Anna Deavere Smith

May 22, 2016, 6:24 pm

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Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland

Date of Birth: September 18, 1950

Ethnicity: African-American (including Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola, Cameroon, Congo, and Senegal), English

Anna Deavere Smith is an American actress, playwright, and professor.

Anna’s paternal grandparents were Deaver Young Smith (the son of Stanley Smith and Mary) and Virginia S. Biggs (the daughter of Calvin H. Biggs and Julia A.).

A DNA test taken by the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2014) stated that Anna’s genetic ancestry is:

*50.7% European
*48.9% African

In his 2016 book about the show, Finding Your Roots, Season 2: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. wrote that Anna’s African ancestry was mainly from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, as well as Angola, Cameroon, Congo, and Sengal, and that 41% of her European ancestry is from Great Britain, with remote Scandinavian, Finnish, Russian, Italian, and Greek.

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

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

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Ken Burns

May 23, 2016, 8:10 pm

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Birth Name: Kenneth Lauren Burns

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

Date of Birth: July 29, 1953

Ethnicity: Irish, English, Scottish

Ken Burns is an American filmmaker, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs in documentary films. According to a DNA test Ken Burns took with, “Finding Your Roots” Ken came up as 100% European, with 26% Irish, 10% British, and 6% Iberian. However, another DNA test said Ken Burns was 99.6% European, .4% Sub-Saharan African, and .1% Native American.

Ken’s paternal grandparents were Robert Kyle Burns (the son of William McLaurin Burns and Sarah E. White) and Emily Lucille Moore (the daughter of George Moore and Nellie Lee Crook).

Ken’s maternal grandparents were George Bancroft Tupper (the son of John Powers Tupper and Frances Howard McManus) and Lyla Morris Smith (The daughter of Lyle Austin Smith and Susan H.).

Source: Finding Your Roots season 2, page 100

Genealogy of Ken Burns – https://www.geni.com

Khandi Alexander

May 23, 2016, 8:19 pm

≫ Next: Steve Cohen

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Place of Birth: New York City, New York

Date of Birth: September 4, 1957

Ethnicity: African-American (including Nigerian), some English and Scottish

Khandi Alexander is an American dancer, choreographer, and actress.

Khandi’s paternal grandparents were ? Alexander (the son of Josephine Gertrude Allen) and Mary Ellen Brown (the daughter of William Brown and Tillie Harrison).

Khandi’s maternal grandparents were Joshua Pinckney Masters, Jr. (the son of Joshua Pinckney Masters, Sr. and Charity Murry) and Willa Lee.

A DNA test taken by the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2014) stated that Khandi’s genetic ancestry is:

*73.9% Sub-Saharan African
*24.1% European
*1.3% East Asian/Native American

In his 2016 book about the show, Finding Your Roots, Season 2: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. wrote that Khandi’s African ancestry includes Nigerian, and that her European ancestry result is West European and Irish, which Gates stated was not surprising for a person with ancestry from England and Scotland.

Source: Genealogy of Khandi Alexander – http://www.pbs.org

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Steve Cohen

June 5, 2016, 1:48 am

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Birth Name: Stephen Ira Cohen

Place of Birth: Memphis, Tennessee

Date of Birth: May 24, 1949

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Steve Cohen is an American politician. A Democrat, he has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee’s 9th congressional district, since 2007. Steve is said to be Tennessee’s first Jewish congressman.

Steve’s paternal grandparents were Jacob William Cohen (the son of Ida) and Anna F. Jacob and Anna were born in Poland.

Steve’s maternal grandmother was Tillie Klein.

Sources: https://www.crowdpac.com

Genealogy of Steve Cohen (focusing on his father’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Susan Davis

June 5, 2016, 1:55 am

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≪ Previous: Steve Cohen

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Birth Name: Susan Carol Alpert

Place of Birth: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Date of Birth: April 13, 1944

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Susan Davis is an American politician. A Democrat, she has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California since 2001, currently for California’s 53rd congressional district.

Susan is the daughter of Dorothy/Dora M. (Wexler) and Dr. George R. Alpert. All four of Susan’s grandparents were Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire.

Susan’s paternal grandparents were Barnet Alpert and Mary. Barnet was born in Wilna, Lithuania.

Susan’s maternal grandparents were Max/Maxwell Wexler and Edith Mary Yochelmo/Yochelman. Max was born in Kiev, Ukraine.

Sources: Genealogies of Susan Davis – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
https://www.geni.com

Jerrold Nadler

June 5, 2016, 1:58 am

≫ Next: Don Mattingly

≪ Previous: Susan Davis

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Birth Name: Jerrold Lewis Nadler

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

Date of Birth: June 13, 1947

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Jerrold Nadler is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat, he has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York since 1993, currently for New York’s 10th congressional district.

Jerrold’s paternal grandparents were Osias Nadler and Chaya Rifka/Cha-Rifka Spiegel (the daughter of Loeser Spiegel and Faige Eidel Offenberger).

