Chris Cornell
Cornell in 2007, MIMMO FERRARO / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Christopher John Boyle
Date of Birth: July 20, 1964
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Date of Death: May 18, 2017
Place of Death: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Ethnicity: Norwegian, Irish, English, Scottish, Northern Irish, Welsh, German, French, remote Manx and Swiss-German
Chris Cornell was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for rock bands Soundgarden (1984–1997) and Audioslave (2001–2007). Other members of Soundgarden include or have included Matt Cameron, Jason Everman, Ben Shepherd, Scott Sundquist, Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto. The other members of Audioslave were Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk.
Chris’s father, Edward Francis “Ed” Boyle, was a pharmacist, from Everett, Washington. Chris’s mother, Karen Ruth Cornell, was an accountant, from Seattle, Washington. His ancestry was Norwegian, Irish, English, Scottish, Northern Irish, Welsh, German, French, and remote Manx and Swiss-German. His parents were married by a Catholic priest in 1957.
Chris was married to publicist Vicky Karayiannis, until his death. He had a daughter with his former wife, manager Susan Silver; and two children, including musician, singer, and songwriter Toni Cornell, with Vicky.
Chris converted to the Greek Orthodox religion of his wife Vicky.
In an interview on Howard Stern’s show, c. 2007, Chris appeared to state that his mother is Jewish. This is not accurate.
Chris’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his third great-grandfather, Denis Boyle.
Chris’s paternal grandfather was Edward John Boyle (the son of Dennis Peter Boyle and Anna Louisa “Louise” Zahler). Edward was born in Washington. Dennis was born in Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland, to Irish emigrants, Terrence/Terrance Boyle, of County Sligo, and Mary McVey. Louisa was the daughter of German emigrants, Michael Zahler, of Trier, Rhine (now Rhineland-Palatinate), and Ann Katarina/Catherine Stenger, of Dillishausen, Lamerdingen, Bavaria.
Chris’s paternal grandmother was Anona Ruth Olson/Olsen (the daughter of Eivin/Ivan Olaus Olsen, later Olsen, and of Carrie Lorena Jones/McGuire). Anona was born in California. Eivin was a Norwegian emigrant, from Stavanger, Rogaland, and was the son of Ole Olsen Blaasenberg, later Vaaland, and of Andrine Tønnesdatter Bjuland.
Chris’s maternal grandfather was Ralph Trivett Cornell (the son of Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson). Ralph was born in Rothesay, Nova Scotia, Canada. Julian was the son of Robert/Ralph Filmore Trivett Cornell, whose parents were Irish, and of Anne/Annie Eudora Maxon/Maxim. Emily was the daughter of Henry Robert Emmerson and Emily Charlotte Record, whose father was from Maine. Chris’s great-great-grandfather Henry was a lawyer, businessperson, politician, and philanthropist, who as a member of the Liberal Party, was Premier of New Brunswick, from October 29, 1897 to August 31, 1900, among other duties.
Chris’s maternal grandmother was Marion/Marian Margaret MacNutt (the daughter of James Frederick “Fred” MacNutt and Clarabell/Claribel Josephine Hubbell). Marion was born in Seattle, Washington. James was a Canadian emigrant, from Darmley, Prince Edward Island, and had Irish, Scottish, and Colonial American (English) ancestry. He was the son of George Beairsto MacNutt and Annie McGougan Rodd. Clarabell was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Fred Keaton Hubbell and Annetta Alta Remer.
Chris’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced to his fourth great-grandmother, Elisabeth Hoffmann, who was born, c. 1821, in Hesse, Germany.
Cornell with wife Vicki Karayiannis in 2007, photo by s_bukley/www.bigstockphoto.com
Sources: Genealogies of Chris Cornell – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage record of Chris’s parents – https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov
Chris’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Chris’s paternal grandfather, Edward John Boyle, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s paternal great-grandfather, Dennis Peter Boyle – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s paternal great-grandmother, Anna Louise Zahler – https://familysearch.org
Chris’s paternal grandmother, Anona Ruth Olson/Olsen, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Chris’s paternal great-grandfather, Eivin Olaus Olsen – https://media.digitalarkivet.no
Marriage record of Chris’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Ole Olsen Vaaland and Andrine Tønnesdatter – https://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no
Baptismal record of Chris’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Ole Olsen Vaaland – https://media.digitalarkivet.no
Chris’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Chris’s maternal great-grandparents, Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Chris’s maternal great-grandmother, Emily Keillor Emmerson – http://brentglad.com
Chris’s maternal grandmother, Marion/Marian Margaret MacNutt, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s maternal great-grandmother, Clarabell/Claribel Josephine Hubbell – https://familysearch.org
Manila, what was Cornell’s fraction of Native American ancestry, and where did it come from on his tree?
