Jon Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi in 2009, Dylan Armajani / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: John Francis Bongiovi, Jr.
Place of Birth: Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: March 2, 1962
Ethnicity:
*25% Italian-Sicilian
*25% Slovak
*25% Polish
*25% Swiss-German
Jon Bon Jovi is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor. He is a member of the rock band Bon Jovi. The band’s other members include/have included David Bryan, Richie Sambora, and Tico Torres. His acting roles include the films Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Little City, No Looking Back, Homegrown, U-571, Pay It Forward, Vampires: Los Muertos, and Cry_Wolf, and the series Ally McBeal.
Jon was born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Carol (Sharkey), a florist, and John Francis Bongiovi, a barber. He is a cousin of record producer Tony Bongiovi and actor Robert Hegyes. Jon is married to Dorothea Hurley, with whom he has four children, including actor Jake Bongiovi.
Jon’s father’s ancestry is half Italian-Sicilian and half Slovak. Jon’s mother’s ancestry is half Polish and half Swiss-German. Jon has sometimes been said to have Russian ancestry. This is not accurate.
Jon was evidently described by Spin magazine as a relative of singer and actor Frank Sinatra. It is not clear, if accurate, what form this relation may take.
Jon’s paternal grandfather was Louis Bongiovi (the son of Giuseppe/Joseph Bongiovi and Lucia/Louise Arcuri). Louis was born in Pennsylvania, to Italian parents. Giuseppe was born in Cianciana, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, the son of Louis Bongiovi and Annie. Lucia was born in Cattolica Eraclea, also in Agrigento, the daughter of Emanuele Arcuri and Patti Anna.
Jon’s paternal grandmother was named Elizabeth M. Benkovsky (the daughter of Jan Benkovsky and Maria). Jon’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Pennsylvania, to Slovak parents.
Jon’s maternal grandfather was Michael Raymond Sharkey (the son of Paul Sharkey and Anna Reherkowitz/Rehercowicz/Regarkewicz/Rehurciewicz/Regarkevitch). Michael was born in New York, and raised in Pennsylvania. His parents were ethnic Polish immigrants (listed as being from Poland, Russia, or Lithuania, depending on the census). Michael’s surname was also spelled as Shirky. Paul was the son of Charley Sharkey and Sophia.
Jon’s maternal grandmother was Martha Wilhelmina Ludwig (the daughter of Max Ludwig and Helen Evelyn Sohler). Martha was born in New York, and was also raised in Pennsylvania. Max was born in Switzerland, of Swiss-German descent, the son of Otto Ludwig and Sussette Schulthess. Helen was born in New York, and was also of Swiss-German descent; Helen’s father, John Sohler, was born in Switzerland, and Helen’s mother, Sophia Richter, was born in New York.
Sources: Genealogy of Jon Bon Jovi – https://www.geni.com
Jon’s paternal grandfather, Louis Bongiovi, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jon’s maternal grandfather, Michael Raymond Sharkey, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jon’s maternal grandmother, Martha Wilhelmina Ludwig, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
His father was Sicilian and Slovak, his mother German and Russian
http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/jon-bon-jovi-how-i-became-a-poster-boy-for-marriage-68850.html
Hmm…Practically everywhere else mentions Carol Sharkey as Irish Italian.
I’ve never seen a good source for Irish. Just copies of IMDB or similar websites. In fact, Bon Jovi gave an interview to an Irish paper and said he WISHED he was Irish (and the rest of the interview says he’s Italian, German and Russian – doesn’t mention that his father is part Slovak, like the other paper, but I’m sure that’s true).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3670222/Jon-Bon-Jovi-New-hair-old-roots.html
Great research thanks Dave.
If that’s the case the Sharkey’s must have been called something else originally as Sharkey is an Irish name.
that could be possible Dirk. I wanna find that
that could be possible Dirk. I wanna find that out
Wow lol i got itallian too but i dont study it althouh maybe i should seeing tht there is confusion on here by the way john francis bongiovi jr ROCKS!!!! :)
Yet another Italian Irish mix. It’s all good. :)
stephanie who lives in italy then my grandfother is italin and siccilan if hes is both and both his parents are italin what does that tell you it tells that you are both because there connected siccily is an island around italy italian and siccilan people live ther they are all connected
first of all i should know i learn about it in school and proud to be ond siccily is not attachedto itly although your italin if siccilan my grandfother God rest his soul even told me hes from ther and every one ele in my family is and its a damn shame that you you sit there and not even looking it up can say what you dont even know so go study and read som bookb because im 100 percent italin sacillin included so look thath up