Danica McKellar

McKellar in 2004, Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Danica Mae McKellar

Place of Birth: La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States

Date of Birth: January 3, 1975

Ethnicity:
*father – English, Scottish, 1/16th Mexican/Spanish, distant German, French, Dutch, possibly Irish
*mother – Portuguese [Azorean, Madeiran]

Danica McKellar is an American actress, writer, and education advocate. She is known for starring as Winnie Cooper on the television series The Wonder Years, as well as voice over roles, and for having written six non-fiction books about mathematics.

Danica is the daughter of Mahaila and Christopher McKellar. Her sister, Crystal McKellar, also starred on The Wonder Years, as Becky Slater. Danica is married to Scott Sveslosky. She has a son with her former husband, composer Mike Verta.

Danica has stated:

I’ve been asked if I were Asian, Hawaiian, Greek, etc. The truth is, I’m a big mix of Western Europe. I’m mostly Portuguese (this is my mom’s side), via the Azores and Madeira Islands. These are both groups of islands in the Atlantic ocean settled by the Portuguese in 1418. This means that my mom’s side is probably a fair mix of Portuguese and native Islander! On my dad’s side, I’m part Scottish (hence “McKellar”), and a little each of: German, Spanish, French, and Dutch. No Asian, I’m afraid. Although you should see baby pictures, I really do look Asian!

She added that her name, pronounced like “Monica” or “Erica,” comes from a book called Name Your Baby, and means “Morning Star” in Slavic countries. Danica named her production company Morning Starlight Productions.

Danica’s paternal grandfather was James Angus McKellar (the son of James Henry McKellar and Dorothy Winifred Kellogg). James was born in California. Dorothy was the daughter of Frederick William Kellogg and Florence May Scripps, whose father was English.

Danica’s paternal grandmother was Suzanne Frances Biven (the daughter of Fedrico/Frederick Ollino Biven and Ethel Georgia Harvey). Suzanne was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Fedrico was the son of John Frank Biven, whose father was born in New York and whose mother, Amparo Ainsa Yslas, was born in Sonora, Mexico; and of Georgia Ellen Taber/Tabor, whose parents were from the East Coast. Danica’s great-grandmother Ethel was the daughter of Frederick Estabrook Harvey and Sabina Christian Cannell, whose father was Scottish or Irish, and whose maternal grandparents were English.

Danica’s maternal grandfather was Anthony “Tony” Tello (the son of Antonio Augusto “Tony” Tello and Augusta Nunes de Freitas). Danica’s grandfather Anthony was born in California, to parents from Madeira, Portugal.

Danica’s maternal grandmother was Ermelinda Mae “Emily” Amaral (the daughter of Manuel Silveira Amaral and Hazel George). Ermelinda was born in California, to Azorean Portuguese parents. Manuel was born on Faial, the son of Enos Silveira Amaral and Clara Ramos.

Sources: Marriage record of Danica’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Danica McKellar (focusing on her father’s side) – http://humphrysfamilytree.com

Danica’s paternal grandmother, Suzanne Frances Biven, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Suzanne Frances Biven on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Danica’s paternal great-grandfather, Fedrico/Frederick Ollino Biven, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Fedrico/Frederick Ollino Biven on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Danica’s maternal grandfather, Anthony “Tony” Tello, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Danica’s maternal great-grandfather, Antonio Augusto “Tony” Tello, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Danica’s maternal grandmother, Ermelinda Mae “Emily” Amaral, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Danica’s maternal grandmother, Ermelinda Mae “Emily” (Amaral) Tello – http://www.legacy.com