George W. Bush

official photo of George W. Bush, c. early 2000s

Birth Name: George Walker Bush

Place of Birth: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 6, 1946

Ethnicity: English, some German, small amounts of Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, Irish, French, Dutch, Swedish, and Belgian [Flemish], and 1/256th Moravian

George Walker Bush is an American politician. A Republican, he served as the 43rd President of the United States, from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009. He was elected to the position in 2000 and 2004. He was also the 46th Governor of Texas, from January 17, 1995 to December 21, 2000. Bush’s 2004 re-election is the only time a Republican Party nominee for president has won the popular vote since 1988.

President Bush was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2000 and 2004.

President Bush is the son of Barbara Bush (born Barbara Pierce) and George H. W. Bush (George Herbert Walker Bush), who was the 41st President of the United States, from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 1993, as well as Vice President of the United States, from January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989. His family was wealthy and upper-class, with many New England ancestors dating back to the 1600s. He is the brother of politician Jeb Bush (John Ellis Bush), who was Governor of Florida, from January 5, 1999 to January 2, 2007; and the uncle of politician George P. Bush (George Prescott Bush). President Bush is married to educator Laura Bush. Their twin daughters are activist Barbara Bush and teacher, author, and journalist Jenna Bush Hager.

President Bush is largely of English ancestry, with some German roots, and small amounts of Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, Irish, French, Dutch, Swedish, and Belgian [Flemish], and 1/256th Moravian, ancestry.

President Bush and his father were the second father-and-son U.S. president duo, after John Adams and John Quincy Adams. There was also a pair of U.S. Presidents who were grandfather-and-grandson, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.

President Bush’s paternal grandfather was Prescott Sheldon Bush (the son of Samuel Prescott Bush and Flora Sheldon). President Bush’s grandfather Prescott was born in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, and was a politician and banker, who served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut, from November 4, 1952 to January 3, 1963. Samuel was the son of The Rev. James Smith Bush, an Episcopalian minister, religious writer, and attorney, and of Harriet Eleanor Fay. Florence was the daughter of Robert Emmet Sheldon and Mary Elizabeth Butler.

President Bush’s paternal grandmother was Dorothy Wear Walker (the daughter of George Herbert “Bert” Walker and Lucretia “Loulie” Wear). Dorothy was born in Maine, near Walker’s Point, York County. President Bush’s great-grandfather George was a banker and businessperson. The Walker Cup of golf is named after him. He was the son of David Davis “D. D.” Walker, a prominent businessperson, who co-founded the clothing brand Ely & Walker, and of Martha Adela Beaky. Lucretia was the daughter of James Hutchinson/Hutchenson Wear and Nannie/Nancy Eliza Holliday.

President Bush’s maternal grandfather was Marvin Pierce (the son of Scott Pierce and Mabel Marvin). President Bush’s grandfather Marvin was born in Sharpsville, Mercer, Pennsylvania, and was the president of McCall Corporation, a publisher of women’s magazines McCall’s and Redbook. Scott was the son of Jonas James Pierce, who was born in Swanzey, Cheshire, New Hampshire, and of Kate Pritzel, who was born in Zweizel, Bavaria, Germany, to a German father and a French mother, from Toulon. President Bush’s great-grandmother Mabel was the daughter of Jerome Place Marvin and Martha Ann Stokes.

President Bush’s maternal grandmother was Pauline Robinson (the daughter of James Edgar Robinson and Lula/Lulu Dell Flickinger). Pauline was born in Richwood, Union, Ohio. President Bush’s great-grandfather James was an Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, from 1919 to 1932. James was the son of John Welch Robinson, Jr. and Sarah Coe. Lula was the daughter of Jacob Marion Flickinger and Sarah Haines.

President Bush’s matrilineal line can be traced to Mary Jane Sprague, who was born, c. 1824, in Ohio.

There is a claim on several web sites that one of President Bush’s paternal great-great-great-great-great-grandfathers, Victor Emanuel Bechi, was Italian. It is not clear if this claim is accurate. Victor Emanuel Bechi is described in one reference book as having come from “Strasburg in the Province of Alsace-Lorraine” (in “Americans of gentle birth and their ancestors,” Volume 1, Hannah Daviess Pittman, Genealogical Pub. Co., 1970). That suggests that Victor Emanuel Bechi may have been of ethnic German origin. The surname Bechi can be Italian.

President Bush is a sixth cousin, once removed, of actress Lily James. President Bush’s paternal great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Sarah Horton, was a sister of Lily’s paternal great-great-great-great-grandfather, Stephen Horton. Their parents were Comfort Horton and Joanna Wood.

President Bush is also a first cousin, four times removed, of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court David Davis. President Bush’s four times maternal great-grandparents, John Mercer and Rebecca Davis, were also Justice Davis’ maternal grandparents.

Sources: Genealogies of President Bush – http://www.wargs.com
http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://famouskin.com

Pictures and genealogies of President Bush’s family – http://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of President Bush’s paternal grandparents, Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Wear Walker – https://www.familysearch.org

Some notes on the Moravian roots of President Bush – http//www.svu2000.org

13 Responses

  1. cdonorab says:

    It’s possible he had Sephardic Jewish ancestry way way back. The one person I found who is his ancestor who was Spanish, sancha de ayala, was not and actually was a descendent of Muslim emirs of Spain who traced their ancestors to the middle east.

  2. andrew says:

    follers add the Hispanic member of Bush clan, Jeb’s son.

  3. fukyou says:

    yo i thought he was 100% ‘Murican

  4. Hippiboy says:

    Is it possible he has Sephardic Jewish ancestry far back? I read about his Spanish roots and I though I read one of his ancestors were on the conversion list?

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