Jordan Peterson
Birth Name: Jordan Bernt Peterson
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date of Birth: June 12, 1962
Ethnicity: Norwegian, Irish, German, English
Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist, author, public intellectual and commentator, self-help figure, and podcaster. He has taught at Harvard, and been a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, and Chancellor of Ralston College. He has described himself as a “classic British liberal” and “traditionalist.” His books and lectures combine psychology, neuroscience, mythology, religion, literature, and philosophy.
He is the son of Beverley, a librarian, and Walter Peterson, a school teacher. He was raised in Fairview, a small town in northwest Alberta. Jordan is married to Tammy Roberts, with whom he has two children.
Jordan’s paternal grandfather was adopted, by parents surnamed Peterson and Svingen. Jordan has said that his father had a notable amount of Irish ancestry. Jordan’s legal great-great-grandparents were Hans Petersen, who was born in Segalstad, Gausdal, Oppland, Norway, and Gelena Petersen, who was also from Oppland.
Jordan’s paternal grandmother was the daughter of parents surnamed Kittleson and Humberstad. Jordan’s great-great-grandmother Anne was born in Norway.
Jordan’s maternal grandfather was Francis/Frank Conrad Ponath (the son of John/Jonah Ponath, Sr. and Theresia/Theresa Erhardt/Brenna). Francis was born in Ohio, U.S., to German parents. Theresia was born in Muhlbuhl, Landkreis Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria.
Jordan’s maternal grandmother was Winnifred/Winifred Palmer (the daughter of William Henry Palmer and Elizabeth Lee Harris). Winifred was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to English parents, her father from Somerset and her mother from Bristol.
Sources: https://www.facebook.com
Article about Jordan’s ties to the Kwakwaka’wakw people – https://thewalrus.ca
Genealogy of Jordan Peterson – https://www.geni.com
What about that Facebook link? In it, he mentions that his paternal grandfather was adopted. That might make it unlikely that he was also of Norwegian origin.
Jordan Peterson’s mother is half English + half German. Jordan’s mother is Beverly (Ponath) Peterson, the daughter of Francis Conrad Ponath (1905-1972) and Winifred Palmer (1907-1998). Francis was the son of Jonah Ponath and Theresia Ponath, both German. and Winifred was the daughter of William Henry Palmer (1881-1917) and Elizabeth Lee Harris (1883-1972), both English born.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170035406
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170035408
Geni.com
Where does Jordan’s Irish ancestry come from?
It’d have to be Kittleson, of course, since we know where all other six great-grandparents came from. But the closest I can get to Ireland for Kittleson is that it’s sometimes a Scottish name.
So I’m not sure where it’s coming from.
The Facebook source has Peterson stating “I found out that my Norwegian father was in large part Irish. His dad was adopted. Surprise.” That I get. But why is Irish listed under mother instead of father is why I am confused?
Was this changed since I last spoke with you? Because no Irish is listed under the maternal grandparents.