Matt Berninger

Matt Berninger – 2013 Tribeca Film Festival Opening Night – “Mistaken For Strangers” – Arrivals – BMCC Tribeca PAC – New York City, NY, USA – Photo Credit: Laurence Agron / PR Photos

Birth Name: Matthew Donald Berninger

Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 13, 1971

Ethnicity:
*75% German
*25% Irish

Matt Berninger is an American singer and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist for the American rock band The National.

Matt is married to writer Carin Avaunt Besser, with whom he has a daughter.

Matt’s paternal grandfather was Robert Edwin Berninger (the son of Edwin Berninger and Elizabeth Caroline “Lillie” Doll). Robert was born in Ohio. Matt’s great-grandfather Edwin was the son of a German emigrant, “John” Berninger, and of Mary Barbara Degenhardt, who was of German descent. Elizabeth was of German descent, and was the daughter of Charles Joseph Doll and Anna Rolfing.

Matt’s paternal grandmother was Clara Annetta Rathman (the daughter of John George Rathmann and Amelia Hantz). Matt’s great-grandfather John was the son of a German emigrant, Heinrich “Henry” Rathmann, of Kassel, Hesse, and of Louisa Schäffter, who was of German descent. Amelia was the daughter of German emigrants, “John” Hautz and Sophia Stark.

Matt’s maternal grandfather was Donald Lyons Dwyer (the son of John Francis Dwyer and Margaret Agatha Lyons). Donald was born in Virginia. John was the son of Irish emigrants, Patrick Dwyer and Anna McMahon. Margaret was the daughter of an English emigrant, Dennis F. Lyons, whose own parents were Irish, and of an Irish emigrant, Catherine Welch.

Matt’s maternal grandmother was Emma Catherine Jester (the daughter of George Philip Jester and Emma Dumler). Matt’s grandmother Emma was born in Ohio. George was the son of German emigrants, Valentinus Alphonse Jester, of Berghausen, Bavaria, and of Elizabeth Schneider. Matt’s great-grandmother Emma was the daughter of a German emigrant, “John” David Dumler, and of Caroline “Carrie” Schoch, whose own parents Benedickt “Ben” Schoch and Emma Pauline Gehringer, were German emigrants, from Forbach and Waldshut-Tiengen, respectively both in Baden, now part of Baden-Württemberg.

Matt’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his sixth great-grandmother, Maria Anna Böhler.

Sources: Matt’s paternal grandfather, Robert Edwin Berninger, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Matt’s paternal great-grandparents, Edwin Berninger and Elizabeth Caroline Doll – https://www.familysearch.org

Matt’s paternal great-grandfather, John George Rathmann, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Matt’s paternal great-grandmother, Amelia Hantz, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Matt’s maternal grandfather, Donald Lyons Dwyer – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Matt’s maternal grandmother, Emma Catherine Jester – https://www.familysearch.org