Michael Phelps

Phelps in 2010, photo by Sergei Bachlakov / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Michael Fred Phelps II

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 30, 1985

Ethnicity: English, Irish, German, Scottish, Welsh, distant Dutch

Michael Phelps is an American competitive swimmer. He is the most successful, and most awarded, Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals, achieved over four Olympiads. In 2008, he won eight gold medals, breaking Mark Spitz‘ 1972 record of most gold medals won at a single Olympics; Spitz had won seven. He is nicknamed “The Baltimore Bullet” and “Flying Fish.” He is 6′4″.

Michael is the son of Deborah Sue, a middle school principal, and Michael Fred Phelps, a state trooper and high school football player. He has English, Irish, German, Scottish, Welsh, and distant Dutch, ancestry. Michael is married to Nicole Johnson, who was Miss California USA, with whom he has four children.

Michael’s paternal grandfather was John William Phelps (the son of Arthur Fred Phelps and Vera Humphreys). Arthur was the son of David Harvey Phelps and Matilda Griffith. Vera was the daughter of James Humphreys and Osceola Rush.

Michael’s paternal grandmother was Roberta Marie Myers (the daughter of Robert Milton Myers and Marie Evelin Penford). Roberta was born in Maryland. Robert was the son of Robert E. Myers and Martha. Marie was the daughter of a German father, and of Ada Katie/Etta Gentry.

Michael’s maternal grandfather was Bernard Jesse Davisson (the son of Carl Carson Davisson and Alice Marie Hammers). Bernard was born in Maryland. Carl was the son of Isaac F. Davisson and Lucy Belle Prim. Alice was the daughter of William Francis Hammers and Bridget Catherine O’Brien, whose own parents were Irish.

Michael’s maternal grandmother was Leoma/Leona Mae Foote (the daughter of Felix Thurmand Foote and Agnes Schuyler Dick). Leoma was born in Maryland. Felix was the son of Felix S. Foot/Foote, who was Welsh, and of Sarah Ann Wright, who was English. Agnes was the daughter of Thomas Dick, who was born in Muirkirk, Ayr, Scotland, and of Margaret Schuyler, whose parents were Scottish.

Sources: Genealogies of Michael Phelps – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
https://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com

Obituary of Michael’s paternal grandfather, John William Phelps (J. William Phelps) – https://newspaperarchive.com

Michael’s paternal great-grandparents, Arthur Fred Phelps and Vera Humphreys, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Michael’s paternal grandmother, Roberta Marie Myers, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Michael’s paternal great-grandfather, Robert Milton Myers, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Michael’s maternal great-grandfather, Carl Carson Davisson, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Michael’s maternal great-grandmother, Alice Marie Hammers, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Notes on Michael’s ancestry – http://www.telegraph.co.uk