Dolly Parton

dolly parton

Parton in 2012, photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton

Place of Birth: Sevier County, Tennessee, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 19, 1946

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish

Dolly Parton is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businessperson, and humanitarian. Her films include 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.

Dolly is the daughter of Avie Lee Caroline (Owens) and Robert Lee Parton. Her brother was songwriter Floyd Parton. Much of Dolly’s ancestry is English, along with Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish. Her family has lived in the American South for a long time. She is married to Carl Dean.

Among her siblings are/were singer and songwriter Stella Parton. musician and actor Randy Parton, and singer and actress Rachel Dennison. Her uncle was songwriter Bill Owens.

Dolly has been said to have some degree of Cherokee Native American ancestry. No such ancestry has of yet been documented/verified in her family tree. For more information, see this Q&A.

Dolly’s paternal grandfather was William Walter Parton (the son of Albert Huston/Houston Parton and Tennessee Smith “Tennie” Russell). William was born in Tennessee. Albert was the son of Benjamin Christopher/Chris/Chrisenberry Parton and Margaret Jane Evans. Tennessee was the daughter of Lorenzo Dow Russell and Ellie Hannah Downs.

Dolly’s paternal grandmother was Bessie Elizabeth Rayfield (the daughter of George Washington Rayfield and Cassandra/Cassey/Casie/”Cassie” Ann Moore). Bessie was born in Tennessee. George was the son of Charles Rayfield and Elizabeth Bohannnon/Bohanan. Cassandra was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Moore and Rachel Metcalf.

Dolly’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Jacob Robert “Jake” Owens (the son of James Robert Owens and Mary Malinda/Melinda Messer). Jacob was born in North Carolina or Tennessee. James was the son of Samuel Paxton Owens and Annie Sutton. Mary Malinda was the daughter of Isaac Hugh Avery Messer and Hannah Harriett/Harriet Jane Conard/Connard/Conrad.

Dolly’s maternal grandmother was Rena/Rene/Renie Kansas/A. Valentine (the daughter of Henry Lloyd Valentine and Margaret Louisa Whitted). Rena was born in Tennessee. Henry was the son of William R. Valentine and Sarah E. Dickson/Dixon. Margaret was the daughter of William Jesse Whitted and Rebecca Dunn.

Sources: Genealogies of Dolly Parton – http://www.dollymania.net
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com

Genealogies of Dolly’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com

Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Shamblin, on the 1850 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents, Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s maternal great-grandfather, Henry Lloyd Valentine, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

35 Responses

  1. James McCarthy & Aidan McGeady says:

    Come on Ireland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Chad MacGregor says:

    She must be 100% from Irish roots then as Scots-Irish originate from Scotland and only settled in Ireland for a couple of generations before pursuing employment in melting pot nations such as America and Canada.

    Irish are the best? She clearly does not know very much about Ireland then!

  3. Dolly Parton says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnbJMcssd5k

    We Irish love to sing
    We Irish love to dance
    We Irish love to party
    Whener’ we get the chance
    We have a lot of troubles
    But we have a lot of soul
    We’ll drink a pint of Guiness
    And forget about our woes
    Ei-ee-ei, ei-ee-ei, we Irish are the best

    We love our myths and stories
    We love a mournful song
    We love our joyful music
    And a good old sing-a-long
    We love our pennywhistle
    Uilleann pipes and air bodhrán
    We Irish love our football
    Our heros and our homes

    Repeat Chorus

    We Irish love St. Patty
    We love to celebrate
    And nothing suits us better than
    An all-out green parade
    Green beer and hats and jackets
    Green dresses, shirts and ties
    And nothing could be brighter
    Than the light in Irish eyes

    We got a pub on every corner
    And a church to worship in
    We party hard then pray the Lord
    Forgive us of our sins
    We rid ourselves of grief and guilt
    Relieve our troubled hearts
    I know God loves the Irish
    And accepts us as we are

    Repeat Chorus

    Tag:

    Ei-ee-ei, ei-ee-ei, we Irish are the best

    Repeat Chorus

    Tag:

    Ei-ee-ei, ei-ee-ei, we Irish are the best

  4. Chad MacGregor says:

    Being Scots-Irish or Scotch-Irish is as follows:

    These were Scottish men and women (particularly from Glasgow) who migrated to Northern Ireland and brought along with them the Protestant faith which not surprisingly lead to the conflicts between Irish Catholics and Ulster-Scot Proddie’s!

    Basically, they are 100% of Scottish blood but migrated to Northern Ireland for a few generations before most of them continued on elsewhere to such nations as America and Canada.

  5. QueenOrangeSoda says:

    Normally, I’d get angry at you for saying “Scots-Irish”, but I know that it can be pronounced either way, so I’ll stay happy. :)

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