He had no Native American ancestry. That’s BS and shouldn’t be posted without a credible source to back it up.
Is it me, or is the Wampanoag Native American ancestor the same one as Elisabeth Shue’s?
Agreed. Especially if the ancestor isn’t mentioned by name in the profile with a genealogy attached should it be removed. Too often it’s just left in the profile as if it’s verified.
Chris’ patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his third great-grandfather, Denis Boyle.
Chris’ paternal grandfather was Edward John Boyle (the son of Dennis Peter Boyle and Anna Louisa “Louise” Zahler). Dennis was born in Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland, to Irish immigrants, Terrence Boyle, of County Sligo, and of Mary McVey. Louisa was the daughter of German immigrants Michael Zahler, of Trier, Rhine (now Rhineland-Palatinate), and of Ann Catherine Stenger, of Dillishausen, Lamerdingen, Bavaria.
Chris’ paternal grandmother was Anona Ruth Olson (the daughter of Elvin Olsen and Lorena C. McGuire). Elvin was a Norwegian immigrant.
Chris also had Norwegian, Welsh, as well as remote Manx, Swiss-German, and Wampanoag Native American ancestries. I can’t trace Elvin and Lorena’s ancestries so far.
Chris’ father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9S6-ZYM
Chris’ paternal grandfather, Edward John Boyle, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGVW-J79
Chris’ paternal grandmother, Anona Ruth Olson, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJC-4VG
Birth record of Chris’ paternal great-grandfather, Dennis Peter Boyle – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQXY-CSM
Birth record of Chris’ paternal great-grandmother, Anna Louise Zahler – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDWN-FY3
Eivin Olaus Olsen, later Olsen
Eivin was a Norwegian immigrant, from Stavanger, Rogaland, and was the son of Ole Olsen Blaasenberg, later Vaaland, and of Andrine Tønnesdatter Bjuland.
Lorena’s full name is Carrie Lorena Jones/McGuire. I am not sure of this because her son Ivan’s birth record listed her maiden surname as McGuire while Ivan’s marriage record listed her maiden surname as Jones. I don’t know if she was adopted.
Baptismal record of Chris’ paternal great-grandfather, Eivin Olaus Olsen – https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/6345/74
Marriage record of Chris’ paternal great-great-grandparents, Ole Olsen Vaaland and Andrine Tønnesdatter – https://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/en-gb/gen/vis/327/pv00000001351150
Baptismal record of Chris’ paternal great-grandfather, Ole Olsen Vaaland – https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/1669/156
*paternal great-great-grandfather, Ole Olsen Vaaland
If Native American should be mentioned there should be genealogical evidence mentioned in the sources. Who was his Native ancestor? What’s the fraction?
Many celebrities, I’ve noticed, have been listed as Native American (especially Wampanoag) despite the lack of evidence in the sources.
Remove Native American.
James was a Canadian immigrant, from Darmley, Prince Edward Island, and was the son of George Beairsto MacNutt and Annie McGougan Rodd.
Correction for Marian’s mother: Her full name was Clarabell Josephine Hubbell. Clarabell was the daughter of Fred Keaton Hubbell and Annetta Alta Remer.
Chris’ matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fourth great-grandmother, Elisabeth Hoffmann (born c. 1821, Hesse, Germany)
This means that Chris had French and German ancestries as well.
Birth record of Chris’ maternal great-grandmother, Clarabell Josephine Hubbell – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRKP-6M4
I am still working on Chris’ paternal ancestry. Just wait for a while.
Marian’s full name is Marian Slagle MacNutt.
CORRECTION: Marian’s middle initial is still M because “Slagle” was her stepfather.
Chris’ stage surname derived from his mother, Karen Ruth Cornell, who is an accountant, from Seattle, Washington. His father, Edward F. “Ed” Boyle, is a pharmacist, from Everett, Washington. He was married to manager Susan Silver and publicist Vicky Karayiannis.
Julian was the son of Robert Trivett Cornell and Anne Eudora Maxon. Emily was the daughter of Henry Robert Emmerson and Emily Charlotte Record.
Marriage record of Chris’ parents – https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/8937AA897DF317577EA17EAE93CE488F
Chris’ mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9S1-BZC
Marriage record of Chris’ paternal great-grandparents, Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBF-Z1J1
Robert’s parents were Irish immigrants.