Carter Jenkins

Jenkins in 2011, photo by PR Photos

Birth Name: Carter Mark Jenkins

Place of Birth: Tampa, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 4, 1991

Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Irish, as well as English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Cherokee Native American [likely converted to Judaism]

Carter Jenkins is an American actor. His roles include the films Bad News Bears (2005), Keeping Up with the Steins, Aliens in the Attic, Valentine’s Day, Arcadia Lost, Struck by Lightning, Nightlight, Circle (2015), Summer of 8, and After We Fell, and the shows Unfabulous, Surface, Viva Laughlin, Famous in Love, and Women of the Movement. His brother, Renneker Jenkins, has also acted.

Carter was raised in a practicing Jewish household.

Carter’s father is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family, of Russian Jewish, Belarusian Jewish, and Polish Jewish descent. Carter’s maternal grandmother was from Ireland, and Carter’s maternal grandfather had English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Cherokee Native American ancestry. At least two of Carter’s maternal great-great-grandparents were of documented part Cherokee Native American ancestry, and were both listed as “Indian” on United States Censuses; as was their son, Carter’s maternal great-grandfather. Carter’s mother likely converted to Judaism.

Carter’s paternal grandfather is Barry Walter Jenkins (the son of Benjamin “Ben” Jenkins and Esther Lea/Leah Brofsky). Barry was born in New Jersey. Benjamin was born in New York, the son of Barnett/Bernard Jenkins and Frajda/Frieda Relkin, who were Jewish emigrants, from either Russia or Belarus (Frajda’s father was named Shlomo/Samuel Ezel Relkin). Barnett and Frajda lived in Wales before coming to the United States, and it seems likely that they changed their surname to the usually Welsh name Jenkins while living there. Carter’s great-grandmother Esther was born in New Jersey, the daughter of Samuel Brofsky, a Russian Jewish immigrant, and of Pearl Berg, a Polish Jewish immigrant.

Carter’s paternal grandmother is Joyce Irene Kline (the daughter of Frank Manuel Kline and Julia Baker). Joyce was born in South Carolina. Frank was born in North Carolina, the son of Russian Jewish parents, Jacob/Jake Kline and Rebecca Silberg/Silburg. Julia was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the daughter of a Belarusian Jewish father, Morris David Becker, and a Russian Jewish mother, Rebecca Logan.

Carter’s maternal grandfather was Billy Gene Sanders (the son of Martin Miles McIntosh Sanders and Maxine Finnell). Billy Gene was born in Kansas, and had English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and documented Cherokee Native American, ancestry, and was a member of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Billy’s paternal grandparents, Charles Sanders and Jessie Othello Starr, who were of European and Cherokee descent, were both listed as “Indian” on United States Censuses, as was Billy’s father. Carter’s grandfather Billy had several verified Cherokee ancestors, including his paternal great-great-great-great-grandmother, Ka-ti, a full-blooded Cherokee Native American, the daughter of Tsu-La “Kingfisher” and Na-ni “Nancy.” Carter’s grandfather’s other Cherokee ancestors included Dee-su-gaw-skee Scraper, Tiana “Ti-ya-nee”/Tayanee Dinah Smith, Elizabeth Gosaduisga, and Ah-Lee. Carter’s great-grandmother Maxine Finnell was the daughter of John William Finnell and Hallie/Hollie Almedia Wade.

Carter’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Roche (the daughter of Lawrence Roche and Margaret Murphy). Elizabeth was born in Tullow, County Carlow, Ireland.

Sources: https://twitter.com
https://twitter.com

American Jewish Life Magazine – http://www.ajlmagazine.com

Carter’s paternal great-grandmother, Esther Lea/Leah Brofsky, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Carter’s maternal grandfather, Billy Gene Sanders – http://www.legacy.com

Carter’s maternal great-grandfather, Martin Miles McIntosh Sanders, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Carter’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Roche) Sanders – https://www.dignitymemorial.com