Birth Name: John Roger Stephens
Place of Birth: Springfield, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 28, 1978
Ethnicity: African-American (including likely Fula Guinea-Bissauan, Mende Sierra Leonean), some European
John Legend is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.
John’s parents, Phyllis Elaine (Lloyd) and Ronald Lamar Stephens, were/are both African-American. He studied English with an emphasis on African-American studies at University. He is married to model Chrissy Teigen.
A picture of John with his wife, child, grandmother, and father can be seen here. A picture of John with his mother can be seen here.
John’s paternal grandfather was Arthur Benjamin Stephens (the son of John B. Stephens and Martha Cape). John’s great-grandfather John Stephens was the son of Henry Stephens and Julie. Martha was the daughter of John Kimsey Cape and Antinete.
John’s paternal grandmother is Marjorie Maxine Smith (the daughter of Dennis Wiley Smith and Esther Louise Ryder). Dennis was the son of Sidney Smith and Matilda. Esther was the daughter of James Ryder and Bessie/Bethinia Underwood.
John’s maternal grandfather was Raymond Eugene Lloyd, Sr. (the son of William/Will Lloyd and Lillie Beatrice Greason). Raymond was a Pastor Emeritus. Lillie was the daughter of Monroe/Mon Greason and Laura Whitfield.
John’s maternal grandmother is Elmira Bass (the daughter of Ralph Lewis Bass and Elmira/Elmyra Mack). Ralph was the son of Richard Bass and Mary Ella/Ellen Buchannon.
A DNA test taken by the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) stated that John’s genetic ancestry is:
*64% African
*32% European
*4% Native American
The DNA test stated that John’s patrilineal line likely came from the Fula people in Guinea-Bissau, and that John’s matrilineal line likely came from the Mende people in Sierra Leone. In his 2014 book based on the series, Finding Your Roots: The Official Companion to the PBS Series, Gates writes on page 266, “One analysis of [John’s] admixture indicates that his white ancestors were from southeastern Europe, around Romania, but he also shares genetic material with people living in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Jamaica”.
Sources: Genealogies of John Legend – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
Obituary of John’s maternal grandfather, Raymond Eugene Lloyd, Sr. – http://www.legacy.com
Information about John’s appearance on Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) – http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com
http://www.pbs.org
Source: Photo by Prphotos.com
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/springfield/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=124061897
John Legend with his wife, kid, grandmother and father: http://www.etonline.com/media/video/2016/06/24245071/et_LunaGrandparents_060816_hulu.jpg
John and his mom: http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/recording-artist-joh-legend-and-mother-phyllis-stevens-attend-a-party-picture-id83475606
I think “Fula” and “Fulani” should have a single label, since they are the same tribe.
He looks very African with lighter skin. The face, nose, head shape. Good thing he knows what part of Africa and tribes he’s from. He’s a third European too.
I’ve seen Fulanis with skin as light as his. Africans come in different shades
He is Khoisan
@Follers go to page 266 of the book Finding Your Roots by Henry Louis Gates Jr. In the middle of the first paragraph it says, “One analysis of his admixture indicates that his white ancestors were from southeastern Europe, around ROMANIA, but he also shares genetic material with people living in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Jamaica.” Page 266
Guys, look up the San or Khoisan Bush people of South Africa. They have your so called “Asian” features such as epithancal folds, slanted eyes and skin lighter than caramel. John Legend could very well be mixed to an extent like the average black American, but you could compare him to Nelson Mandela and there would not really be a big difference.
Follers please add the specific areas and tribes to the profile. http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/05/finding-your-roots-with-henry-louis_14.html
There’s definitely some Asian in there.
John Legend, Christine Teigen, and Rita Ora again? Every time there’s an awards show they’re always the most-viewed pages, regardless of their level of involvement (did Ariana Grande take the night off?).
Was no one interested in the ancestry of Eddie Redmayne or Julianne Moore?
Yeh I know. I guess John and Christine are perceived to be more Ethnically ambiguous to a lot of people.
He is 32% European descent so I think Irish, United Kingdom (most likely English), and southeastern Europe (around Romania) should be added to his ethnicity.
Romania? What are the chances of that?
@bearboy, I have never ever heard of that. Where did you get that one from??
The asian features he so called has originated in South Africa with the Kalahari black bushmen , who were the oldest people on earth. I think people need to get away from the slavery notion that you have to be jet black skinned to be 100 percent black. Not true
Link: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzu8A0Nua1c/TXYCfJVKeeI/AAAAAAAAPcw/9eoPfl5WHGg/s1600/P1010362-1.JPG
AFRICANS often times have Asian features. So basically he doesn’t have to have Asian or native ancestry to get those features. His ancestors probably came from Ghana and the surrounding areas where similar features are.
Ghanaian doubtful, to me he looks to be of partially Yoruba decent of Nigeria, Benin, and Angola. Almond shaped eyes is a trait of some tribes in continental Africa. Oh course, he may have European ancestry due to this country’s history of admixture.
He Does Look A Bit Asian.
Probably some minor Amerindian heritage.
he isnt asian but i bet there is a lil somethin (european or native merican) in this man
this bruddah is denying his Asian side.
this half-Asian M O N G R E L.
this bruddah is handsome, I wonder how many white women he have banged.
Marvin Gaye had a similar look
Him and Marvin Gaye do NOT look alike. Da fuq?
http://jsonportfolio.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/m1.jpg
slight resemblance
Hell No. They Don’t Look Alike At All.
Honestly He Looks Like A Black Version Of Joseph Gordon Levitt. LMAO. JGL Looks Part Asian As Well.
He must have some Asian ancestry way back. He looks Asian-influenced.
cherokee?
I agree! Clearly some Asian ancestry here.
he has typical saka suloo look
great performer
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