Win Butler

Birth Name: Edwin Farnham Butler

Place of Birth: Truckee, Nevada, California, United States

Date of Birth: April 14, 1980

Ethnicity: Danish (3/16ths), English, Irish, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, distant Dutch, 1/512th Portuguese

Win Butler is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead singer and guitarist of Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, which also includes his wife, Régine Chassagne. He has also been credited as DJ Windows 98.

Win is the son of Liza Rey Butler, a professional harpist, and singer, and Edwin Farnham Butler II, a geologist. His maternal grandfather was jazz guitarist, bandleader, and actor Alvino Rey (born Alvin Henry McBurney), and his maternal grandmother was singer Luise King (born Louise Driggs), who was a member of vocal group The King Sisters, which consisted of her and her five siblings.

His brother is multi-instrumentalist and composer Will Butler, who was also a member of Arcade Fire. Win was raised partly in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then in The Woodlands, Texas. Win has a son with Régine. He became a Canadian citizen in 2019.

Win’s father’s ancestry is English, and some Irish. Win’s mother is of three eighths Danish, one eighth German, likely one eighth Irish, as well as English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, distant Dutch, and 1/256th Portuguese, through his ancestor Jose/Joseph Rodrigues/Driggs, descent.

Win was raised in his mother’s Mormon (LDS) faith.

Win’s paternal grandfather was Edwin Farnham Butler (the son of Arthur Pierce Butler and Lydia Raguet Farnham). Edwin was born in York, Maine. Arthur was a teacher and educational administrator, who co-founded the Morristown School. He was the son of Edward Knowles Butler and Frances Elizabeth Lewis Pierce.

Win’s paternal grandmother was Gladys Whitmore (the daughter of John Lawler Whitmore and Edna May Thompson). John was the son of William Holden Whitmore and Lucy Ella Lawler.

Win’s maternal grandfather was Alvin Henry McBurney (the son of Francis/Frank McBurney and Lilly/Lillie Star Cline). Alvin was born in Oakland, California. Francis was the son of Henry Alvin McBurney, who was likely of Irish descent, and of Emma Hirsch, whose parents were German. Lilly was born in California, to Danish parents.

Win’s maternal grandmother was Louise Driggs (the daughter of William King Driggs and Pearl Caroline Mortensen). Louise was born in Utah. William had English, and 1/64th Portuguese, ancestry, and was the son of Benjamin Woodbury Driggs and Olivia Thankful Pratt, who was born in England, to American parents, Parley P. Pratt (Parley Parker Pratt), who was one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Latter Day Saint movement, and Mary Ann Frost. Win’s great-grandmother Pearl was the daughter of Lars Pedersen Mortensen, who was Danish, from Hårbølle, Sjælland, Denmark, and of Cornelia Lee, who was born in Illinois, of English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and distant Dutch, descent.

Win is a third half-cousin, once removed, of politician Mitt Romney, through their mutual descent from Parley P. Pratt.

Sources: Obituary of Win’s paternal grandfather, Edwin Farnham Butler – http://bangordailynews.com

Genealogies of Win Butler (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
http://gw.geneanet.org

Win’s maternal grandfather, Alvin Henry McBurney, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Win’s maternal great-grandfather, Francis/Frank McBurney, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogies of Win’s maternal grandmother, Louise Driggs – https://www.geni.com
http://www.familycentral.net