Rosemary Clooney

Date of Birth: May 23, 1928

Place of Birth: Maysville, Mason, Kentucky, United States

Date of Death: June 29, 2002

Place of Death: Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*50% Irish
*25% German
*25% mix of English, Scottish, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish

Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. Her deep, rich, and smooth voice earned her recognition as one of America’s premier pop and jazz singers.

Rosemary was the daughter of Marie Frances (Guilfoyle) and Andrew Joseph Clooney. With her ex-husband, actor José Ferrer, she had five children, including actors Miguel Ferrer and Rafael Ferrer. Her brother is television personality Nick Clooney, and her nephew is actor George Clooney, who is Nick’s son. Her granddaughter is actress Tessa Ferrer.

Rosemary’s paternal grandfather was Andrew B. Clooney (the son of Nicholas Clooney and Bridget Byron). Andrew was born in Kentucky. Nicholas and Bridget were Irish immigrants. Nicholas was born, c. 1829, in Windgap, County Kilkenny, the son of David Clooney and Mary McGrath, who were farmers.

Rosemary’s paternal grandmother was Crescentia/Cynthia Koch (the daughter of Joseph Henry Koch and Margaret Fehler). Crescentia was born in Ohio, to ethnic German parents. Joseph was born in Prussia, and was evidently the son of William Koch and Anna Chirst/Christina/Christiana. Margaret was born in Lorraine, France, and was evidently the daughter of Peter Feller and Margaret.

Rosemary’s maternal grandfather was Michael Joseph Guilfoyle (the son of Cornelius/Con Guilfoyle and Rosanna/Roseanna “Rose” Sweeney). Michael was born in Mays Lick, Mason, Kentucky. Cornelius was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and likely was the son of William Guilfoyle and Margaret. Rosanna was the daughter of Michael Sweeney, from Laois, Ireland, and of Mary Denhanity, from Kilkenny, Ireland.

Rosemary’s maternal grandmother was Martha Adelia/Delia “Ada” Farrow (the daughter of Samuel Tully Farrow and Ellin Breckenridge “Ella” Vanden). Martha was born in Kentucky. Samuel was the son of John Bruer Farrow and Martha Jane Bramel. Ellin was the daughter of Preston B. Vanden and Adelia S. Cooker/Cooper.

Sources: Genealogies of Rosemary Clooney – https://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
https://old.findagrave.com

Genealogy of Rosemary Clooney (through Rosemary’s nephew, George Clooney) – http://famouskin.com

Notations on Rosemary’s Irish ancestry – http://www.eneclann.ie

Rosemary’s paternal grandmother, Crescentia/Cynthia Koch, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

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