Claire is a 20th-century doctor who traveled through time to reunite with her 18th-century husband. Arriving in the American colonies in 1767, she brings modern medical knowledge and ethical sensibilities to a harsh frontier. She possesses strong convictions and frequently speaks her mind about the injustices of the era, relying on her medical skills to help those around her while adjusting to a politically unstable land.

Jamie is an 18th-century Scottish Highlander and former Jacobite soldier attempting to build a new life in America. Having lost his homeland and position after the Battle of Culloden, he seeks land and stability for his family in the backwoods of the Carolinas. He maintains a strong sense of personal honor and loyalty, carefully considering his obligations to his kin against the oppressive laws of the colonies.

Brianna is the 20th-century daughter of Claire and Jamie, though raised by Frank Randall. She studies engineering in Boston and struggles to adjust to her mother's departure into the past. She is a headstrong, intelligent young woman who actively researches her family history while managing a developing romance with an academic.

Roger is a 20th-century Scottish historian and musician who helped Claire discover Jamie's survival. He carries a deep affection for Brianna and takes his promises seriously. His academic background provides him with significant knowledge about the past, though he struggles with how much historical truth to share with those he cares about.

Stephen Bonnet is an Irish smuggler, pirate, and ship captain operating in the American colonies. He projects a charming, conversational demeanor that masks a ruthless and opportunistic nature. He manipulates the honor of others to secure his own survival and profit.

Jocasta is a wealthy, blind plantation owner living in North Carolina. As a MacKenzie who married into the Cameron clan, she has survived three husbands and expertly manages the business affairs of her large estate. She is highly intelligent, hospitable, and manipulative, using her influence to direct the lives of her relatives.

Ian is Jamie's adventurous teenage nephew who was recently brought to the Americas. Rather than return to Scotland, he embraces the frontier lifestyle and shows a natural affinity for befriending local Indigenous tribes. He is eager to prove his worth as a man in the harsh backcountry.

Frank is Claire's deceased first husband and a 20th-century history professor. Though absent from the present action, his legacy heavily influences Brianna's upbringing and Claire's memories. He provided a stable, loving home for a daughter who was not biologically his own.

Fergus is a French-born man whom Jamie raised since childhood. He travels to the colonies to build a life for his growing family. He is a loyal and capable member of the Fraser household who has overcome the physical loss of a hand to become a steadfast family man.

Rollo is a massive wolf-dog hybrid won by Ian in a tavern game. He serves as a fierce protector of the Fraser family on the frontier, possessing keen instincts and unwavering loyalty to his master.

John is a rugged mountain man and frontiersman who acts as a guide and intermediary in the North Carolina backcountry. He maintains positive relationships with local Indigenous tribes and provides the Frasers with crucial knowledge about surviving in the wilderness.

Ulysses is the highly educated butler at River Run who acts as Jocasta's eyes and right-hand man. Despite being enslaved, he effectively manages the daily operations of the large plantation due to his mistress's blindness and his own formidable competence.

Lord John is an English nobleman and former governor of Jamaica. He is a long-time friend of Jamie Fraser, bound by experiences from their time at Ardsmuir prison. He raises William, an heir to a Virginia plantation, and provides political and social connections for the Fraser family.

William is a young boy raised by Lord John Grey. He travels to the North Carolina backcountry with his stepfather. He is a spirited child who enjoys fishing and exploring the wilderness during his visit.

Lizzie is a young, timid Scottish girl who becomes Brianna's maid and traveling companion. Having been saved from a terrible fate by Brianna, she is fiercely loyal but prone to physical frailty and dramatic misunderstandings.

Nayawenne is a respected Tuscarora shaman and elder. She possesses a deep spiritual understanding of the world and recognizes Claire's healing abilities through prophetic dreams, forging an important cross-cultural medical alliance.

Marsali is Fergus's young, spirited Scottish wife. She joins the settlement at Fraser's Ridge to raise her children, bringing practical skills and a lively presence to the isolated mountain community.

Duncan is an older, one-armed Scotsman and a loyal companion to Jamie from their time in Ardsmuir prison. He is a steady, dependable presence who assists the Frasers in establishing their new lives and acts as a trusted agent.

Joe is a doctor and Claire's closest friend in the 20th century. He provides emotional support and practical assistance to Brianna after Claire's departure, serving as a trusted confidant who knows the truth about Claire's incredible journey.

Gavin is a Scottish friend of Jamie's who faces execution at the novel's beginning. His death deeply affects Jamie, setting off a chain of events when the Frasers attempt to honor his final wishes regarding his burial in consecrated ground.

Farquard is a local judge and friend to Jocasta Cameron. He represents the established legal and social order of the colony, frequently advising Jocasta and attempting to resolve legal disputes regarding matters of frontier justice.

Pollyanne is an enslaved woman at River Run who flees into the wilderness after a tragic incident at the sawmill. Her flight forces the Frasers into direct conflict with colonial law and pushes them to help her find sanctuary with a local Indigenous tribe.

Murchison is a corrupt and cruel British soldier with a history of tormenting Jamie during his imprisonment at Ardsmuir. He abuses his authority in the colonies, pursuing personal vendettas and engaging in illicit activities.

Nacognaweto is a Tuscarora man who befriends Jamie Fraser. He serves as an important cultural bridge between the European settlers and the local tribes, offering assistance, trade, and crucial information during times of crisis.

Alexandre is a French Jesuit priest held captive by the Mohawk tribe. He struggles with a profound crisis of faith and conscience after falling in love with a local woman, finding himself unable to reconcile his religious duties with his human desires.

Tewaktenyohn is an influential Mohawk woman who holds significant sway over tribal decisions. She possesses knowledge of a mysterious past visitor to the tribe and recognizes the significance of a strange artifact Claire carries.

Fiona is a Scottish woman in the 20th century who knows the local folklore and the secret of the standing stones. She assists Roger in his quest to understand time travel and offers him crucial support when he attempts to follow Brianna.

Jenny is Jamie's stubborn, fiercely protective sister living in Scotland. Though separated from Jamie by an ocean, she continues to exert a maternal influence over the family and warmly welcomes Brianna into the clan.

Gerhard is a German settler living near Fraser's Ridge. When illness strikes his family, his grief and paranoia lead him to violently blame the local Indigenous population, creating a dangerous conflict that threatens the entire region.

Otter-Tooth is a mysterious figure whose skull is discovered by Claire. He was a man who tried to warn the Indigenous tribes about their future, leaving behind a legacy that haunts the local Mohawk community.