Birth Name: Mateus Cole Ward
Place of Birth: Burbank, California
Date of Birth: January 18, 1999
Ethnicity:
*Italian (mother)
Mateus Ward is an American actor. His father, Justin Ward, is a director, producer, and filmmaker.
Mateus’s mother is Italian. Mateus’s father may have English ancestry.
Photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Brian Edmund Posehn
Place of Birth: Sacramento, California
Date of Birth: July 6, 1966
Ethnicity: German, Swedish, Norwegian, English, Irish, 1/16th Italian
Brian Posehn is an American comedian, actor, musician, and writer.
Brian’s paternal grandfather was Edmund John Posehn (the son of Heinrich Posehn and Christina Buehler). Edmund was born in Kronau, Saskatchewan, Canada. Heinrich was an ethnic German, born in Eigenfeld Colony, Cherson, South Russia, to Gottlieb Posehn and Sophia Reichert. Christina was also an ethnic German, born in Ebenfeld Colony, South Russia, to Michael Beiler and Catherine/Katherine Glick. Heinrich and Christina were the first couple to marry in the Kronau Bethlehem Church, on 23 June, 1895, in Kronau, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Brian’s paternal grandmother was Clara Josephine Peterson (the daughter of Oscar Julius Peterson and Emma Theresa Skaug). Clara was born in Minnesota. Oscar was Swedish, the son of John August Peterson and Lotta Anderson. Emma was born in Minnesota, to Norwegian parents, Richard Martin Skaug and Hanna Marie Johsdatter.
Brian’s maternal grandparents were George Turner and Norma Ziegler (the daughter of Robert W. Ziegler and Irene Anita Schiller). George likely had English and Irish ancestry. Robert was born in Illinois, to a German father and an English mother. Irene was the daughter of William Schiller, whose parents were German, and of Rose W. Ferrea, whose parents were Italian.
Sources: Genealogy of Brian Posehn – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Brian’s paternal grandfather, Edmund John Posehn, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Brian’s paternal grandmother, Clara Josephine Peterson, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Brian’s maternal grandmother, Norma Ziegler, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Brian’s maternal great-grandmother, Irene Anita Schiller, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Photo by Prphotos
Place of Birth: Saugus, Massachusetts
Ethnicity:
*Albanian (father)
*Italian, Irish (mother)
Tracee Chimo is an American actress. She was raised Catholic.
Tracee’s maternal grandparents were John Gerard Welsh (the son of Frank Augustine Welsh and Mary Elizabeth Coleman) and Ann M. Dinallo (the daughter of Antonio Dinallo and Adeline Giancola). Frank was born in Massachusetts, of Irish descent. Mary was also born in Massachusetts, to Irish parents. Antonio and Adeline were both Italian.
Sources: Tracee’s maternal grandfather, John Gerard Welsh, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Tracee’s maternal grandfather, John Gerard Welsh – http://www.legacy.com
Tracee’s maternal grandmother, Ann M. Dinallo, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Tracee’s maternal grandmother, Ann M. (Dinallo) Welsh – http://www.legacy.com
Photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Travis Hunter Tope
Place of Birth: Bexar, Texas
Date of Birth: November 11, 1991
Ethnicity: English, some Scottish and Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), 1/8th Italian, distant German
Travis Tope is an American actor. He co-starred in the film Men, Women & Children, and has been cast in a role in the upcoming film Independence Day 2.
Travis’s paternal grandparents are Virgil Maurice Tope (the son of Millard Tope and Dora Taylor) and Janie Louise Chiodo (the daughter of Russell Chiodo and Eva Delia Coleman). Russell was of Italian descent.
Travis’s maternal grandparents are Ira Lee Neal (the son of Bud Neal and Esther Williams) and Bettie/Betty Glenn McQueen (the daughter of Austin Glenn McQueen and Bertha Cathey).
Sources: Genealogy of Travis’s paternal grandfather, Virgil Maurice Tope – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Another genealogy of Travis’s paternal grandfather, Virgil Maurice Tope (focusing on his own father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Travis’s paternal great-grandmother, Dora Taylor, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Travis’s mother (focusing on her own mother’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Obituary of Travis’s maternal grandmother, Bettie/Betty Glenn (McQueen) Neal – http://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Travis’s maternal great-grandmother, Bertha Cathey (focusing on her own father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Stephanie Italia Ricci
Place of Birth: Richmond Hill, Canada
Date of Birth: October 29, 1986
Ethnicity: Italian
Family Info:
Italia Ricci is a Canadian actress. She was born in Ontario, Canada to parents of Italian descent.
Birth Name: Thomas Daniel Mottola, Jr.
Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States
Date of Birth: July 14, 1949
Ethnicity: Italian
Tommy Mottola is an American music executive. He is currently married to Mexican musician Thalía. Tommy is the son of Angelina “Lena/Peggy” (Bonetti) and Thomas Mottola, Sr.
