Beyoncé
Beyoncé in 2010, photo by kathclick/bigstock.com
Birth Name: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles
Place of Birth: Houston, Harris, Texas, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 4, 1981
Ethnicity:
*father – African-American
*mother – Louisiana Creole, including African, French, Acadian/French-Canadian, as well as distant Irish, Breton, and Belgian Walloon, remote Penobscot First Nations
Beyoncé, also known as Harmonies by The Hive, Queen Bey or Queen B, Third Ward Trill, Sasha Fierce, and Beyoncé Knowles, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, and businessperson. She was a member of R&B girl group Destiny’s Child, along with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and also, originally, LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. As a solo artist, she has won the most Grammy Awards of any person, at 32, and has sold over 200 million records worldwide. Often exploring themes of feminism and womanism, her songs include “Crazy in Love,” “Baby Boy,” “Me, Myself and I,” “Check on It,” “Déjà Vu,” “Irreplaceable,” “Beautiful Liar,” “If I Were a Boy,” “Single Ladies,” “Halo,” “Run the World (Girls),” “Drunk in Love,” “Formation,” “Perfect Duet,” “Break My Soul,” “Cuff It,” “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and “II Most Wanted.” Beyoncé has starred in the films Carmen: A Hip Hopera, Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Fighting Temptations, The Pink Panther (2006), Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records, Obsessed (2009), Epic (2013), and Disney’s The Lion King (2019), the latter two in voice role. She co-directed her music films Life Is But a Dream, Lemonade, and Black Is King, which she also co-wrote; and directed and wrote her music films Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.
Beyoncé is the daughter of Tina Knowles (born Célestine Ann Beyoncé), a fashion designer, and Mathew C. Knowles, a businessperson and talent manager. Her sister is singer and actress Solange Knowles. They are the first sisters to have each had No. 1 albums. She is married to rapper and music producer Jay-Z, with whom she has three children, including singer and dancer Blue Ivy Carter. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are in a musical superduo together, The Carters. Beyoncé is a step-sister of actress Bianca Lawson. Her mother is married to Bianca’s father, actor Richard Lawson. Beyoncé founded management company Parkwood Entertainment.
Beyoncé’s father is African-American. Beyoncé’s maternal grandparents were French-speaking Louisiana Creoles, with roots in New Iberia; their ancestry was mostly African and French, including French ancestors who lived in Canada. Through her mother’s line, Beyoncé is a great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Acadian leader Joseph Broussard, who led French-speaking Catholics from Nova Scotia, Canada to Louisiana in 1765. He was among the first 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana that year. She is also a descendant of French military officer Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie de Saint-Castin (born c. 1652 in Escout, France), and of his wife, Marie Mathilde Pidianske/Penobscot (born c. 1658), who was the daughter of Madockawando Abenaki, a chief of the Penobscot (Panawahpskek) people. Through Marie Mathilde, Beyoncé is of 1/1024 Indigenous descent. Beyoncé is also of approximately 1/32 Irish ancestry, and has distant Breton and Belgian Flemish roots on her mother’s side, the latter including her ancestor Albert de Cuir, from Hainaut Province, Wallonia. Her name, Beyoncé, is a tribute to her mother’s family name, Beyincé. Through her Broussard line, she is a third cousin of gospel singer and graphic artist Karen Showell.
Beyoncé has said that she has Nigerian ancestry. She may have discovered this through a DNA test.
Beyoncé’s parents Mathew and Tina, 2007, photo by bigstock.com
Beyoncé’s mother has also been described as having Cherokee and/or Choctaw Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented. No Cherokee or Choctaw Native American ancestors appear on publicly available family trees of Beyoncé’s mother. One book biography, Crazy in Love: The Beyoncé Knowles Biography, also refers to Beyoncé’s mother having Spanish, Jewish, Chinese, and Indonesian ancestry. It is also not clear if this is accurate.
Beyoncé does not speak French or Spanish, but she has sung in Spanish before.
A picture of Beyoncé’s maternal grandparents can be seen here.
Beyoncé’s paternal grandfather was Matthew/Mathew Q. Knowles (the son of Taylor Knowles and Girlie/Gurlie/Gerlie Mae Miller). Matthew was born in Alabama. Taylor was the son of James Isaac Knowles and Sarah Elizabeth Dixon. Girlie was the daughter of Prophet Miller and Jane Hall.
