Alia Shawkat

Shawkat in 2013, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Alia Martine Shawkat

Place of Birth: Riverside, California, United States

Date of Birth: April 18, 1989

Ethnicity:
*50% Iraqi
*25% Norwegian
*12.5% Irish
*12.5% Sicilian/Italian [including likely Arbëreshë]

Alia Shawkat is an American actress and artist.

Her father was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and is a Muslim. Her mother is of one quarter Irish, one quarter Sicilian/Italian (including likely Arbëreshë), and one half Norwegian, ancestry.

Alia’s father is sometimes described as being of Kurdish background. It is not clear if this is accurate. In interviews, Alia describes her father simply as being of Arab descent (for example, here and here).

Alia’s maternal grandfather was Paul Burke, an actor (Paul Raymond Burke, the son of Martin Joseph Burke and Santa Maria Palermo). Paul was born in Louisiana. Martin was the son of Martin Patrick Burke and Mary Julia Finnerty, who were Irish, from Galway. Santa was the daughter of Italian parents, Paolo/Paul Proietto Palermo and Nicolina Liuzza. Paolo was from Santa Cristina Gela (Arbëresh: Sëndahstina), an Arbëreshë village in the province of Palermo in Sicily.

Alia’s maternal grandmother was Alice Louise “Peggy” Wikan (the daughter of John Andreas/Andrew Ovesen Wikan and Fredricka/Fredrikke Marie “Freda” Fredriksdatter Hellesfiord). Alice was born in Wisconsin, to Norwegian parents. John was born in Vikan, Smøla, Møre og Romsdal, the son of Ove Ovesen Næbb/Wikan and Elen Andreasdatter Nelvik. Fredricka was born in Hellesfjord, Smøla, Møre og Romsdal, Edøy, the daughter of Fredrik Jakobsen Rosvoll and Marie Gurine Johansdatter Gjøstøl.

Sources: Genealogy of Alia Shawkat (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy and obituary of Alia’s maternal grandfather, Paul Burke – http://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of Alia’s maternal great-grandparents, Martin Joseph Burke and Santa Maria Palermo – https://www.familysearch.org