Winona Ryder
Birth Name: Winona Horowitz
Place of Birth: Olmsted, Minnesota, United States
Date of Birth: October 29, 1971
Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Norwegian (one quarter), Belgian Walloon, German, Irish/Northern Irish, English, Scottish
Winona Ryder is an American actress. She is known for starring in the films Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Mermaids, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Little Women (1994), The Crucible (1996), Alien Resurrection, Autumn in New York, Lost Souls (2000), A Scanner Darkly, Black Swan, and Destination Wedding (2018), and on the show Stranger Things.
Winona was given her first name after a city near her hometown, in Minnesota. She is the daughter of Cynthia V. (née Istas), an author, video producer, and editor, and Michael D. Horowitz, an author and archivist. Her father is Jewish; his family emigrated from Romania, Russia, and Belarus. Many of her father’s relatives died in the Holocaust. Winona’s mother’s maiden name, Istas, is found in Belgium. Winona’s mother is of Norwegian (one quarter), Belgian Walloon, German, Irish/Northern Irish, English, and Scottish descent.
Winona’s father is an atheist and Winona’s mother is a Buddhist. Winona has identified herself as Jewish, at least in an ethnic sense.
Winona’s paternal grandfather was Sol Horowitz (the son of Louis Jorge Tomchin and Mary Yetta Friedland). Sol was born in Minsk, Belarus, to Jewish parents. His family’s surname was changed from Tomchin to Horowitz. Louis was the son of Leib Tomchin.
Winona’s paternal grandmother was Ethel Frankel (the daughter of Joseph Frankel and Bertha Yuffe). Ethel was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Romanian Jewish parents, from Botoșani. Joseph was the son of Aaron Frankel and Gitza Rivka Godel. Bertha was the daughter of Avram Yuffe and Perla Weidenfeld.
Winona’s maternal grandfather was Everett Frank Istas (the son of William Paul Istas and Edna Frances Bennett). Everett was born in Shawno, Wisconsin. William was born in Wisconsin, the son of a Belgian father, Frank Alphonsius Istas, who had at least partial Walloon ancestry, and of a mother, Ida Zachou/Zachow, who was born in Wisconsin, to German parents, from Parchim, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Winona’s great-grandmother Edna was born in Collingwood, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of English parents, Eli Brian Bennett, from Winchester, Hampshire, and Frances Maria/Myva Halfred/Halford, from Ross, Herefordshire.
Winona’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Ford Colter (the daughter of Roy Baron Colter and Lillian G. Lindem). Margaret was born in Illinois. Roy was born in Douglas, York, New Brunswick, the son of James Colter, whose parents were from County Leitrim, Ireland; and of Victoria Long. Lillian was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Johan/John Anton Linden, who was Norwegian, and of Isabella/Isabelle/Belle Helen Thompson, whose parents were also Norwegian.
Sources: Interview with Winona Ryder about her Jewish background – https://jewishjournal.com
Genealogies of Winona Ryder – http://www.geni.com
https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Winona’s maternal grandfather, Everett Frank Istas – https://www.findagrave.com
Winona’s maternal grandfather, Everett Frank Istas, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Winona’s maternal grandfather, Everett Frank Istas – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Winona’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Ida (Zachou/Zachow) Istas – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Winona’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Johan/John Anton Linden and Isabella/Isabelle/Belle Helen Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
her eyes are goregous !!!!
i love winona
alot of people say i look like winona ryder and it amazing how much i do. but i am german. alot of people think i am russian just like her maybe there is some in my back ground who knows.. but i just think it cool!! :)
adrienne, i’ve got the same… but i am just Polish and i don’t know nothing about that ;p maybe i’m a lil bit Jewish?
ethnic what do u think about that?
Zuzanna, I would definitely research your background. you might find something you never knew before.
She is so beautiful. One of the best actress
dont think so.
IS SHE RELATED TO ELIJAH WOOD