Beyoncé’s paternal grandmother is Lou Helen Hogue (the daughter of Davis/Dave Hogue and Hester Moore). Lou was born in Alabama. Davis was the son of Jim Hogue and Rosetta Moore. Hester was the daughter of Pinkney Madison Moore and Arenia Goree.
Beyoncé’s maternal grandfather was Lumis/Lumas Albert Beyincé/Buyincé (the son of Alexandre/Alexon Beyincé/Buyincé and Mary Olevia). Lumis was born in Delcambre, Vermilion, Louisiana.
Beyoncé’s maternal grandmother was Agnès/Agnèz DeRouen/Deréon (the daughter of Eugène-Gustave DeRouen/Deréon/Derezen and Odelia/Odilia Broussard). Agnès was born in Louisiana, and was a prominent seamstress. Eugène-Gustave likely was the son of Eloi Jacques DeRouen. Odelia was the daughter of Éloi/Éloy-René Rosemond Broussard, who was white, of French descent, and of Celestine Joséphine Lessee/Lesse/Lesser/Lacy/Lacey/Lessassier, who was black/mixed-race black, and the daughter of a slave mother. Éloi and Joséphine had many children together, and possibly married. A picture of Beyoncé’s great-grandfather Eugène-Gustave can be seen here.
LOS ANGELES – FEB 10: Beyoncé arrives to the Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013 in Hollywood, CA photo by DFree/Bigstock.com
Sources: Genealogies of Beyoncé – http://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com
Family histories of Beyoncé – https://www.hollywoodancestry.com
https://www.dailymail.co.uk
https://jack.canalplus.com
Family history of Beyoncé, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Beyoncé’s paternal grandfather, Matthew/Mathew Q. Knowles, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Beyoncé’s paternal grandmother, Lou Helen Hogue, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Beyoncé’s maternal grandmother, Agnès/Agnèz DeRouen/Deréon, on 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Article about Beyoncé’s maternal great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Broussard – http://www.biographi.ca
who are the idiots who thumbs up christian? Beyonce has light brown eyes, her mother is the one with hazel eyes. where the hell did you get green eyes from? Color blind?
http://mediaoutrage.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/tina-knowles3.jpg
Another person trippin. Her eyes never look green, always BROWN. They are not Hazel. Get over it.
We are not talking about her Mother. Your argument is lame. Period.
If you have such a problem with Americans you should maybe find another site. And I’m not saying that as an American, because I’m European. I’m saying it as someone who hates stereotypes and broad sweeping statements like “America is a country without real culture and class”.
Wow, her mom looks so white!
She is not JAPANESE! She is what she is. Too bad she doesn’t have a better looking husband.
Who said she was Japanese?
Yeah she is Japanese. Her Grandfather was from Kyoto
JAPANESE. Thumb down all y’all want.
Thumbs down don’t mean shit! The same with thumbs up, because people will do either no matter what! It all comes down to the TRUTH. Beyonce is half African American and Half Creole not full creole HALF yada yada, we get it. She recognizes herself as a black African american woman ( i can find you several interviews, if anyone dare to challenge my words). Get over it people! Genetic make up don’t mean shit or every black american who know that they’re mixed would be looking for their European admixture. AA are not 100% black. Beyonce is not 100%. The arguing back and forth is pointless, because each side is refusing to see the other. You both simply cannot be compared to an African, case closed. And even the African would look at you as if you’re stupid. I swear only in America…..
Lol, I have read your comment and I will say for u to get a response from me is an honor!lmao! Yada, Yada, Yada only in America is right and if u got it we would all be singing Kumbaya ! Who else lies about the truth even though it slaps them clear across the Gotdamn ( cause that’s what I say) face!!!! So ur right in that! And u r right that people will either check either thumbs up or thumbs down! This is why as an educator, I have not been in favor too much of multiple choice exams! It Leaves the student way to lazy! Just check an answer and never really challenge a students rational in thinking! Throughout my years I have learned that most people don’t write and when they do they don’t write well in thought!!!! !!! What happened to writing essays where u were asked to support your answers??? I can tell from most of the responses on this board that folks are not well educated because they do either one or the other 1)state what they believe r the facts even though they acknowledge truth!( THIS MAKES U SOUND EVEN MORE IGNORANT)2)Provide a multiple choice type answer like check thumbs up or thumbs down and not follow up with any written responses!!!! I can except someone not agreeing with me! But I cannot except the fact of people disagreeing with me when they know its already been proven to be fact!!!!