Tommy’s paternal grandmother was named Marie.
Tommy’s maternal grandparents were Daniel Bonetti (the son of Vincenza ?) and Danielle(?).
Sources: Tommy’s parents on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Tommy’s maternal grandparents on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: James Vincent Russo
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, US
Date of Birth: April 23, 1953
Ethnicity: Italian
Family Info: James Russo is an American film and television actor who has appeared in over 90 films in three decades. He is of Italian descent.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Anthony Vincent Rizzo
Place of Birth: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Date of Birth: August 8, 1989
Ethnicity: Italian, English, Polish
Anthony Rizzo is currently the 1st baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
Anthony’s maternal grandparents are Russell Reid and JoAnn Frances Hill (the daughter of Francis Hill and Helen Gorski).
Sources: http://www.bleachernation.com
Obituary of Anthony’s maternal grandmother, JoAnn Frances (Hill) Reid – http://www.tennantfuneralhome.com
Photo URL (by Prphotos.com):
Birth Name: George Raymond Martin
Place of Birth: Bayonne, New Jersey
Date of Birth: September 20, 1948
Ethnicity:
*43.75% Irish
*25% Italian
*12.5% English
*12.5% German
*6.25% French-Canadian
George R. R. Martin is an American writer.
George’s paternal grandparents were Louis Aloysis Martin (originally Louis Massella) and Grace Dorothy Jones (the daughter of George Broughton Jones and Anna Gassman). Louis was Italian. George was born in New Jersey, to English parents. Anna was born in New Jersey, to German parents.
George’s maternal grandparents were Thomas H. Brady (the son of James Brady) and Catherine T. Wall (the daughter of James N. Wall and Catherine Lantry). Thomas was born in New Jersey, to Irish parents. Catherine Wall was born in Ohio, to an Irish father and a Canadian mother who was of French-Canadian and Irish descent.
Sources: George’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
George’s paternal grandmother, Grace Dorothy Jones, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
George’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Mario Eduardo Testino Silva
Place of Birth: Lima, Perù
Date of Birth: October 30, 1954
Ethnicity: Italian (father), Spanish, Irish (mother)
Family Info: Mario Testino is the world’s most well known and celebrated fashion photographer. Testino has shot fashion stories for Vogue, Gucci, V and Vanity Fair. Celebrity subjects have most famously included Diana, Princess of Wales and her sons.
He was born in a Peruvian middle class family to Mario Testino and Teresa Silva, who has Spanish and Irish ancestry. In 1982 Testino moved permanently to London, UK.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/fashion/03iht-rmario03.html?_r=0
Photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Noel Albert Guglielmi
Place of Birth: Santa Monica, California
Date of Birth: 1970
Ethnicity: Italian (father), Mexican (mother)
Noel Gugliemi is an American actor, known for his typecast portrayals of stereotypical Southern California gansgsters.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Louis Jude Ferrigno
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, US
Date of Birth: November 9, 1951
Ethnicity: Italian
Lou Ferrigno is an American actor and retired professional bodybuilder, best known for his starring role in the television series The Incredible Hulk (1978). Ferrigno is of Italian descent. He was born to Victoria and Matthew “Matty” Ferrigno.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: March 26, 1974
Ethnicity: Italian
Natasha Leggero is an American comedian, actress, and television personality. She is of Italian descent.
Source: https://gpodder.net
Photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Shelley Catherine Hennig
Place of Birth: Metairie, Louisiana
Date of Birth: January 2, 1987
Ethnicity:
*German, Swiss-German, Scottish, English (father)
*Italian (mother)
Shelley Hennig is an American actress. She held the 2004 Miss Teen USA title.
Shelley’s paternal grandparents were August “Gus” Hennig (the son of Godfred Hennig, Sr. and Sarah Daisy Switzer) and Frances Zitrell Payne. Godfred was born in Friedland, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Sarah’s father, Frederick Walter Switzer, Jr., was of Swiss (Swiss-German) descent. Sarah’s mother, Sarah Ellen McVey, was Scottish.
Shelley’s maternal grandparents are Roy Joseph Distefano (the son of Angelo Distefano and Agnes) and Theresa Schillage (the daughter of Angelo Schillage and Catherine/Catie). Roy was born in Louisiana, to Italian parents. Theresa was also born in Louisiana, also to Italian parents.
Sources: Obituary and genealogy of Shelley’s paternal grandfather, August “Gus” Hennig – http://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Shelley’s maternal grandfather, Roy Joseph Distefano – http://files.usgwarchives.net
Shelley’s maternal grandmother, Theresa Schillage, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Samuel Alexander Mendes
Place of Birth: Reading, England, UK
Date of Birth: 1 August 1965
Ethnicity:
*Portuguese, Italian (father)
*Jewish (mother)
Sam Mendes is a British film and stage director. He is known for helming American Beauty (1999), which earned him the Oscar for Best Director, and the James Bond movies Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015).
