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Yaya DaCosta

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DaCosta in 2011, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Camara DaCosta Johnson

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: November 15, 1982

Ethnicity: African-Brazilian, African-American, Cherokee Native American, Irish

Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model.

Yaya is the daughter of Orundun (DaCosta) and Carl Awolowo Johnson. She has a sister, Djassi, and two brothers, Mamadou and Djani. Yaya’s family is pictured here. YaYa has a son with her former partner, independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia.

She has stated:

My mom’s dad is Brazilian, and that’s the aspect of my heritage I identify with most because I grew up around my Brazilian cousins, speaking Portuguese and going to capoeira rodas.

She has also said:

Ghanaian, Nigerian, Ethiopian… etc. Being claimed by so many makes me feel wonderfully human! DNA test pending.

The post Yaya DaCosta appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.


Freida Pinto

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Pinto in 2011, photo by Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Freida Selena Pinto

Place of Birth: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Date of Birth: 18 October, 1984

Ethnicity: Konkani [Mangalorean] Indian

Freida Pinto is an Indian actress and model. She was born in Mumbai, India, and became known in the U.S. for her role as Latika, in her debut film, Slumdog Millionaire.

Freida was quoted in article saying that she is of 100% Indian descent, of Mangalorean Catholic origin. Mangalorean Catholics are also known as Konkani people.

Freida’s surname is Portuguese. Many Indians took Portuguese surnames from missionaries who converted them to Christianity.

Source: http://www.audreymagazine.com

The post Freida Pinto appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

Taylor Swift

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LOS ANGELES – FEB 08: Taylor Swift arrives to the Grammy Awards 2015 on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA photo by DFree/bigstock.com

Birth Name: Taylor Alison Swift

Place of Birth: West Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 13, 1989

Ethnicity: German, English, some Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, and 1/16th Italian, as well as distant French, Swedish, Dutch, and Belgian Walloon

Taylor Swift is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She has also been credited as Nils Sjöberg.

Taylor is the daughter of Andrea and Scott Swift. Her brother is actor Austin Swift.

Taylor is descended from a number of German immigrants to the United States, in the 1800s and earlier. Some of her ancestral lines also trace back to Colonial America of the 1600s, and to English immigrants of that time period. Aside from other German and English lines, her ancestry includes Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, one sixteenth Italian, and distant roots in France, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Belgium, with Walloon ancestors.

Taylor’s Swift lines traces to a William Swift, who was born, c. 1619, in Bocking, Essex, England.

Taylor’s paternal grandfather was Lt. Col. Archie Dean Swift, Jr. (the son of Archie Dean Swift and Bernice Maude Thompson). Taylor’s grandfather Archie was born in Pennsylvania. Taylor’s great-grandfather Archie was the son of Charles Julius/James Judson Fox Swift and Josephine Reno; the Reno line originates with French ancestry. Bernice was the daughter of Wilbur Willard/Willie Thompson and Barbara Maria Jane Kingsley.

Taylor’s paternal grandmother was Rose Baldi Douglas (the daughter of Charles Gwynn Douglas and Louise Eurindine Baldi). Rose was born in Pennsylvania. Charles was the son of Charles Douglass and Mary Jane Gwynn. Louise was the daughter of Charles Carmine Antonio “C. C. A.” Baldi, an Italian man, born in Castelnuovo Cilento, Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy, and of his wife, Louisa/Louise Eurindine Sobernheimer, who was born in Pennsylvania, to German parents, Frederick Sobernheimer and Catherine Louise Hammel. Thus, Taylor Swift is of 1/16th Italian ancestry. C. C. A. Baldi was a community leader, who organized a bank and owned a daily Italian-language newspaper, among other businesses.

Taylor’s maternal grandfather was Robert Bruce Finlay (the son of Lancelot George “Lance” Finlay and Eleanor A. “Ella” Mayer/Meyer). Robert was born in Ohio. Lancelot was born in Southampton, England, to a Scottish-born father, George Finlay, and to an Irish-born mother, Emma Lynch. Eleanor was the daughter of German parents, Julius Mayer, from Bavaria, and Delia Gunther.

