Birth Name: Philip David Charles Collins

Place of Birth: Ealing, London, England

Date of Birth: January 30, 1951

Ethnicity: English

Phil Collins is an English singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and author. He was the lead singer and drummer of the band Genesis. Phil is the son of Winifred (Strange), a prominent theatrical agent, and Greville Philip Austin Collins, an insurance agent. His daughter is actress and model Lily Collins.

Phil’s paternal grandparents were Austin George Percy Collins (the son of Arthur James Collins and Ellen Piper) and Phillis Mary Piper (the daughter of George Henry Piper and Eliza Hall).

Phil’s maternal grandparents were Charles Ronald Strange and Lillie/Lilly Maud Tozer (the daughter of Alfred Tozer and Sarah Ann Whall).

Sources: Genealogy of Phil Collins – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Phil Collins (focusing on his father’s side) – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Phil Collins (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://familysearch.org

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Birth Name: William Patrick Corgan

Place of Birth: Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States

Date of Birth: March 17, 1967

Ethnicity:
*Irish, Scottish, English (father)
*Belgian (Flemish), Italian/Sicilian (mother)

Billy Corgan is an American singer, songwriter, musician, producer, television writer, and author. He is the lead singer and guitarist of the band The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy is the son of Martha Louise (Maes) Corgan Lutz and William Patrick Corgan.

Of his ancestry, he has said:

as best i know i am 25pc Sicilian, 25pct Flemish, 50pct Irish/Scottish/English. Family names are DiBartolo, Maes, Corgan, Wortham.

Billy’s paternal grandparents were Herbert Carl Corgan (the son of Peter Carl Corgan and Grace May Alexander) and Lillian Ruth Wortham (the daughter of Harry Garner Wortham and Wortha Golden Smith).

Billy’s maternal grandparents were ? Maes and Consetta/Connie O. DiBartolo (the daughter of Joe DiBartolo and Martha Ruscitti/Rucitti).

Source: Obituary of Billy’s paternal grandmother, Lillian Ruth (Wortham) Corgan – http://thesouthern.com

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Birth Name: Zena Lotus Grey

Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Date of Birth: September 15, 1988

Ethnicity:
*German, English, Irish, Scottish (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)

Zena Grey is an American actress. She is the daughter of artists Allyson and Alex Grey (born Alex Kenton Velzy). Alex is an author, teacher, and Vajrayana practitioner.

Zena’s father has German, English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Zena and her mother are both Jewish, and she was raised in the Jewish faith.

Zena’s paternal grandparents are Walter Earl Velzy (the son of Earl Lester Velzy and Ada Edith May Falkner) and Jane Stewart (the daughter of Paul Edgar Stewart and Carrie Wood). Ada’s parents were German.

Source: Genealogy of Zena’s paternal great-grandfather, Earl Lester Velzy – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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Birth Name: Rocco John Ritchie

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Date of Birth: August 11, 2000

Ethnicity:
*English, some Irish, distant French (father)
*Italian, French-Canadian, with remote Swiss-French and English, extremely remote Spanish (mother)

Rocco Ritchie is the son of English filmmaker Guy Ritchie and American musician and actress Madonna. He is the younger half-brother of Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes Leon.

Rocco’s paternal grandparents are Captain John Vivian Ritchie (the son of Major Stewart John Ritchie and Doris Margaretta McLaughlin) and Amber Parkinson. Doris is the daughter of Vivian Guy Ouseley McLaughlin and Edith Jane Martineau; Edith was born in Brazil, to English parents, William Martineau and Margaretta Sarah Mason. Her surname comes from her own French great-great-great-grandfather, David Martineau. Through Edith, Rocco shares common ancestors with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The McLaughlins have a pedigree going back to King Edward I of England.

Rocco’s maternal grandparents are Silvio Anthony Ciccone (the son of Gaetano I. Ciccone and Michelina Dijulio) and Madonna Louise Fortin (the daughter of Willard Fortin and Elsie Fortin). Silvio’s family was Italian. Rocco’s grandmother Madonna’s family was French-Canadian, with remote Swiss-French and English, and extremely remote Spanish, ancestry.

Sources: Genealogy of Rocco Ritchie – http://www.geni.com

http://www.harrymclaughlin.com
http://edition.cnn.com

Genealogies of Rocco’s mother – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Rocco’s mother (focusing on her own mother’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

One of Rocco’s French ancestors – http://www.perche-quebec.com

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Birth Name: Stephen Wilson Bethel

Place of Birth: Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Date of Birth: February 24, 1984

Ethnicity:
*English (maternal grandfather)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (maternal grandmother)

Wilson Bethel is an American actor. He is known for starring in the television series Hart of Dixie. He is the son of author Joyce Maynard (Daphne Joyce Maynard) and Stephen Bethel.