Source: Genealogy of Jerrold Nadler (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Don Mattingly

June 7, 2016, 5:01 am

≫ Next: Eliot Engel

≪ Previous: Jerrold Nadler

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Birth Name: Donald Arthur Mattingly

Place of Birth: Evansville, Indiana

Date of Birth: April 20, 1961

Ethnicity: English, German, Irish

Don Mattingly is an American professional first baseman and coach. He is the manager of the Miami Marlins.

Don’s paternal grandparents were Joseph Archibald Mattingly (the son of Daniel Columbus Mattingly and Elizabeth Henrietta/Harriett Taylor Bean) and Caroline Virginia Wells (the daughter of William Perry Wells and Mary Ellen Elliott).

Don’s maternal grandparents were Arthur F. Hoffman and Hazel.

Sources: Genealogy of Don Mattingly – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Don Mattingly (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Photo by Debby Wong/Bigstock.com

Eliot Engel

June 7, 2016, 5:03 am

≫ Next: Tom Seaver

≪ Previous: Don Mattingly

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Birth Name: Eliot Lance Engel

Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York

Date of Birth: February 18, 1947

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Eliot Engel is an American politician. A Democrat, he has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York since 1989, currently for New York’s 16th congressional district.

Eliot’s paternal grandparents were Benjamin Engel and Dora. Benjamin and Dora were both born in Russia.

Sources: http://www.chabad.org

Genealogy of Eliot Engel (focusing on his father’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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Tom Seaver

June 13, 2016, 9:44 pm

≫ Next: Darryl Strawberry

≪ Previous: Eliot Engel

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Birth Name: George Thomas Seaver

Place of Birth: Fresno, California

Date of Birth: November 17, 1944

Ethnicity: English, possibly German and other

Tom Seaver is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the son of Betty Lee (Cline) and Charles Henry Seaver.

Tom Seaver’s ancestors were mainly of English descent and Tom’s mother’s maiden name “Cline” could be a German surname.

Tom’s paternal grandparents were Everett Herbert Seaver (the son of James Everett Seaver and Bella Ralsron Carr) and Gertrude Lillian Sharp (the daughter of Charles Henry Sharp and Katherine J.).

Tom’s maternal grandparents were George Thomas Cline (the son of William Henry Cline and Georgia Robinson) and Myrtle Brown (the daughter of George R. Brown and Elizabeth).

Sources: Genealogy of Tom Seaver (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Tom’s parents – https://familysearch.org

Photo by Prphotos

Darryl Strawberry

June 13, 2016, 9:46 pm

≫ Next: Steven Matz

≪ Previous: Tom Seaver

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Birth Name: Darryl Eugene Strawberry

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Date of Birth: March 12, 1962

Ethnicity: African-American

Darryl Strawberry is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is an ordained Christian minister and author. Darryl is the son of Ruby and Henry Strawberry, who are both African-American.

Source: http://www.biography.com

Photo by Prphotos

Steven Matz

June 13, 2016, 10:10 pm

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≪ Previous: Darryl Strawberry

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Birth Name: Steven Jakob Matz

Place of Birth: Stony Brook, Brookhaven, New York

Date of Birth: May 29, 1991

Ethnicity: German, Swedish

Steven Matz is an American professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is the son of Ron Matz and Lori Moller.

His paternal grandfather emigrated from Germany and settled in Long Island. Growing up, Steven would often be asked if he was Jewish, due to the surname “Matz” being similar to “Katz”.

Steven’s maternal grandfather is named Bert Moller. His great-grandfather, Borge Moller, was a well-known accordion player in Sweden. Despite this, Steven has said that he has no musical ability.

Sources: http://espn.go.com
http://nypost.com

Record of Steven’s mother – https://familysearch.org

Chris Hayes

June 16, 2016, 1:05 am

≫ Next: Bernie Williams

≪ Previous: Steven Matz

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Birth Name: Christopher Loffrado Hayes

Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York

Date of Birth: February 28, 1979

Ethnicity:
*Irish (father)
*Italian (mother)

Chris Hayes is an American political commentator, journalist, and author.

Chris is the son of Geri (Loffrado) and Roger Hayes. His father has Irish ancestry and his mother has Italian ancestry. Chris was raised Catholic.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com

Bernie Williams

June 18, 2016, 7:40 am

≫ Next: Andrea Mitchell

≪ Previous: Chris Hayes

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Birth Name: Bernabé Williams Figueroa, Jr.

Place of Birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Date of Birth: September 13, 1968

Ethnicity: Afro-Puerto Rican

Bernie Williams is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and musician. He played his entire 16-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the New York Yankees, from 1991 through 2006. Bernie is the son of Rufina and Bernabé Williams Figueroa, Sr.

Source: http://www.bernie51.com

Photo by Prphotos

Andrea Mitchell

June 20, 2016, 2:20 am

≫ Next: Ann Kirkpatrick

≪ Previous: Bernie Williams

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Place of Birth: New Rochelle, New York

Date of Birth: October 30, 1946

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Andrea Mitchell is an American television journalist, anchor, reporter, and commentator for NBC news, based in Washington D.C. Andrea is the daughter of Cecile and Sydney Mitchell, who are both Jewish.