Taylor’s maternal grandmother was Marjorie Moehlenkamp (the daughter of Elmer Heinrich/Henry Moehlenkamp and Cora Lee Morrow). Marjorie was born in Tennessee. Elmer was the son of Henry Johann/John Moehlenkamp and Emma Anna Eterina Bruns, who were of German descent. Cora was the daughter of Sanford Hewitt Morrow and Sallie Wells Faulkner.

Swift in 2011, kathclick/bigstock.com

“The Silence Breakers” won Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2017, women speaking out about sexual harassment/abuse. Taylor was one of six persons chosen to represent that title on the magazine’s cover, along with Isabel Pascual, Adama Iwu, Ashley Judd, Susan Fowler, and a woman who chose to remain anonymous.

Taylor is a first cousin, once removed, of Charles Douglas III, who was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire, from 1989 to 1991. She is also a great-great-niece of politicians Charles Baldi, Jr. and Joseph Baldi.

Sources: Genealogies of Taylor Swift – http://famouskin.com
http://familypedia.wikia.com
https://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://gw.geneanet.org

Genealogy of Taylor Swift (focusing on her father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogies and obituaries of Taylor’s paternal grandparents, Lt. Col. Archie Dean Swift, Jr. and Rose Baldi Douglas – http://www.findagrave.com

Taylor’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Charles Carmine Antonio “C. C. A.” Baldi and Louisa/Louise Eurindine Sobernheimer, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Biography of Taylor’s Italian paternal great-great-grandfather, Charles Carmine Antonio “C. C. A.” Baldi – http://www.baldims.org

Obituary of Taylor’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Charles Carmine Antonio “C. C. A.” Baldi – http://www.pennsylvaniaburialcompany.com

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Evelyn Lozada

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Lozada in 2015, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Evelyn Alexandra Lozada

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 10, 1975

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican

Evelyn Lozada is an American television personality, model, and spokesperson. She is known as one of the leads of the show Basketball Wives.

Evelyn has two children, including a son with her former partner, baseball player Carl Crawford.

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DJ Khaled

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DJ Khaled in 2010, Marquis / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Khaled Mohamed Khaled

Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

Date of Birth: November 26, 1975

Ethnicity: Palestinian Arab

DJ Khaled is an American DJ, record executive, songwriter, record producer, and media personality. A resident of Miami, Florida, he was a host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. He is also known as Beat Novacane and Arab Attack.

DJ Khaled was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Palestinian parents. His parents were musicians who played Arabic music. He is a Muslim. His brother, Alec Ledd (Alla Khaled), is an actor. He is married to Nicole Tuck, with whom he has two children.

The post DJ Khaled appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

Sarah Palin

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Palin in 2010, Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Sarah Louise Heath

Place of Birth: Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 11, 1964

Ethnicity: English, German, Irish, remote Dutch, extremely remote Scottish

Sarah Palin is an American politician, commentator, television personality, and author. A Republican, she has served as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, from October 14, 1996 to October 14, 2002, Chairperson of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, from February 19, 2003 to January 23, 2004, and Governor of Alaska, from December 4, 2006 to July 26, 2009.

She was the Republican Party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2008.

Sarah is the daughter of Sarah (Sheeran) and Charles Richard Heath. Sarah is married to oil field production operator and commercial fisherman Todd Palin, with whom she has five children, among them public speaker and reality television personality Bristol Palin.

Sarah’s ancestry is English, German, and Irish. She also has remote Dutch ancestry, and extremely remote Scottish roots.

Genealogist William Addams Reitwiesner wrote Sarah’s ancestral lineage out as such, with approximate fractions:

*55.08% English
*25.78% German
*18.75% Irish
*0.39% Dutch

Sarah is the first woman to have been nominated by the Republican Party for Vice President of the United States.