I just had to respond to ur comment ,Lol..The reason i say this is YES_WE GET IT_ Beyonce considers herself BLACK> And YES all this back and forth talk is pointless but sweetie,the FACTS still remain..One thing that nobody in this world can ever change:their ANCESTRY!!Every body on the face of this Earth is a mixture of some other race,heritage,culture whatever u want to call it..There is no right or wrong when it comes to being Creole.Why,u ask? Because Creole people come from differnt races,enthicities,backgrounds etc..Yes its been said way too many times about what Beyonce claims she is suppose to be,,the truth is she is African-American,WHITE,Native Indian and i’m sure she has some spanish heritage also because Creole people are a mixture of this also..especially LA Creoles like myself..It’s all about informing those who want to know rather than agreeing with some people who clearly DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!How can anyone say someone is not Creole when Creole people are made up of differnt enthicities? You can be ANY RACE and still be CREOLE!! It’s not about Race..Not about Black or White..or Indians for that matter..the point i’m trying to make is that Creole People of Color are often misunderstood and misreprented so i see nothing wrong with informing those who WANT TO KNOW the truth..Hell,Jay-Z is now admitting that he has Creole ancesrtry also..It’s in the news ..So u are right this topic needs to end.. SMOOCHES!!
Oh by the way i forgot to mention Jay-Z is of Haitian Creole ancestry just to clear the matter up before people start disagreeing..
Haters hate on the truth!! I knew some of these people would give me a thumbs down when i mentioned Jay-Z as being Creole whe i know he is half-Jamaican (Father)and of haitian descent..His mother is of haitian heritage..
I hate reading most of your guys’ posts because they are filled with poor grammar.
It hurts my soul.
Shut up you irritate me!!
This comment is for dropit! Yes you do you need to take your own advice and dropit!!!! You are the most ignorant I have seen on this board and whoever the fool that agreed with you is the same! I can’t believe your comment! It has already been proven what her genetic makeup is and you still have difficulty!!! Whew! you are exactly the type of student that teachers have to sometimes say needs extreme educational intervention!!! You should not be walking around here this ignorant!!! Now I know its hard for you to accept but Beyonce is what she is and thats just that!!!! Stop your idiot way of thinking when something is fact!!! Understand this I am of creole descent and I am what I am African-American, Native American and French! If you grew up in and around the culture you would understand! STOP TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR ROOTS WHAT THEY ARE!!!! I know I know you feel as though you are disconnected from her because of her diversity! That’s what I am gathering from your comment!!! I’m sorry but how the hell could you possibly take from her what rightfully belongs to her! Her heritage and most importantly her genetic makeup!!!! I guess this is why I am having difficulty with some of the bloggers who say I don’t agree! What the hell don’t you agree with when FACT IS FACT!!!!! THERE IS IGNORANT AND THEN THERE IS BEYOND IGNORANT AND SOME OF YOU NEED TO LET GO OF YOUR STUBBORN WAY OF THINKING WHEN SOMETHING HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN! IT AMAZES ME! WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVE MOST THINGS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT: The weather man can give u a 5 day forecast ( and many of u believe that without question as a matter of fact you look forward to their advice), Polygraph test to detect whether someone is telling the truth or lying, DNA to determine a whether or not a person is biologically related to someone and NOW
Continued…. Beyonce Knowles particulary her first name is a dead give away!!! Anyone walking around here with that type of name I would have to wonder about their background! SWEETHEART SHE IS OBVIOUSLY VERY FAMOUS! BELIEVE ME SHE IS UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND WHEN YOU MAKE A CLAIM AND YOUR FAMOUS PEOPLE WILL RESEARCH YOUR BACKGROUND TIL NO END! SO SINCE HER GENETICS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESEARCHED AND PROVEN U NEED TO JUST SETTLE DOWN BECAUSE YOUR OPERATING ON NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR IGNORANCE! YOU HAVE NO FACTS YOU SPEAK NO FACTS AND THAT MY FRIEND IS A FACT!!!!!!!
Definitely Japanese