Rupert Murdoch

Murdoch in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Keith Rupert Murdoch

Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Date of Birth: 11 March, 1931

Ethnicity: Scottish, English, Irish

Rupert Murdoch is an Australian and American media proprietor and entrepreneur. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and became a U.S. citizen in 1985.

He is the son of Elisabeth Joy (Greene), a philanthropist, and Keith Arthur Murdoch, a journalist. He has six children, media executive Prudence Murdoch, with his former wife, model Patricia Booker; media executives Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and James Murdoch, with his former wife, Scottish-born journalist Anna Murdoch Mann, who is the aunt of actress Anna Torv; and two children with his former wife, businessperson Wendi Deng Murdoch. Elisabeth was married to businessperson Matthew Freud, with whom she has two children; Matthew is the great-grandson of neurologist Sigmund Freud.

Rupert’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Patrick John Murdoch (the son of The Rev. James Murdoch and Helen Garden). The Rev. Patrick, a Presbyterian minister, was born in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Rev. James, a minister in the Free Church of Scotland, was born in Stirling, Scotland, the son of Peter Murdoch and Isabella McNie/MacNee. Helen was born in Pitsligo, the daughter of Francis Garden and Helen Young.

Rupert’s paternal grandmother was Anne/Annie Brown (the daughter of The Rev. George Brown and May Smith Leith Shepherd). The Rev. George was a Presbyterian minister.

Rupert’s maternal grandfather was Rupert Greene (the son of William Henry Greene and Fanny Greene Covett/Govett). William was born in Drogheda, Ireland, the son of James Greene. Fanny was born in Launceston, Australia, the daughter of George Covett/Govett and Mary Bryant.

Rupert’s maternal grandmother was Marie Grace de Lancey Forth (the daughter of Robert “de Lancey” Forth and Anne Thomson Ware). Marie was born in Dwaroon, Warrnambool, Victoria. Robert was born in Warrnambool, the son of Frederick Henry Alexander Forth, who was born in Ludlow, England, and of Caroline Jemima Sherson. Rupert’s great-grandmother Anne was born in Kort Kort Nong, Australia, the daughter of Jeremiah George Ware, who was born in London, England, and of Anne Young McRobie, who was born in Tasmania, Australia, to Scottish parents.

Rupert is sometimes described on the internet, often on anti-Jewish web sites, as having Jewish heritage on his mother’s side. This is not accurate.

Sources: Genealogies of Rupert Murdoch – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wargs.com
https://www.wikitree.com