Sarah’s paternal grandfather was Charles Francis Heath (the son of Charles Richard Heath and Alice Adaline/Adeline Maria Oriel). Sarah’s grandfather Charles was born in Illinois. Sarah’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of James W. Heath and Alma Miranda Rhodes. Alice was the daughter of Francis H. Oriel, who was born in Canada, to English parents, and of Ellen Anna Dee, who was Irish.

Sarah’s paternal grandmother was Nellie Marie Brandt (the daughter of Henry Charles Brandt and May Belle Ruddock). Nellie was born in California. Henry was the son of Charles C. Brandt, who was born in Friedland, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, and of Maria Criss. May wsa the daughter of Thomas Sanderson Ruddock and Maria Nancy Newell.

Sarah’s maternal grandfather was Clement James Sheeran (the son of Michael James Sheeran and Ida Henrietta Mueller). Clement was born in Washington. Michael was the son of Michael James Sheeran, who was born in Vermont, to Irish parents, and of Maria Ellen Burke, who was born in Wisconsin, also to Irish parents. Ida was the daughter of Joseph Mueller and Sarah West, both of whom were born in Wisconsin; all of their own parents were German.

Sarah’s maternal grandmother was Helen Louise Gower (the daughter of James Carl Gower and Cora Godfrey Strong). Helen was born in Wisconsin. James was the son of Arthur Collins Gower and Mary/Maria Henrietta Regina Schmolz, who was German. Cora was the daughter of Homer Curtiss/Curtis Strong and Augusta Lodema “Gussie” Godfrey.

Various inaccurate (deliberately fanciful) genealogies on the internet state that Sarah is of mostly Jewish ancestry. This is not accurate.

Sources: Genealogies of Sarah Palin – http://www.wargs.com
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://famouskin.com
http://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com
http://familypedia.wikia.com

Notes on some of Sarah’s distant relatives – http://www.suite101.com

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Roshon Fegan

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Fegan in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: October 6, 1991

Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*Filipino (mother)

Roshon Fegan is an American actor, rapper, and dancer. He is known for his role on the series Shake It Up and in the Camp Rock films. He has also been credited as Roshon, ROSHON, or RO SHON.

His father, Roy Fegan, is an actor, director, and producer.

Roshon’s maternal grandfather’s surname is Delacruz.

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Benjamin Bratt

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Bratt in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States

Date of Birth: December 16, 1963

Ethnicity:
*father – German, English, Sudeten German
*mother – Indigenous Peruvian Quechua

Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is famous for his role as Detective Rey Curtis on the television show Law & Order.

His father, Peter Bratt, is an American of one quarter English, five eighths German, and one eighth Sudeten German, ancestry. His mother, Eldy (Banda), was born in Peru, of Quechua (Indigenous) ancestry. She is an Indigenous activist. His brother, Peter Bratt, is a writer and director. Benjamin is married to actress Talisa Soto, with whom he has two children.

Benjamin’s paternal grandfather was George Cleveland Bratt (the son of George Cleveland Bratt and Rosetta Weirich). Benjamin’s grandfather George was born in Michigan. Benjamin’s great-grandfather George, a Broadway actor, was born in Canada, to English parents, Joseph Bratt and Anna Lee. Rosetta was the daughter of Peter Weirich, who was German, born in Todtenorth, Prussia, and of Josephine Arnold, who was born in Friedland, Bohemia, and was likely a Sudeten German.

Benjamin’s paternal grandmother was Wiltrude/Wiltrud Hildner (the daughter of Jonathan Augustus Charles Hildner and Barbara R. Goetz). Wiltrude was born in Michigan, to German parents. Jonathan was the son of John Gotthold Hildner and Johanna Heinrika Charlotte “Joanna” Josenhans. Barbara was the daughter of John Adam Goetz and Anna Barbara Walz/Waltz.

Sources: Genealogies of Benjamin Bratt (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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Naveen Andrews

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Naveen Andrews c. 2005, image via Bruce C. Murray / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Naveen William Sidney Andrews

Place of Birth: Lambeth, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 17 January, 1969

Ethnicity: Malayali Indian

Naveen Andrews is a British actor. He is known for starring as Sayid Jarrah on the series Lost.

