Luke Steele
Steele in 2010, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Luke James Steele
Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 13 December, 1979
Ethnicity:
*father – English, as well as Scottish and Irish
*mother – Russian, Belarusian
Luke Steele is an Australian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the vocalist and primary songwriter of alternative duo Empire of The Sun.
Luke is the son of Liz and Rick Steele, who is a blues guitarist and harmonica player. His sister is musician Katy Steele. His father has English, as well as Scottish and Irish, ancestry. His maternal grandaprents were Eastern European immigrants, who are listed as being of the Orthodox Christian religion. A picture of Luke’s sister, mother, and maternal grandmother can be seen here (page 10). Luke’s father is sometimes described as having Māori ancestry. It does not appear that this is accurate.
Luke is married to magazine editor Jodi, with whom he has two children.
Luke’s paternal grandfather was Harold Joseph Steele (the son of Harold Thomas Steele and Elizabeth Hutchinson). Harold was born in New Zealand, and was the vicar at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Mt Eden, and later the Archdeacon of Waitemata. A picture of Luke’s grandfather can be seen here, the first one on the left. Luke’s great-grandfather Harold was born in Durham, England, the son of The Rev. Joseph Steele, a clergyman of The Church of England; and of Mary. Luke’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was born in Kihikihi, Waikato, New Zealand, to English parents, John Hutchinson and Elizabeth Green.
Luke’s paternal grandmother was Jeune Hazel Grantley (the daughter of John Alexander McLennan and Pearl Rhoda Murray). Jeune was born in New Zealand. John was born in Australia, the son of John Alexander McLennan, who was Scottish; and of Alice Emily Franklin, who was born in Bathurst, Australia, of Irish, English, and Scottish descent. Luke’s great-grandmother Pearl was born in New Zealand, the daughter of Thomas Edgar Murray, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to an Irish father, from Waterford, and an English mother, from Warminster, Wiltshire; and of Elizabeth Lawrence, who was from Liverpool, England.
Luke’s maternal grandfather was named Stanislaw Dombrowsky. Stanislaw was born in Stary Swienczany, Poland.
Luke’s maternal grandmother was named Efrosina/Ewfrosyna/Ewrosinia Sholomova/Scholomowa/Scholoch. Efrosina was born in Pinsk, Poland, now Belarus.
Sources: https://www.audioculture.co.nz
Genealogies of Luke’s paternal grandparents, Harold Joseph Steele and Jeune Hazel Grantley – https://www.familysearch.org
Death records of Luke’s paternal grandparents, Harold Joseph Steele and Jeune Hazel (Grantley) Steele – https://de.findagrave.com
Migration record of Luke’s maternal grandparents, Stanislaw Dombrowsky and Efrosina/Ewfrosyna/Ewrosinia Sholomova/Scholomowa/Scholoch – https://collections.arolsen-archives.org
Death record of Luke’s maternal grandfather, Stanislaw Dombrowsky – https://de.findagrave.com
Death record of Luke’s maternal grandmother, Efrosina/Ewfrosyna/Ewrosinia (Sholomova/Scholomowa/Scholoch) Dombrowsky – https://www.findagrave.com
Luke’s parents are Richard Warwick Steele and Liz Dombrowsky.
Luke’s paternal grandfather likely was Harold Joseph Steele (the son of Harold Thomas Steele and Elizabeth Hutchinson). Harold was born in New Zealand, and was the vicar at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Mt Eden and later the Archdeacon of Waitemata. Lukes’ great-grandfather Harold was born in England, and was the son of Joseph Steele, a clergyman of The Church of England, and of Mary, of Durham.
Luke’s paternal grandmother was likely Jeune Hazel Grantley (the daughter of John Alexander McLennan and Pearl Rhoda Murray). Jeune was born in New Zealand. John was born in Australia, and was the son of John Alexander McLennan, who was Scottish, and of Alice Emily Franklin, who was born in Bathurst, Australia, of Irish, English and Scottish descent. Luke’s great-grandmother Pearl was born in New Zealand, and was the daughter of Thomas Edgar Murray, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to English father and Irish mother, and of Elizabeth Lawrence, from Liverpool, England.
I add “likely” just because his father looks like has no Maori or something else, besides British roots. Harold looks kinda like Luke and his father Rick, but he was fully English.
Geneology of Luke’s father – https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/GTKF-8L8
Photo of Luke’s grandfather Archdeacon Harold Steele (first on the left) – https://kinderlibrary.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/14027?keywords=
Grave of Luke’s grandparents – https://de.findagrave.com/memorial/72606032/harold-joseph-steele
Luke’s maternal grandfather was Stanislaw Dombrowsky. Stanislaw was born in Stary Swienczany, Poland.
https://de.findagrave.com/memorial/213262963/stanislaw-dombrowsky
Luke’s maternal grandmother was Efrosina/Ewfrosyna/Ewrosinia Sholomova/Scholomowa/Scholoch. Efrosina was born in Pinsk, Poland, now Belarus.
Picture of Efrosina, Luke’s mother Liz and sister Katy (on page 10) – https://www.haveagonews.com.au/paper/06-2018/315digital.pdf
https://de.findagrave.com/memorial/213283605/efrosina-dombrowsky
Both Stanislaw and Efrosina listed as White Russian and Orthodox in migration records in Germany – https://collections.arolsen-archives.org/de/search/person/81647880?s=Sergej%20Dombrowsky&t=21583&p=0
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/rick-steele
His dad’s bio confirms what you found. Has Luke (or his sister or dad) ever even claimed to be Maori?
I also took information about his grandfather from this article. And yes, I see no quotes, where somebody of them mentioned Maori ancestry.
Add
Luke’s great-grandmother Elizabeth Hutchinson was born in New Zealand, to English parents John Hutchinson and Elizabeth Green.
His parents’ names are Rick Steele and Liz (I’m not sure if her maiden surname is Dombrowsky). Also, I would like to suggest his sister musician Katy Steele.
Looks like Luke’s mother is also Belarusian. Pic from his sister https://www.instagram.com/p/o-TyGhRksJ/