Cher

Cher in 2010, DFree / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Cherilyn Sarkisian

Place of Birth: El Centro, Imperial, California, United States

Date of Birth: May 20, 1946

Ethnicity:
*father – Armenian
*mother – English, German, more distant Irish, Dutch, and French

Cher is an American singer, actress, and fashion personality. She was part of the singing duo Sonny & Cher, with Sonny Bono. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Moonstruck (1987). Her films also include Silkwood, Mask (1985), The Witches of Eastwick, Mermaids, Burlesque, and If These Walls Could Talk. She has also been known as Cheryl LaPiere, Cher Bono, and Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere Bono Allman.

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian. Cher’s father, John Paul Sarkisian, was born in California, to Armenian parents; he worked as a truck driver. Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch), a singer, songwriter, actress, and model, was of English and German, with more distant Irish, Dutch, and French, descent.

Cher is also stated to have Cherokee Native American ancestry on her mother’s side. She recorded the song, “Half-Breed,” about a woman of half Native American descent. However, no Cherokee Native American ancestors are documented on any publicly available genealogies of Cher.

Cher adopted the surname LaPiere from her stepfather, who was named Gilbert LaPiere. She has a son, activist and musician Chaz Bono, with her former husband, late musician Sonny Bono; and a son, musician Elijah Blue Allman, with her former husband, late musician Gregg Allman.

Cher’s paternal grandfather was named Ghiragoch/Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian.

Cher’s paternal grandmother was Syranous/Siranoush “Blanch”/Blanche Dilkian (the daughter of Hagop Dilkian and Loussaper Chivitjian).

Cher’s maternal grandfather was Roy Malloy Crouch (the son of James William “Jim” Crouch and Laura Belle Green). Roy was born in Arkansas. James was the son of William Howard Crouch and Mary Ann Bookout. Laura was the daughter of The Rev. William Martin Green and Julia Ann Bryant.

Cher’s maternal grandmother was Lynda/Linda Inez Gulley (the daughter of Isaac A. Gulley and Margaret Frances Fritz). Lynda was born in Arkansas. Isaac was the son of Thomas Bush/W. Gulley and Delilah R. Ann Donahue/Donihoo. Margaret was the daughter of Friedrich/Frederick August Fritsche/Fritz/Fritch, who was German, and of Margaret Ann Henson/Stewart.

Sources: Genealogies of Cher – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com