Naveen is the son of Nirmala, a psychologist, and Stanley Andrews, a businessman. His parents are from Kerala, India. They are Malayali, and Naveen was raised Methodist.

He has said that he can not speak Hindi.

Naveen has a son with his former partner Geraldine Feakins; and a son with Czech-French actress Elena Eustache.

Source: http://indocanadianonline.blogspot.com

profile by ethnic and yoo lolzz

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Eva Longoria

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Longoria in 2007, DFree / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Eva Jacqueline Longoria

Place of Birth: Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 15, 1975

Ethnicity: Mexican [Spanish, Indigenous/Mayan, small amount of African]

Eva Longoria is an American actress, director, producer, businessperson, and activist. She was the star of the series Desperate Housewives.

Her parents, Ella Eva (Mireles) and Enrique Longoria, Jr., are of Mexican descent, with ancestry that traces back to Southern Mexico. Many of her family lines have lived in Texas for generations. Eva is married to businessperson Jose Antonio Bastón, with whom she has a son. She has also been credited as Eva Longoria Parker, the surname of a former husband, Tony Parker, and as Eva Jacqueline Bastón.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Faces of America (2010) stated that Eva’s genetic ancestry is:

*70% European
*27% Asian/Indigenous
*3% African

She is said to not be related to professional baseball player Evan Longoria.

Eva’s ancestry can be traced to Lorenzo Suarez De Longoria, who was born, c. 1592, in Asturias, Spain. She also has many other traceable Spanish-born ancestors from the same period.

Eva’s paternal grandfather was Enrique Longoria, Sr. (the son of Mateo Villareal Longoria and Maria Sabina/Savina Zarate Solis). Enrique was born in Texas. Mateo was the son of Ponciano Noel Longoria Villarreal and Maria Rita Ramirez Villarreal. Eva’s great-grandmother Maria Sabina was the daughter of Narciso Longoria Solis and Agueda Zarate.

Eva’s paternal grandmother is Micaela De Luna Perez (the daughter of Viviano De Luna and Juana Perez Bazan). Micaela was born in Texas. Viviano was the son of Encarnacion Concepcion De Luna and Maria Rafaela Martinez. Juana was the daughter of Ponciano Alvarez Perez and Maria Antonia Gonzalez Bazan.

Eva’s maternal grandfather was Juan Mireles (the son of Gabriel Mireles and Luisa Barriente). Juan was born in Texas. Luisa was born in Mexico.

Eva’s maternal grandmother was Eva Salinas (the daughter of Cecilio Salinas and Eulalia Perez). Eva’s grandmother Eva was born in Texas, to Mexican parents. Cecilio was the son of Cecilio Salinas and Teodora Barrera.

Eva is a seventh cousin, once removed, of musicians A.B. Quintanilla, Suzette Quintanilla, and Selena, and a seventh cousin of their father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. Their common ancestors were Juan Diego Longoria García and María Clara Chapa Benavides.

Sources: Genealogies of Eva Longoria – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
https://www.geni.com

Family histories of Eva Longoria – http://www.genealogymagazine.com
http://familyhistoryinsider.com

Eva’s paternal grandfather, Enrique Longoria, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Eva’s paternal grandmother, Micaela De Luna Perez, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Eva’s maternal grandfather, Juan Mireles, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Eva’s maternal grandmother, Eva Salinas, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Tony Parker

Longoria with her then-husband Tony Parker in 2006, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

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Jay Hernandez

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Jay Hernandez ethnicity

Hernandez in 2008, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Javier Manuel Hernandez

Place of Birth: Montebello, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: February 20, 1978

Ethnicity: Mexican

Jay Hernandez is an American actor and model. His parents are both of Mexican descent. Jay is married to actress Daniella Deutscher.

Jay’s paternal grandparents had the surnames Hernandez and Burciaga.

