Dave Grohl

BRIT Awards 2013 - Arrivals

Grohl in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: David Eric Grohl

Place of Birth: Warren, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Birth: Januari 14, 1969

Ethnicity: Slovak (paternal grandfather), German, Irish, English, Scottish, some Swiss-German and Welsh

Dave Grohl is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and director. He played as a drummer for grunge band Nirvana, and is the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for rock band Foo Fighters. Other members of Nirvana were Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, as well as Aaron Burckhard, Dale Crover, and Jason Everman. Other members of Foo Fighters are/have been Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, and Pat Smear.

Dave is the son of Virginia and James Harper Grohl. His parents divorced when he was seven years old. His sister, Lisa Grohl, introduced him to the punk rock scene when he was thirteen. He is married to Jordyn Blum, with whom he has three children.

Dave’s paternal grandfather was Alois Louis Grohl (the son of John Grohol and Anna N. Berta). Alois was born in Pennsylvania, to Slovak-Austrian parents.

Dave’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Viola Bonebrake (the daughter of Harper Strickler Bonebrake and Emma Katherine/Kathryn Miller). Ruth was born in Pennsylvania. Harper was the son of John Henry Bonebreak and Catharine/Catherine Amanda Miller. Emma was the daughter of Jacob Emanuel Miller and Ann/Annie/Anna Elizabeth Sprenkle. The Bonebrake line originates with Daniel Beinbrech, an emigrant from Schmalenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, who moved to Pennsylvania in the mid 1700s.

Dave’s maternal grandfather was Charles Edward/A. Hanlon (the son of Charles Cowherd Hanlon and Nellie W. Gallatin). Dave’s grandfather Charles was born in Pennsylvania. Dave’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of Edward Montague Hanlon, whose parents were Irish, and of Georgia Ann Corlew. Nellie was the daughter of Terry C. Gallatin and Margaret Ann Burns.

Dave’s maternal grandmother was Violet Princess Prince (the daughter of William Andrew Prince and Alice Hohorst/Hogan). Violet was born in Pennsylvania. William was the son of James Martin Prince and Eva Emma White. Alice was the daughter of Robert Hohorst, who was German, and of Alice Campbell.

Sources: Genealogy of Dave Grohl – http://www.geni.com

Dave’s paternal grandfather, Alois Louis Grohl, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Dave’s paternal grandmother, Ruth Viola Bonebrake, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Dave’s paternal great-grandparents, Harper Strickler Bonebrake and Emma Katherine/Kathryn Miller – http://www.findagrave.com

12 Responses

  1. andrew says:

    father’s genealogy: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/KZ86-93H

    It looks like Dave Grohl and Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam are 5th cousins, twice removed, through their shared German ancestors John Jacob Gossert and Anna Maria Keuffer (on Stone’s direct patrilineal line and Dave’s paternal grandmother’s one).

  2. andrew says:

    Dave’s maternal grandparents were Charles A. Hanlon and Violet Prince

    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQ2-1JRG

    Looks like his mother is multi-generation American, no recent ancestry from Cork (his Hanlon 3rd great-parents were Irish though).

    https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/GSMW-K7Z

  3. andrew says:

    Harper Strickler Bonebrake:

    http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=60636386

    The “Bonebrake” line originates with Daniel Beinbrech, an immigrant from Schmalenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, who moved to Pennsylvania in the middle of 1700s.

  4. andrew says:

    I suggest to link the profiles of Nirvana’s members:

    Kurt Cobain
    Krist Novoselic
    Dave Grohl

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.