Her father was the president of Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle, New York. She married economist Alan Greenspan in 1997 (Alan is also Jewish).

Source: http://www.nytimes.com

Photo by Prphotos

Ann Kirkpatrick

June 25, 2016, 1:46 pm

≫ Next: Terri Sewell

≪ Previous: Andrea Mitchell

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Place of Birth: McNary, Arizona

Date of Birth: March 24, 1950

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Scots-Irish (Northern Irish)

Ann Kirkpatrick is an American politician. A Democrat, she has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona since January 3, 2013, and previously from January 3, 2009 to January 3, 2011.

Ann was born on an Apache reservation, but is not of Native American descent.

Ann’s paternal grandparents were Jerry Rufus Kirkpatrick (the son of William Riley Kirkpatrick and Virginia Adeline McCain) and Leila E./Imogene Whittington (the daughter of John Heighter Whittington and Eliza Jane “Ella” Whiteside).

Ann’s maternal grandparents were Sherman Dedrick/Deaderick Cox (the son of John Alexander Cox and Minnie Nickle) and Jeanette Martha Bourdon (the daughter of Charles Nelson Bourdon and Martha Ralph).

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

Genealogy of Ann’s father (focusing on his own mother’s side) – http://findagrave.com

Obituary of Ann’s maternal grandmother, Jeanette Martha (Bourdon) Cox Bright – http://obits.arizonagravestones.org

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Terri Sewell

July 14, 2016, 9:24 am

≫ Next: Bartolo Colón

≪ Previous: Ann Kirkpatrick

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Birth Name: Terrycina Andrea Sewell

Place of Birth: Huntsville, Alabama

Date of Birth: January 1, 1965

Ethnicity: African-American

Terri Sewell is an American politician. A Democrat, she has served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, from Alabama’s 7th congressional district, since January 3, 2011.

Terri is the daughter of Andrew A. Sewell, a former athletic coach, and Nancy Gardner Sewell, a former city Councilwoman and librarian. Her mother was the first black woman to be elected as a councilwoman at Selma City.

Terri’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Tom M. Gardner, Jr. (the son of Tom M. Gardner and Willie Frances Sanders). Terri’s great-grandfather Tom was the son of Monroe Gardner and Sylvia “Sibbie” Robinson. Willie was the daughter of Alfred Sanders and Hettie Jackson.

Sources: https://sewell.house.gov

Genealogy of Terri Sewell (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Bartolo Colón

July 17, 2016, 5:44 am

≫ Next: Kerry James

≪ Previous: Terri Sewell

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Place of Birth: Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Date of Birth: May 24, 1973

Ethnicity: Dominican

Bartolo Colón is a Dominican American professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Bartolo is the son of Adriana and Miguel Colón. Bartolo is most likely, like many Dominicans, a mixture of Spanish, Native American, and Sub-Saharan African descent.

Source: http://www.jockbio.com

Photo by Debby Wong/Bigstock.com

Kerry James

July 17, 2016, 5:47 am

≫ Next: Jacoby Ellsbury

≪ Previous: Bartolo Colón

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Birth Name: Kerry James Horn

Place of Birth: Saanich, Canada

Date of Birth: August 2, 1986

Ethnicity: English, possibly other

Kerry James is a Canadian actor and producer. He is known for his roles in Heartland, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf, and the Music Teacher. His surname, “Horn”, is a surname of many ethnicities, including English, Scottish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Ashkenazi Jewish, and possibly other. However, Kerry is probably of English descent, being from an English speaking part of Canada.

Source: http://www.ancestry.com

Jacoby Ellsbury

July 20, 2016, 5:07 pm

≫ Next: Max Scherzer

≪ Previous: Kerry James

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Birth Name: Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury

Place of Birth: Madras, Oregon

Date of Birth: September 11, 1983

Ethnicity:
*English, German (father)
*Navajo (mother)

Jacoby Ellsbury is an American professional baseball player. He is the son of Maggie and Jim Ellsbury. His father is of English and German descent, and his mother is a full-blooded Navajo Native American.

Sources: https://web.archive.org
http://www.jockbio.com

Photo by Renossnowflake/Bigstock.com

Max Scherzer

July 20, 2016, 5:08 pm

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≪ Previous: Jacoby Ellsbury

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Birth Name: Maxwell M. Scherzer

Place of Birth: Chesterfield, Missouri

Date of Birth: July 27, 1984

Ethnicity: German, English, possibly other

Max Scherzer is an American professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. Max is the son of Jan (Shirck) and Brad Scherzer, who both have German surnames.

Max’s maternal grandparents were John Kahl Shirck (the son of Lyman Edgar Shirck and Hattie Kahl) and Frances Louise Martin (the daughter of Joseph W. Martin and Merle E.).

Sources: http://www.usatoday.com

Obituary of Max’s maternal grandmother, Frances Louise (Martin) Shirck – http://www.obittree.com