Jay’s maternal grandparents had the surnames Maldonado and Herrera.

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Sessue Hayakawa

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Sessue Hayakawa c. 1918, bust portrait, by Evans, Los Angeles

Birth Name: Kintaro Hayakawa 早川 金太郎

Date of Birth: June 10, 1886

Place of Birth: Minamibōsō, Chiba, Japan

Date of Death: November 23, 1973

Place of Death: Tokyo, Japan

Ethnicity: Japanese

Sessue Hayakawa was a Japanese actor. He was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood during the silent era of the 1910s and 1920s. He is also considered the first actor of Asian descent to find stardom as a leading man in the United States and Europe.

He appeared in in Japanese, American, French, German, and British films.

His father was a provincial governor. Hayakawa studied at the University of Chicago around the early 1910s. He acted at the Japanese theatre in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, and began appearing in Hollywood films in the mid 1910s.

Hayakawa was married to Japanese actress Tsuru Aoki (青木 鶴子 Aoki Tsuruko), until her death. He had a son with actress Ruth Noble, and two children, actress Yoshiko and dancer Fujiko, with Tsuru. Tsuru also adopted his son.

Hayakawa became a Zen Buddhist priest.

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Barack Obama

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Barack Obama

Obama in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Barack Hussein Obama II

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 4, 1961

Ethnicity:
*father – Luo Kenyan
*mother – English, small amounts of Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, Swiss-German, French, possibly remote African

Barack Obama is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 44th President of the United States, from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017. He was elected to the position in 2008 and 2012. He was previously a Member of the Illinois Senate, from January 8, 1997 to November 4, 2004, and a U.S. Senator from Illinois, from January 3, 2005 to November 16, 2008. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2009. Barack Obama is the first person of significant African descent to have served as President of the United States.

He was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2008 and 2012.

President Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. His father was black and his mother was white. His father, Barack Obama, a governmental economist, was born in Nyang’oma Kogelo, Rachuonyo District, Kenya Colony, and was a Kenyan of the Luo tribe. His mother, Stanley Ann (Dunham), an anthropologist, was born in Wichita, Kansas, and had English, and small amounts (to varying degrees) of Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, Swiss-German, and French, ancestry. His father was a Muslim and his mother was from a family of non-practicing Baptists and Methodists. President Obama practices Protestant Christianity.

President Obama is married to lawyer and writer Michelle Obama (born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson). Their children are Malia Obama and Sasha Obama. He lived in Indonesia from six to ten years old.

President Obama is the second person of significant non-white ancestry to have been nominated for President or Vice President by a major party. Charles Curtis, whose mother was of considerable Native American ancestry, was the first, and served as Vice President from 1929 to 1933.

Genealogist William Addams Reitwiesner wrote President Obama’s ancestral lineage out as such, with approximate fractions:

*50% Luo Kenyan
*35.06% English
*4.69% Scottish
*3.91% Irish
*3.71% German
*1.56% Welsh
*0.98% Swiss
*0.1% French

President Obama’s paternal grandfather was Onyango (whose name was changed to Hussein Onyango Obama; the son of Obama and Nyaoke). Onyango was born in Alego. President Obama’s great-grandfather Obama was the son of Opiyo and Marrgorat.

President Obama’s paternal grandmother was Habibah Akumu Nyanjoga (the daughter of Njango/Njoga and Bwogi Otore). Habibah was born in Karabondi. Njoga was the son of Okela.

President Obama’s maternal grandfather was Stanley Armour Dunham (the son of Ralph Waldo Emerson Dunham, Sr. and Ruth Lucille Armour). Stanley was born in Kansas. Ralph was the son of Jacob William Dunham and Mary Ann Kearney. Ruth was the daughter of Harry Ellington Armour and Gabriella Lee “Gabbie” Clark.

President Obama’s maternal grandmother was Madelyn Lee Payne (the daughter of Rolla Charles Payne and Leona Belle McCurry). Madelyn was born in Kansas. Rolla was the son of Charles Thomas Payne and Della Lillian Wolfley. Leona was the daughter of Thomas Creekmore McCurry and Margaret Belle Wright.

