Birth Name: Daniel Jacob Radcliffe
Place of Birth: Fulham, Hammersmith, London, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 23 July, 1989
Ethnicity:
*Northern Irish, possibly English (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Daniel Radcliffe is a British actor. He is known for playing Harry Potter in the feature film series based on the popular book series.
Daniel is the son of Alan Radcliffe (Alan George Radcliffe), a literary agent, and Marcia Gresham (previously Marcia Gresham Jacobson), a casting agent.
Daniel’s father is from Northern Ireland, and is from a Protestant family; given the English surname “Radcliffe”, Daniel’s father likely also has English ancestry. Daniel has family in County Down.
Daniel’s mother was born in South Africa, to Jewish parents (their families were originally from Lithuania and Poland). Daniel’s maternal grandfather was from South Africa and Daniel’s maternal grandmother was born in England.
Daniel is an atheist, and has repeatedly stated that he self-identifies as Jewish, and is proud to be of Irish and Jewish origin. He has said:
Absolutely. I really do. My dad is Northern Irish and my mum is Jewish. That’s working blood. Though I am not religious in the least, I am very proud to be Jewish.
Daniel’s paternal grandparents were Teddy Radcliffe and Elsie May Crowther.
Daniel’s maternal grandfather was Wilfred Jacobson (the son of S. H. Jacobson). The Jacobson family in Johannesburg, South Africa, comes from Lithuania.
Daniel’s maternal grandmother is Muriel Jean Patricia Gresham (born Gershon; the daughter of Samuel Gershon and Rachel/Raie Diana Jacobs). Muriel was born in Rochford, Essex, England. Samuel was born in London, to Louis Gershon (born in Wrechen, Poland) and Jessie Lipman (born in Lurig, Poland). Rachel was also born in London, the daughter of Maurice Jacobs (the son of Yehuda Leib/Louis Krengel and Bessie Sara Marks) and Julia Jacobs or Millie Cohen (the daughter of Maurice Cohen).
Sources: Genealogies of Daniel Radcliffe – http://bygonesandbyways.blogspot.ca
http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
BMCL / Shutterstock.com
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Does anyone know why his mother was married as Gresham (her mother’s maiden name) and not Jacobson? Gresham is also given as Daniel’s mother’s maiden name.
Radcliffe’s grandmother was born under the surname “Gershon”, which was then changed to “Gresham”.
As I understand it, Radcliffe’s mother was raised by her own mother, and barely knew her own father, whose surname was “Jacobson”. Her name was Marcia Gresham Jacobson, and she presumably shortened the name to simply “Gresham” when she started working in showbusiness.
Opinion question if you don’t mind which is a more accurate test ancestry DNA or 23andme?
Probably 23andme.
I believe that is how they tested the celebrities on “Finding Your Roots.” I was wondering if president Obama had a hidden African ancestor on his mother’s side of the family in the 1600’s isn’t it possible for any U.S. president to have one if you go back 1 thousand + years??? I found this link interesting. http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2014/03/how_many_white_people_have_hidden_black_ancestry.html
I’ve use both 23andme is better but ancestry is good to neither of them are that detailed
“Radcliffe” is a classic English surname. As such, it is extremely likely that his Northern Irish ancestry in fact consists of English settlers in Ulster and their descendants. The fact that his Northern Irish side is Protestant makes this even more likely.
The name “Radcliffe” is both Anglo-Saxon and locational, meaning that it could not have arisen anywhere but England. To illustrate the point, it would be like attributing English ancestry to an American called Kelly or O’Sullivan based on one of his ancestors’ having been born in England. It would be appropriate to acknowledge that Radcliffe is of English ancestry.
YEAHHHHH HARRY POTTER IS JEWISH!!! sheppinnnnnnn
he has the Roshashanar smile :-)
Is he circumcised?
Should he?
He has stated that he is circumcized.
Some people post here their ideas without any facts
O’k, if you want. Perhaps he did it after those pics.
Maybe his kids lawsuit him later
he looks exactly what he is,Jewish features are very strong, I think I have a “jewdar”
He is so short, but yes, he is Jewish. :D
Daniel identifies himself as Jewish.
Of course, I ment circumsision! I’m pleased, that smb. understands humour. Only people, who watshed the scene in theater can prove, if pics are fake. I don’t watch such bulls.. and wasn’t with him in Sauna. And you?
nnnn’s comment about Beckham is bizarre. The skinhead element of English football died out decades ago, and Muslims are conspicuous by their absence from English football, both on the pitch and in the stands. The Jews who have played in the top English leagues over the last few decades have faced little or nothing in the way of anti-Jewish sentiment.
he is jew =D
No Harry Potter comments?How weird.
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