Roman Reigns

Reigns in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Leati Joseph Anoa’i

Place of Birth: Pensacola, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 25, 1985

Ethnicity:
*father – Samoan, as well as one sixteenth English
*mother – English, Italian/Sicilian

Roman Reigns is an American professional wrestler, actor, and professional gridiron football player. He performs with WWE’s SmackDown brand. He played with the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL), and with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is also known as Leakee and Roman Leakee.

Roman is a member of the Anoa’i family of professional wrestlers. His father, Sika Anoa’i, is a Samoan professional wrestler, born on Leone, American Samoa. His brother, Rosey (Matthew Anoa’i), his uncle, Afa Anoa’i, and his cousins, Yokozuna, Rikishi, Umaga, and The Tonga Kid, and first cousins, once removed, The Usos, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso, were/are also professional wrestlers. His Samoan family comes from Tutuila Island, American Samoa.

Roman is married to Galina Becker, with whom he has five children.

Roman’s paternal grandfather was Amituana’i Anoa’i, also known as The Rev. Anoa’i Amituana’i (the son of Ifopo F. Amituana’i and Puaaelo Faagata). The Rev. Anoa’i was born on Fagaalo, Mauputasi, American Samoa. He was a pastor in the village of Utulei before moving to San Francisco. Ifopo was the adoptive father of professional wrestler Peter Maivia, who is himself the adoptive grandfather of professional wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Roman’s paternal grandmother was Tovaleomanaia “Tovale” Florence Leoso Ripley (the daughter of Edward Fepulea’i Leoso “Ned” Ripley, aka Ned Ripley, Jr., and of Tagi’ilima “Tagi” Tisa Li’o). Tovaleomanaia was born on Leone, Tutuila, American Samoa. Ned was the son of Edward Leoso “Ned” Ripley II and Saitaua/Saitava “Sa” Fepulea’i Papu. Roman’s great-great-grandfather Ned’s own father, Edward V. P. “Ned” Ripley, was an American from Boston, Massachusetts, and was a secretary to the governor of Tutuila. He was of Colonial American (English) descent. Roman’s great-grandmother Tagi’ilima was the daughter of Tisa Fulu’ena Li’o and Fiapa’ipa’i Taeleifi.

Roman’s maternal grandfather was Argie Lee Hooker (the son of Dean Stanley Hooker and Mary Josephine Hollingsworth). Argie was born in Oklahoma. Dean was the son of William Penn Hooker and Elizabeth. Mary was the daughter of Jesse Watson Hollingsworth and Nancy Isabella Moore.

Roman’s maternal grandmother was Josephine Theresa Bagesse (the daughter of Carlo Bagesse and Genevieve Annette Albanese). Josephine was born in Louisiana. Carlo was born in Salaparuta, Trapani, Sicily, the son of Francesco Baggese and Giuseppa Calamia. Genevieve was also born in Italy, the daughter of Joseph Albanese and Rosa Girratano. She is said to have been of Arbëreshë descent. It is not clear if this is accurate.

Sources: https://youtu.be

Genealogy of Roman Reigns (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogies of Roman’s paternal grandparents, The Rev. Anoa’i Amituana’i and Tovaleomanaia “Tovale” Florence Leoso Ripley – https://www.familysearch.org

Roman’s paternal grandmother, Tovaleomanaia “Tovale” Florence Leoso Ripley, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Roman’s maternal grandfather, Argie Lee Hooker – https://www.findagrave.com