The surname “Bethel” is usually English.

Wilson’s maternal grandparents were Max S. Maynard and Fredelle Bruser (the daughter of Boris Bruser and Rona Slobinsky). Max was born in India, to English Fundamentalist missionary parents, and later moved to Canada. Fredelle was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Russian Jewish parents.

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Birth Name: Jiles Perry Richardson

Date of Birth: October 24, 1930

Place of Birth: Sabine Pass, Texas, United States

Date of Death: February 3, 1959

Place of Death: Clear Lake, Iowa, United States

Ethnicity: English, small amounts of Welsh, French, French-Canadian, Irish, and Powhatan Native American

The Big Bopper was an American singer, songwriter, disc jockey, and musician. He was the son of Essie Bernice (Stalsby) and Jiles Perry Richardson, Sr.

The Big Bopper’s paternal grandparents were Gilbert Beebe Richardson (the son of Nathan Richardson and Amanda Caroline Walters) and Ruby Middleton (the daughter of Franklin J. Middleton and Ada Hutchins).

The Big Bopper’s maternal grandparents were James Frank/Franklin Stalsby (the son of The Rev. Samuel Christian Stalsby and Eliza Jane Johnson) and Ada A. Johnson (the daughter of Thomas Johnson and Margaret).

Source: Genealogy of The Big Bopper – https://familysearch.org

Birth Name: Geneviève Alison Jane Moyet

Place of Birth: Billericay, Brentwood, Essex, England, UK

Date of Birth: June 18, 1961

Ethnicity:
*French (father)
*English (mother)

Alison Moyet is an English singer and songwriter. She is known as the singer of the duo Yazoo. Alison’s father was a French printer, from Cognac, France. Her mother, who was English, was a teacher of French.

Sources: http://www.theguardian.com
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Birth Name: Zuleikha Ariana Robinson

Place of Birth: Hammersmith, London, England

Date of Birth: 29 June, 1977

Ethnicity: Indian, English, possibly Iranian and Scottish

Zuleikha Robinson is a British actress and singer. Her father is English and her mother is of Indian descent. She was brought up in Thailand and Malaysia. She may also have Iranian and Scottish roots on her father’s side.

She has said: “My grandparents were Indians and they were based in Burma. But they had to leave the country and my mother was born in India”. Her name, “Zuleikha”, means “someone beautiful” in Persian.

Her diverse background has allowed her to play various ethnic roles, ranging from Bengali to Middle Eastern to Latino.

Sources: http://www.telegraphindia.com
http://www.zuleikharobinsononline.com

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Birth Name: Jonathan Drew Groff

Place of Birth: Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Date of Birth: March 26, 1985

Ethnicity: German, some Swiss-German, and a smaller amount of English and Scottish

Jonathan Groff is an American actor and singer. His parents are Julie (Witmer), a physical education teacher, and Jim Groff, a harness horse trainer and driver. He has one older brother, David, and is a first cousin of singer James Wolpert, a semi-finalist on the fifth season of The Voice (Jonathan’s mother and James’s mother are sisters).

Most of Jonathan’s ancestry is German, with some Swiss-German, and smaller amounts of English and Scottish. Most of his family were from the Pennsylvania Dutch (ethnic Germans in Pennsylvania) community, and Jonathan thus has deep roots in Pennsylvania. He descends largely from Mennonite ancestors, although he himself was raised Methodist.

Jonathan’s paternal grandfather was J. Wade Groff (the son of Earl Leroy Groff and Helen Eby Garber). Jonathan’s grandfather was a Mennonite minister. Earl was the son of Enos H. Groff and Martha E. Brubaker. Helen was the daughter of Simon Erb Garber and Fannie Frank Eby.

Jonathan’s paternal grandmother was Evelyn Herr Metzler (the daughter of Harvey Metzler and Bertha Mae Herr). Harvey was the daughter of Henry Burkholder Metzler and Amanda Rife/Reiff Myer. Bertha was the daughter of Newton Groff Herr and Amanda L. Heller.

Jonathan’s maternal grandfather was John B. Witmer (the son of John Huber Witmer and Emma Barbara Kreider). Jonathan’s great-grandfather John was the son of John Huber Witney/Witmer and Barbara Ervin. Emma was the daughter of Benjamin F. Kreider and Cecelia H. Kauffman.

Jonathan’s maternal grandmother was Dolores Taylor (the daughter of John P. Taylor and Viola M. Cunningham). Dolores was born in Oklahoma. John was the son of Goldie.