President Obama’s matrilineal line can be traced to Sarah Wade “Sally” Ray, who was born, c. 1793, likely in Virginia.

Aside from being the first person of African descent to serve as President of the United States, President Obama is the first person of African descent to be the presidential nominee of a major American party.

President Obama is the fourth black American to have won a caucus and/or primary for a major American political party’s presidential nomination, having won 29+ states in 2008, and 50+ states in 2012. The previous winners are:
*Walter E. Fauntroy (1972; Democratic; won Washington, D.C.)
*Shirley Chisholm (1972; Democratic; won 3 contests, including New Jersey)
*Jesse Jackson (Democratic; in 1984, he won 2+ states; in 1988, he won 9+ states)

Kamala Harris, whose father is Jamaican, is the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2020.

President Obama has distant Irish ancestry, going back to his great-great-great-grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, who arrived in the States in 1850, from Moneygall in Ireland. Research done by a team of genealogists has suggested that President Obama’s mother had remote African-American ancestry (in the 1600s), through possible descent from a slave named John Punch.

In page 13 of his autobiography, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance (1995), President Obama writes that a distant ancestor of his mother’s “had indeed been a full-blooded Cherokee” [Native American]. No Cherokee Native American ancestry has yet been documented/verified for President Obama.

President Obama has referred to his mother’s ancestors as “Scotch-Irish mostly,” though their ancestry was predominantly English, with a smaller amount of Scots-Irish.

One of President Obama’s maternal ancestors, his ninth great-grandfather, Richard Singletary, was born, c. 1585, in Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England, to Francis Singletary and Agnes Cook. Richard’s son, Jonathan Singletary (later Dunham), was born, c. 1640, in Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony. President Obama’s Dunham line traces back to Jonathan.

Sources: Genealogies of President Obama – http://www.wargs.com
http://www.geni.com
http://familypedia.wikia.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://famouskin.com

Genealogies of President Obama’s parents – http://www.findagrave.com

Article about President Obama’s Irish ancestry – http://living.oneindia.in

Article suggesting that President Obama’s mother had remote African-American ancestry – http://www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin Bratt

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Bratt in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States

Date of Birth: December 16, 1963

Ethnicity:
*father – German, English, Sudeten German
*mother – Indigenous Peruvian Quechua

Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is famous for his role as Detective Rey Curtis on the television show Law & Order.

His father, Peter Bratt, is an American of one quarter English, five eighths German, and one eighth Sudeten German, ancestry. His mother, Eldy (Banda), was born in Peru, of Quechua (Indigenous) ancestry. She is an Indigenous activist. His brother, Peter Bratt, is a writer and director. Benjamin is married to actress Talisa Soto, with whom he has two children.

Benjamin’s paternal grandfather was George Cleveland Bratt (the son of George Cleveland Bratt and Rosetta Weirich). Benjamin’s grandfather George was born in Michigan. Benjamin’s great-grandfather George, a Broadway actor, was born in Canada, to English parents, Joseph Bratt and Anna Lee. Rosetta was the daughter of Peter Weirich, who was German, born in Todtenorth, Prussia, and of Josephine Arnold, who was born in Friedland, Bohemia, and was likely a Sudeten German.

Benjamin’s paternal grandmother was Wiltrude/Wiltrud Hildner (the daughter of Jonathan Augustus Charles Hildner and Barbara R. Goetz). Wiltrude was born in Michigan, to German parents. Jonathan was the son of John Gotthold Hildner and Johanna Heinrika Charlotte “Joanna” Josenhans. Barbara was the daughter of John Adam Goetz and Anna Barbara Walz/Waltz.

Sources: Genealogies of Benjamin Bratt (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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Salma Hayek

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Hayek in 2010, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Salma Hayek Jiménez

Place of Birth: Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico

Date of Birth: September 2, 1966

Ethnicity:
*father – Lebanese
*mother – Mexican [Spanish]

Salma Hayek, also credited by her married name Salma Hayek Pinault, is a Mexican and American actress, director, producer, and model.

