Clairo

Birth Name: Claire Elizabeth Cottrill

Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 18, 1998

Ethnicity: English, some Scots-Irish, Scottish, and German, distant French Huguenot and Welsh, remote Channel Islander

Claire Cottrill, known by her stage name Clairo, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She began uploading her bedroom-recorded songs at the age of 15, blending indie pop, lo-fi, and electronic elements. Her breakthrough came with her viral hit “Pretty Girl” in 2017. She subsequently released her debut EP “diary 001” in 2018, followed by her debut studio album “Immunity” in 2019. Since then, she has released her second studio album “Sling” in 2020, and will release her third one, titled “Charm.” in 2024.

Clairo has deep roots in the United States through all sides of her family.

Clairo’s paternal grandfather is the son of John Gaily “Jack” Cottrill and Margaret M. “Peggy” O’Neil. Jack was born in Blairsville, Pennsylvania to Virgil Chester Cottrill and Stella Ramsden. Virgil was born in Butler, Pennsylvania and Stella was born in Blairsville. Clairo’s great-grandmother Peggy was born in Butler to Leo Joseph O’Neil and Sophia Heitzer. Leo was born in Butler and Sophia was born in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.

Clairo’s paternal grandmother is the daughter of Douglas A. Stalley and Cecille Boyer. Douglas was born in Clinton, Summit County, Ohio to George Thomas Stanley Jr. and Nettie Louise Eadie. Both of Douglas’ parents were born in Cleveland, Ohio. Clairo’s great-grandmother Cecille was born in Cleveland to James Garfield Boyer and Bernice Townsend. James was born in Cleveland and Bernice was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Clairo’s maternal grandfather is the son of Woodrow Wilson Edwards and Vivian Winifred Sells. Woodrow was born in Sugar Hill, Georgia to Horatio Bruce Edwards and Elizabeth Goering “Gay” Shelley. Horatio was born in Oconee, South Carolina and Gay was born in Buford, Georgia. Clairo’s great-grandmother Vivian was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia to Ruben Bolin Sells and Bertha Haslett. Ruben was born in Gwinnett County, Georgia and Bertha was born in Georgia.

Clairo’s maternal grandmother is the daughter of Willie Williams and Florence Lillian Cassetty. Willie was born in Jackson County, Tennessee to George Washington Williams and Rhoda Jenkins. George was born in Overton County, Tennessee and Rhoda was born in Tennessee. Clairo’s great-grandmother Florence was born in Jackson County to William Alexander “Alex” Cassetty and Sarah Althie Carver. Alex was born in Jackson County and Sarah was born in Tennessee.

Sources: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/LLSV-Y9P – Clairo’s paternal great-aunt Sharon Cottrill’s FamilySearch family tree

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/MRRS-51D – Clairo’s paternal grandmother’s FamilySearch family tree (via her father Douglas A. Stalley)

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/LTTR-21M – Clairo’s great-grandmother Vivian Winifred Sells’ FamilySearch family tree