Mendes is the only child of Valerie Helene (Barnett) and Jameson Peter Mendes. His father, who is from Trinidad, is of Portuguese and Italian descent, and his mother is an English Jew.
Sam was previously married to actress Kate Winslet.
Sam’s paternal grandparents were Alfred Mendes (Alfred Hubert Mendes, the son of Alfred Mendes and Isabella Jardine), a writer, and Ellen Perachini. Sam’s grandfather Alfred was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Trani, Apulia, Italy
Date of Birth: November 13, 1979
Ethnicity: Italian
Family Info: Riccardo Scamarcio is an Italian actor. He is married to actress Valeria Golino.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Joan Elizabeth Osborne
Place of Birth: Anchorage, Kentucky, United States
Date of Birth: July 8, 1962
Ethnicity:
*English, some Irish and Welsh (father)
*3/4 German, 1/4 Italian (mother)
Joan Osborne is an American musician known for her recording of the Eric Bazilian song “One of Us”. Her parents are Ruth Ann (Yunker) and Francis Gerald “Jerry” Osborn/Osborne.
Joan’s paternal grandparents are Thomas Walter Osborne (the son of Richard “Dick” Matthew Osbourn and Anna Alice “Allie/Annie” Blandford) and Clevie Marie Clements (the daughter of Robert Lee Clements and Mary Regina Simms).
Joan’s maternal grandparents are Carl Annuociation Yunker (the son of Arthur Yunker and Carolyn “Carrie” Gazzollo) and Helen Marie Schimpeler (the daughter of Charles Henry Schimpeler and Helen Marie Bohne). Arthur was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to German immigrants Johann (later John) Yunker and Elisabeth (later Elizabeth) Wolf. Carrie was also born in Louisville, to Italian immigrants Jacko (later Jacob) Gazzollo and Angelina Gatto. All of Charles Henry and Helen Marie’s grandparents were German.
Sources: Birth record of Joan Osborne – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Genealogy of Joan’s father – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Birth record of Joan’s father – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Obituary of Joan’s father – http://www.newcomerkentuckiana.com
Birth record of Joan’s mother – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Joan’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Photo by Prphotos
Place of Birth: Springfield, Vermont, United States
Date of Birth: April 13, 1972
Ethnicity:
*1/2 Italian, 1/4 English, 1/4 Welsh (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Aaron Lewis is an American musician who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of the rock group Staind. His parents are Sondra Jeanne (Nadelman) and Theodore Carrol Lewis.
Aaron’s paternal grandfather was of Welsh and English descent, and Aaron’s paternal grandmother was of Italian descent. Aaron’s mother is Jewish (her family is from Russia, Poland and Germany).
Aaron’s paternal grandparents are Gordon Lewis (the son of Edward A. “Fred/Ned” Lewis and Jemima Thorne) and Elia Pantrini (the daughter of Guiseppe “Joseph” Pantrini and Marrietta “Mary” Pacetti). Edward was born in Wales, to Edward Lewis and Margaret. Jemima was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland (present-day Newfoundland and Labrador), to English immigrants, Richard Thorne and Mary Short. Guiseppe and Marrietta were Italian immigrants.
Sources: Aaron’s birth record – https://familysearch.org
Aaron’s father’s birth record – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Aaron’s paternal grandfather, Gordon Lewis – http://records.ancestry.com
Birth record of Aaron’s paternal grandfather, Gordon Lewis – https://familysearch.org
Aaron’s paternal grandfather, Gordon Lewis, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Aaron’s paternal grandmother, Elia Pantrini – https://familysearch.org
Photo by Prphotos
Place of Birth: Dülmen, Germany
Date of Birth: 22 July 1974
Ethnicity: German, 1/8 or 1/16th Sicilian
Potente is a German film actress and singer. She starred in The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy.
She was born to Dieter and Hildegard Potente. Her surname, “Potente”, means “powerful” in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The surname stems from her great-grandfather or great-great-grandfather (it is unclear which), a Sicilian slater who emigrated to Germany during the 19th century.
Photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Valeria Raquel Mazza
Place of Birth: Rosario, Argentina
Date of Birth: February 17, 1972
Ethnicity: Italian, German, Spanish (father), Portuguese or Spanish, possible other (mother)
Valeria Mazza is an Argentine model and businesswoman. She was born to Raúl Mariano Mazza Ceriani and Monica Ferreira.
Valeria’s paternal grandparents were Raúl Mazza Wolf (the son of Mariano Mazza Bacigalupo and Elisa Wolf) and Olga Ceriani.
The surname “Ferreira” is usually Portuguese or Spanish Galician.
Source: Genealogy of Valeria’s father – http://www.genealogiafamiliar.net
Photo by Prphotos.com