Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Tisdale, 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Ashley Michelle Tisdale

Place of Birth: Monmouth County, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 2, 1985

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (three eighths), Irish, English, Scottish, German

Ashley Tisdale is an American actress, singer, and producer. She is known for her role in the High School Musical franchise, as well as for the shows The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hellcats, and Young & Hungry, and the film Scary Movie 5.

Ashley is the daughter of Lisa and Mike Tisdale, a contractor. Her sister is actress Jennifer Tisdale. She is married to musician Christopher French, with whom she has a daughter.

Her father has English, Irish, Scottish, and German ancestry. Her mother is of three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish (from Poland, Russia, and Romania), and one quarter Irish, descent, and Ashley’s maternal grandparents were married by a rabbi. Ashley’s maternal grandmother’s father was of Irish origin. Her mother has stated that Ashley was raised with “a little bit of both” of Ashley’s father’s Christianity and Ashley’s mother’s Judaism. Ashley has also been photographed wearing a cross (perhaps as a decoration).

The surname Tisdale is of English origin and comes from people who lived in areas called, Teesdale, in the counties of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Ashley is a second cousin, once removed, of inventor and marketing personality Ron Popeil. Ashley’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Kidder Morris and Bryna/Bertha Mann/Man, were also Ron’s paternal great-grandparents.

Ashley’s paternal grandfather was Henry Franklin Tisdale (the son of Vernon McIver “Mack” Tisdale and Myrtle B. Liles Smith). Henry was born in South Carolina. V. Mack was the son of Ernest McIver Tisdale and Gertrude Webber. Myrtle was the daughter of Clyde Lawrence Liles and Myrtle Josephine Biggs.

Ashley’s paternal grandmother is Emma Lois Fitzgerald (the daughter of Thomas Samuel Fitzgerald, Sr. and Martha Rebecca Ogilvie). Emma was born in Tennessee. Thomas was born in Minnesota, the son of Robert Vaughn Fitzgerald and Alice Elizabeth Kaulback, who was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Martha was born in Tennessee, the daughter of Hugh Ogilvie and Bessie Joe Pleasants.

Ashley’s maternal grandfather was Arnold Frederick Morris (the son of Nathan/Nat K. Morris and Betty Levin/Levine). Arnold was born in New Jersey, and appeared in many television infomercials. Nathan was born in New Jersey, and was an inventor. He was the son of Kidder/Kidders Morris/Moshe Kiderisky/Kadaritsky/Kadaretzky and Brina/Bryna/Bertha Gitil Mann/Man, who were Jewish emigrants from Grajewo, Poland. Kidder was a cantor and shoemaker. Ashley’s great-grandmother Betty was born in Pennsylvania, to Russian Jewish parents, Lazarus Levin and Leinia/Lena Barr.

Ashley’s maternal grandmother is Marilyn A. Keays (the daughter of Francis J. Keays and Mollie/Molly Lieber). Francis was born in New Jersey, to Irish parents, Patrick J. Keays and Mary E., who were likely Catholic. Mollie was born in New Jersey, to Romanian Jewish parents, Isador/Isadore Lieber and Fannie.

Ashley (right) and Jennifer Tisdale, 2008, photo by Prphotos

Sources: Ashley’s paternal grandmother, Emma Lois Fitzgerald, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Ashley Tisdale (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Ashley’s maternal grandfather, Arnold Frederick Morris, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Ashley’s maternal grandfather, Arnold Frederick Morris – http://www.legacy.com

Ashley’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Kidder Morris and Bryna/Bertha Mann/Man, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy entry for Ashley’s maternal great-grandmother, Betty Levin/Levine – http://www.tulpehockenroots.org

Ashley’s maternal great-grandparents, Francis J. Keays and Mollie Lieber, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Ashley’s maternal great-grandfather, Francis J. Keays, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Ashley’s maternal great-grandmother, Mollie Lieber, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org