Sources: Obituary of Jonathan’s paternal grandmother, Evelyn Herr (Metzler) Groff – http://www.findagrave.com

Jonathan’s maternal grandmother, Dolores Taylor, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Jonathan’s maternal grandmother, Dolores (Taylor) Witmer – http://lancasteronline.com

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Birth Name: Marcia Anne Cross

Place of Birth: Marlborough, Massachusetts

Date of Birth: March 25, 1962

Ethnicity: English, Irish

Marcia Cross is an American actress. She starred in the series Desperate Housewives and Melrose Place. She is one of three daughters of Janet, a teacher, and Mark Cross, a personnel manager. Marcia is of English and Irish descent.

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Birth Name: Charles Hardin Holley

Date of Birth: September 7, 1936

Place of Birth: Lubbock, Texas, United States

Date of Death: February 3, 1959

Place of Death: Clear Lake, Iowa, United States

Ethnicity: English, as well as Cherokee Native American, Powhatan Native American, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Dutch, remote French

Buddy Holly was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the son of Ella Pauline (Drake) and Lawrence Odell Holley. Buddy was married to María Elena (Santiago), who is of Puerto Rican descent.

Buddy is a descendant of two Native American tribes. One of his second great-grandmothers, Mary “Polly” Taylor, was of 5/8 Cherokee descent, with the rest presumed to be mostly English. One of his fifth great-grandmothers, Tame Doe Attakulakula, was of 5/8 Cherokee, 1/4 English, and 1/8 Powhatan descent. This means that Buddy was of 45/1024 Cherokee, 1/1024 Powhatan, and 4.5% Native American, descent, in total.

Buddy’s paternal grandparents were John Hardin Holley (the son of James Paterson Holley and Mary Elizabeth Young) and Willie Ophelia Young (the daughter of William K. Young and Malissa A. Randall).

Buddy’s maternal grandparents were Charles Wesley Drake (the son of James Charles Drake and Sidney Reden Ray) and Eva Laura Perry (the daughter of Franklin Sanford Perry and Lizabeth Manning).

Sources: Genealogies of Buddy Holly – http://www.geni.com
https://familysearch.org

Place of Birth: Glendora, California

Date of Birth: August 6, 1976

Ethnicity:
*possibly English (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)

Soleil Moon Frye is an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She is the daughter of actor and boxing champion Virgil Frye (Virgil Charles Frye) and talent agent and caterer Sandra Peluce (née Londy). She has two half-brothers, actors Sean Frye and Meeno Peluce.

Soleil’s father, who was from Estherville, Iowa, possibly had English ancestry. Soleil’s mother is Jewish. Soleil is married to television producer Jason Goldberg, who is also Jewish, and the two wed in a Jewish ceremony.

Soleil’s maternal grandparents had the surnames “Londy” and “Cohen”.

Source: http://www.jweekly.com

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Birth Name: Adele Emily Sandé

Place of Birth: Sunderland, Durham, England

Date of Birth: 10 March 1987

Ethnicity:
*Zambian (father)
*English (mother)

Emeli Sandé is a British singer and songwriter. Her mother, Diane (Wood), is English, and her father, Joel Sandé, is Zambian.

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Birth Name: Jon Steven Young

Place of Birth: Salt Lake City, Utah

Date of Birth: October 11, 1961

Ethnicity: English (mainly), small amount of Scottish, remote Welsh, German, and French

Steve Young is an American former professional football quarterback. He played 15 seasons in the NFL. He is in the NFL Hall of Fame as a San Fransisco 49’er.

Steve is the son of Sherry (Steed) and LeGrande “Grit” Young. Steve’s ancestry is mainly English, with some Scottish, and remote Welsh, German, and French. His great-great-great-grandfather was Brigham Young, who was the second president of the LDS (Mormon) church.

Steve’s paternal grandparents were Scott Richmond Young (the son of Seymour Bicknell Young and Carlie Louine Clawson) and Louise Leonard (the daughter of George Marvin Leonard and Mary Ann Sanders).

Steve’s maternal grandparents were Arnold Gorin Steed (the son of Arnold Miller Steed and Hattie Hayes) and Mary Ann Adams (the daughter of George Henry Adams and Mary Ann Green).

Sources: Genealogy of Steve Young – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Steve’s maternal grandparents, Arnold Gorin Steed and Mary Ann Adams – http://www.findagrave.com

Birth Name: Zachary George Roerig

Place of Birth: Montpelier, Ohio

Date of Birth: February 22, 1985

Ethnicity: German, Polish, English, Irish

Zach Roerig is an American actor. He is known for starring in the series The Vampire Diaries, As the World Turns, and One Life to Live. Zach is the son of Andrea and Daniel Roerig.

Zach’s paternal grandparents were George Nicholas Roerig (the son of Nicholas Anton Roerig and Mary Magdalene Piechowski) and Agnes Frances Cuffe (the daughter of Henry Levi Cuffe and Mary Frances Sexton). Zach’s great-grandmother Mary Piechowski was the daughter of Polish parents, Joseph J. Piechowski and Rosalie Marie Kiedrowski.

