasting that theirs was a TV-free household on 19 Kids & Counting, years later, Joy revealed that there was a TV set in their home that got brought out from time to time, though they were limited to watching older TV shows and movies on DVD.
They Knew What People Were Saying Online
In her 2022 tell-all book, Becoming Free Indeed, Jinger begins by revealing that she was reading what people wrote online about her family, even when she was a teenager. In fact, she was aware of a forum called Free Jinger, which was made up of people hoping she'd escape her family's religion.