Salma was born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico. Her father, Sami Hayek Dominguez, a businessperson, is of Lebanese descent. Her mother, Diana Jiménez Medina, an opera singer, is of Mexican. On Inside the Actors Studio (2004), Salma stated that her mother is of Spanish ancestry.

The name Salma is Arabic for “calm” or “peace.” Her surname, Hayek, is a common Lebanese surname. Salma is fluent in both English and Spanish, and has starred in English- and Spanish-language films.

Salma is married to French businessperson François-Henri Pinault, with whom she has a daughter.

Salma’s paternal grandfather was Elias Hayek Labahi (the son of Amado Hayek and Aurora Labahi). Elias was born in Mexico City, to Lebanese parents, from Baabda, Mount Lebanon. Amado was the son of Jorge Hayek and Anastasia. Aurora was the daughter of José Labahi and Juana.

Salma’s paternal grandmother was Adela Domínguez Marún (the daughter of Nayib Hid, later Narciso Dominguez Marún, and of Nesnefer, later Isabel, Marún Fons/Fonos). Adela was born in Mamantel, Campeche, Mexico, to Lebanese parents. Nayib was the son of Juan Domínguez and Mantura Marún. Isabel was the daughter of Rumanos Marún and Catalina Fons/Fonos.

Salma’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Jiménez.

Salma’s maternal grandmother was named Maria Luisa Lopez.

85th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

Hayek with husband François-Henri Pinault, in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com

Source: Genealogy of Salma Hayek (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

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Jet Li

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Jet Li

Li in 2004, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Lǐ Liánjié

Place of Birth: Beijing, China

Date of Birth: 26 April, 1963

Ethnicity: Chinese

Jet Li is a Chinese actor, producer, and martial artist. He is a Wushu champion. Jet’s mother’s name is said to be Zhang Feng Lan.

Jet is also a naturalized citizen of Singapore.

He practices Tibetan Buddhism. His master is Lho Kunsang.

Jet is married to actress Nina Li. He has two children with his former wife, actress Huang Qiuyan; and two children with Nina.

The post Jet Li appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

Jason Derulo

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Derulo in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Jason Joel Desrouleaux

Place of Birth: Miramar, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 21, 1989

Ethnicity: African-Haitian

Jason Derulo, also known as Jason Derülo, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is known for his singles Whatcha Say, In My Head, and Talk Dirty, among others. His parents, Jocelyn and Joel Desrouleaux, are from Haiti.

His stage name Derulo is a pronunciation respelling of his birth name Desrouleaux.

Source: http://www.billboard.com

Profile by Nushikha

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Rachel Bilson

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Bilson in 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Rachel Sarah Bilson

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 25, 1981

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Italian (mother)

Rachel Bilson is an American actress.

She is the daughter of Janice, a sex therapist, and Danny Bilson, a writer and director. She is known for starring on the series The O.C. and in the movies The Last Kiss and Jumper. Rachel has a daughter with her former partner, Canadian-born actor and producer Hayden Christensen.

Rachel’s father is Jewish, from a family that emigrated from Lithuania, Russia, and Poland. Rachel’s mother, who was raised Catholic, is of Italian descent.

Rachel’s paternal grandfather was Bruce Bilson, a director (the son of George R. Bilson and Hattie Dratwa). Bruce was born in New York. George Bilson, a director, producer, and screenwriter, was born in England; George’s father, Harris “Harry” Bilson, was a Jewish emigrant to England, from either Kaunas, Lithuania or Russia, while George’s mother, Rachel’s great-great-grandmother Sarah Ettie/Etty/Lewis Rhudiminsky/Ruddaminsky, was born in England, to Russian Jewish parents, Lewis Ber Leyb Rhudiminsky/Ruddaminsky and Fannie/Annie Abraham Harris Vigdolsky. Harris and Sarah later moved to Brooklyn, New York. Rachel’s great-grandmother Hattie Bilson, a screenwriter, was born in New York, the daughter of Abraham Dratwa and Lena Skornik, who were Jewish emigrants from Russia/Poland, with Lena having been born in Kalish.