Zach’s maternal grandparents are Jack Wages, Sr. (the son of James H. Wages and Elizabeth Harvey) and Sylvia Duckett (the daughter of Louis Duckett and Beatrice Prater). Beatrice was the daughter of John Lee Prater and Cora Hale.

Sources: Obituary of Zach’s father – http://kpcnews.com

Death record of Zach’s paternal grandmother, Agnes Frances (Cuffe) Roerig – http://death-records.mooseroots.com

Obituary of Zach’s maternal great-grandmother, Beatrice (Prater) Duckett – http://www.lifestorynet.com

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Birth Name: Edgar Poe

Date of Birth: January 19, 1809

Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Date of Death: October 7, 1849

Place of Death: Baltimore, Maryland

Ethnicity: English, 1/4 Scots-Irish (Northern Irish)

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. He was the second child of English-born actress Elizabeth (Arnold) Hopkins Poe and American actor David Poe, Jr. Edgar took the name “Allan” from his foster parents, Frances (Valentine) and John Allan, though they never formally adopted him. He married his paternal first cousin, Virginia Eliza Clemm, when she was thirteen years old, in 1835.

Edgar’s paternal grandparents were “General” David Poe (son of John Poe and Jane McBride) and Elizabeth Cairnes (the daughter of Thomas Carnes and Elizabeth Weeks). Edgar’s grandfather David had emigrated from Cavan, Ireland, to America around the year 1750; his own maternal grandfather was a Protestant minister. Edgar’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Colonial American (English) descent.

Edgar’s maternal grandparents were Henry Arnold and Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. Henry died in 1789 and, in November 1795, Elizabeth sailed from England to the U.S. with Edgar’s mother, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts in 1796.

Sources: Genealogies of Edgar Allan Poe – http://www.geni.com
https://frombostontobaltimore.files.wordpress.com

Birth Name: Willa Joanna Chance Holland

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Date of Birth: June 18, 1991

Ethnicity: English, Italian

Willa Holland is an American actress, voice actress, and model. She is the daughter of cinematographer Keith Holland and actress Darnell Gregorio-De Palma. Her mother was married to director Brian De Palma for a time during Willa’s childhood.

Willa’s father is English and was born in Reading, England. Willa’s mother’s maiden name is “Gregorio”, which suggests that she is of at least partial Italian heritage.

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Birth Name: Matthew Edward Harvey

Place of Birth: New London, Connecticut

Date of Birth: March 27, 1989

Ethnicity: Italian, English, possibly other

Matt Harvey is an American professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Matt is the son of Jackie and Ed Harvey. Matt has been described as being of Italian descent. His surname, “Harvey”, is usually of English or Scottish origin.

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Birth Name: Jennifer Nicole Cortese

Place of Birth: Contra Costa, California

Date of Birth: January 8, 1981

Ethnicity: Italian (paternal grandfather), German, Belgian (Flemish), English, French

Genevieve Cortese is an American actress. She starred in the television series Supernatural and Wilfdire. She has two brothers, Johnny and Ben, and a sister, Sarah. At the age of thirteen, she moved with her family to Montana, and later to Sun Valley, Idaho. Genevieve is married to actor Jared Padalecki.

Genevieve’s paternal grandparents are Paul John Cortese and Joanne Alice/Alyce Schneider (the daughter of Edward Alexander Schneider and Genevieve Alice Elfen). Edward was the son of Edward J. Schneider and Julia Distelhorst, both of whom were born in New York, to German parents, Edward’s from Saxony. Genevieve’s great-grandmother Genevieve was the daughter of Harry A. Elfen and Alice Sohst, both of whom had German immigrant fathers.

Genevieve’s maternal grandparents are Ronald Gustave Vandenberghe (the son of Anselm Henri Vandenberghe and Margaret B. Bygum) and Patricia W. Dufour. Ronald is a prominent accountant and real estate developer. Anselm’s parents were Belgian (Flemish).

Sources: http://hubmesh.com

Genevieve’s paternal great-grandfather, Edward Alexander Schneider, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genevieve’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Harry A. Elfen and Alice Sohst, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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Birth Name: James Martin Lafferty

Place of Birth: Hemet, California

Date of Birth: July 25, 1985

Ethnicity:
*Irish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish (father)
*Hispanic (mother)

James Lafferty is an American actor. He starred in the series One Tree Hill. He was born to Jeff and Angie Lafferty, who own a local construction company. He has a younger brother, actor Stuart Lafferty.

James’s paternal grandparents are John E. Lafferty and Janette Irene Vail (the daughter of Harold John Vail and Esther Marie Finfrock).

James’s maternal grandparents have the surnames “Escarsega” and “Rodriguez”.

Sources: Genealogies of James Lafferty (focusing on his father’s side) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://www.blackburn-tree.org

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