Kirsten Gillibrand

Gillibrand in 2014, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik

Place of Birth: Albany, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 9, 1966

Ethnicity: Irish, as well as Austrian, German, Scottish, French-Canadian, one eighth Ashkenazi Jewish

Kirsten Gillibrand is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as a U.S. Senator from New York, since January 26, 2009. She was previously a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York, from January 3, 2007 to January 26, 2009.

She was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 2020.

Kirsten is the daughter of Polly Edwina (Noonan) and Douglas Paul Rutnik. She is married to British venture capitalist Jonathan Gillibrand, with whom she has two children.

Her ancestry is Irish, as well as Austrian, German, Scottish, French-Canadian, and one eighth Ashkenazi Jewish. Kirsten was raised Catholic.

Kirsten’s paternal grandfather was Francis George Rutnik (the son of Gregor Frederick Rutnik and Margaret M. Zwack). Francis was born in New York. Gregor was Austrian, from Vienna, and was the son of Gregor Rutnik and Tressa/Theresa Shofronick. Kirsten’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in New York, to German parents, with roots in Bavaria, Bartholomew Zwack and Ursula Prechtl.

Kirsten’s paternal grandmother was Margaret/Margery Jane Allen (the daughter of Benjamin J. Allan/Allen and Margaret Smith). Kirsten’s grandmother Margaret was born in New York. Benjamin was born in either New York or Russia, and was the son of Russian Jewish parents, Aaron/Arron Isaac Allanginsky/Allan/Allen and Jennie Levine. Kirsten’s great-grandmother Margaret was the daughter of Owen Smith and Rose, and had Irish ancestry. Kirsten’s grandmother was a practicing Catholic.

Kirsten’s maternal grandfather was Peter Edward Noonan (the son of Peter J. Noonan and Josephine Cooney). Kirsten’s grandfather Peter was born in New York, to Irish parents, with her father having been from County Galway.

Kirsten’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy “Polly” Noonan (born Dorothea E. McLean, the daughter of John Sherman McLean and Dorilla A./Rosalie Giguere). Kirsten’s grandmother Polly Noonan was born in New York. She was a founder of the Albany Democratic Women’s Club, and a prominent leader in the organization of Erastus Corning 2nd, the longtime Mayor of Albany. She had Irish, Scottish, and French-Canadian ancestry. John was the son of John S./F. McLean, whose parents were Irish and Scottish, and of Elizabeth A., whose parents were Irish. Dorilla’s father was Canadian.

Sources: Genealogies of Kirsten Gillibrand – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://www.geni.com

Genealogical information on Kirsten’s paternal great-grandmother, Margaret (Zwack) Rutnik – http://www.findagrave.com

Kirsten’s paternal grandmother, Margaret/Margery Jane Allen, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Margaret/Margery Jane Allen on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Kirsten’s paternal grandmother, Margaret/Margery Jane (Allen) Rutnik – http://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org

Kirsten’s paternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Allan/Allen, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org