Rachel’s paternal grandmother was Mona Weichman (the daughter of Frederick Weichman and Zare Sherman). Mona was born in New York. Frederick was born in New York, to Polish Jewish parents, Julius L. Weichman and Sylvia Schwartzman. Zare was born in New York, also to Jewish parents.

Rachel’s maternal grandfather was Alfredo/Alfred Thomas Stango (the son of Antonio/Anthony Stango and Antonetta Patrizio). Alfredo was born in Pennsylvania, to Italian parents. Antonio and Antonetta were from Castelluccio Valmaggiore, Province of Foggia, Apulia.

Rachel’s maternal grandmother was Ida Marie Justo (the daughter of Raffaele “Ralph” Justo/Guisto and Conchetta/Catherine/Katherine Maria D’uva). Ida was born in Pennsylvania, to Italian parents.

Sources: Genealogy of Rachel Bilson (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Rachel’s paternal great-grandfather, Frederick Weichman, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Rachel’s maternal grandfather, Alfred Thomas Stango – http://morrisbakerfuneralhomes.frontrunnerpro.com

Obituary of Rachel’s maternal grandmother, Ida Marie (Justo) Stango – http://nl.newsbank.com

The post Rachel Bilson appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

Delroy Lindo

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Lindo in 2015, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Delroy George Lindo

Place of Birth: Lewisham, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 18 November, 1952

Ethnicity: African-Jamaican

Delroy Lindo is a British and American actor and theatre director. He was born in Lewisham, London, England, to Jamaican parents. He spent part of his young adulthood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and then in San Francisco, U.S.

His surname, Lindo, is Sephardi Jewish. It is not clear if Delroy has Sephardi ancestry, but many black Jamaicans have some degree of Sephardi roots.

Delroy’s mother’s maiden name is Moncrieffe.

Delroy is married to Nashormeh.

The post Delroy Lindo appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

Monica Raymund

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Raymund in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Place of Birth: St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 26, 1986

Ethnicity:
*father – English, Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Dominican Republic

Monica Raymund is an American actress. She is known for her role as Ria Torres on the show Lie to Me.

Monica is the daughter of Sonia, who co-founded the Soulful Arts Dance Academy in St. Petersburg, and Steve Raymund, the retired CEO of Tech Data Corp., a distributor of computer components and software.

Her father, who is caucasian and from California, is of half English (from his own father) and half Ashkenazi Jewish (from his own mother) ancestry. Her mother is from the Dominican Republic. Monica was raised Jewish and had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony.

Monica has said:

My father is white & Jewish. My mother is brown & Dominican. I’m proud of my heritage on both sides. Their love inspired me. #UnityMovement

Monica’s paternal grandfather was Edward Charles Raymund (the son of William Bernard Raymond and Vera Pauline Maxson). Edward was born in California, and was a philanthropist and businessperson, who founded the family company Tech Data Corp., a multi-billion dollar corporation. Edward had English ancestry. William was the son of William Bernard Raymond and Ruby Z. Downs. Vera was the daughter of Charles Fremont Maxson and Mary Pearl Smith.

Monica’s paternal grandmother was Annette Leah Davidson (the daughter of Morris Davidson and Myrtle Spector). Annette was born in New York, to a Lithuanian Jewish father, from Vilnius County, and a Russian Jewish mother. Myrtle was the daughter of Abraham Spector, from Kiev, and of Ida.

Monica’s maternal grandmother is named Maria Lara.

Sources: http://www.tampabay.com
http://www.jewishpresspinellas.com

Genealogy of Monica Raymund (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Monica’s paternal grandfather, Edward Charles Raymund – http://www.legacy.com

The post Monica Raymund appeared first on Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race.

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