John D. Rockefeller
Birth Name: John Davison Rockefeller
Date of Birth: July 8, 1839
Place of Birth: Richford, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: May 23, 1937
Place of Death: Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S.
Ethnicity: German, English, Irish/Northern Irish, Dutch, remote Welsh
John D. Rockefeller was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest Americans of all time, and one of the richest people in modern history. He founded Standard Oil in 1870, and ran it for almost thirty years.
John was the second of six children born in Richford, New York, to Eliza (Davison) and William Rockefeller, Sr., who was a businessperson, lumberman, herbalist, salesman, and con artist; and who was also known as Dr. William Levingston. He was born into a large family in Upstate New York, and moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio.
John was married to abolitionist, philanthropist, and schoolteacher Laura Spelman Rockefeller, until her death. The couple had five children, including Elizabeth Rockefeller Strong, philanthropist and socialite Alta Rockefeller Prentice, socialite Edith Rockefeller McCormick, and financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Among his grandchildren were politician, businessperson, philanthropist, and public servant Nelson Rockefeller, who was Governor of New York, from January 1, 1959 to December 18, 1973, and Vice President of the United States, from December 19, 1974 to January 20, 1977; and politician and philanthropist Winthrop Rockefeller, who was Governor of Arkansas, from January 10, 1967 to January 12, 1971.
John’s paternal grandfather was Godfrey Lewis Rockefeller (the son of William Rockefeller and Christina Rockefeller). Godfrey was born in Germantown, Columbia, New York. William was born in Amwell, Hunterdon, New Jersey, the son of Peter Rockefeller, who was born in Segendorf, Rhineland, Germany; and of Mary Bellis. Christina was born in Germantown, New York, the daughter of Simon Rockefeller, who was born in Neuwied, Rhineland, Germany; and of Anna Bahr.
John’s paternal grandmother was Lucy Avery (the daughter of Miles Avery and Malinda Pixley). Lucy was born in Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts, and was of mostly English descent, with deep Colonial American roots in New England. Miles was born in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, the son of Solomon Avery and Hannah Punderson. Malinda was born in Great Barrington, the daughter of William Pixley and Lucy Alexander.
John’s maternal grandfather was John Davison (the son of John Davison and Elizabeth Anderson). John’s grandfather John was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. John’s great-grandfather John was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert Davison and Ann Higgins.
John’s maternal grandmother was named Sycha “Cynthia” Selover (the daughter of Abraham Selover and Maria). Sycha was born in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Abraham was born in Rhode Hall, Middlesex, New Jersey, and was of mostly Dutch descent, the son of Isaac Selover and Syche Pittenger. Maria was born in Cranbury, New Jersey.
Sources: Genealogies of John D. Rockefeller – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.wikitree.com
https://famouskin.com
https://www.geni.com
He had more English and Irish/Northern Irish, which is why I put English and then Irish/Northern Irish first and second respectively. I don’t understand why someone would change that the order.