Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Johnson in 2007
Birth Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson
Place of Birth: Hayward, Alameda, California, United States
Date of Birth: May 2, 1972
Ethnicity:
*father – African-Canadian/Black Nova Scotian [including Beninese], small amount of Irish
*mother – Samoan, as well as 1/16th Scottish
Dwayne Johnson, also credited as The Rock, Flex Kavana, and Rocky Maivia, is an American actor, producer, businessperson, professional wrestler, and American/Canadian professional football player. He has starred in The Scorpion King, The Rundown, Doom, Gridiron Gang, Race to Witch Mountain, The Other Guys, Faster, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Hercules (2014), San Andreas, Moana, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Rampage, Skyscraper, Fighting with My Family, Jungle Cruise, DC League of Super-Pets, Black Adam, and the Fast and the Furious films, among many other productions; many of his films are among the most popular of the 21st century. He is 6′5″.
He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata or Mataniufeagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles), a Canadian and American wrestler. His father was also billed as Sweet Ebony Diamond and Drew Glasteau. A picture of Dwayne at a young age, along with his parents, can be seen here. He is of Anoa’i family.
Dwayne’s father, who was black, African-Canadian, was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, and had Black Nova Scotian heritage. Black Nova Scotians descend from African-Americans who left the U.S. after the American Revolution, having sided with the British. Dwayne’s paternal grandparents were both black, and Dwayne has stated that he also found out that he has some “strong Irish blood” on his father’s side. Dwayne has also been said to have First Nations (Native Canadian) ancestry, although it is not clear if that is accurate.
Dwayne’s mother is Samoan, and descends from Samoan royalty. She is the adoptive stepdaughter of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia, and the daughter of wrestling promoter Lia Maivia. His mother is also of 1/16th Scottish descent. Dwayne spent some time growing up in Grey Lynn, New Zealand, where he was able to learn about his Pacific Islander heritage. He has a tribal “pe’a” chest-and-arm tattoo. He was also partly raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Hamden, Connecticut.
Dwayne was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2016. He is the second non-white man, and the second man of significant African ancestry, to have been given this title by the magazine (Denzel Washington, in 1996, is the first, and Idris Elba, in 2018, John Legend, in 2019, and Michael B. Jordan, in 2020, are the others, fitting both criteria). Dwayne is also the first Polynesian man to have been given the title.
Dwayne is married to singer and songwriter Lauren Hashian. He has a daughter, professional wrestler Ava (born Simone Garcia Johnson), with his former wife, businessperson, IFBB professional bodybuilder, and producer Dany Garcia, who works on many of his films; and two children with Lauren.
Dwyane’s paternal grandfather was James Henry A. Bowles (the son of John W. Bowles and Lila/Lilla/Lillian Jones). James was born in Amherst, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. John was the son of Stephen Bowles and Charlotte/Charlotta/Lottie Jones. Lila was the daughter of Henry Jones and Mary Jane.
Dwyane’s paternal grandmother was Lillian Gay (the daughter of Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles). Lillian was born in Amherst, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Alfred was the son of Delia/Adelia. Isabelle was born on Prince Edward Island, the daughter of William Benjamin Sickles and Hannah Colecraft/Colecroft. Through this line, Dwayne is descended from Dembo Sickles, who was born, c. 1762, in Benin, and was sold as a slave to a man in Prince Edward Island.
Dwayne Johnson with his parents, 2015, photo by kathclick/Bigsotck.com
Dwayne’s biological maternal grandfather was John Sione Papali’itele Fitisemanu (the son of Malietoa Talavou Pe’a Fitisemanu and Alisa Jane Tuiloma Crichton). John was born on Vaisala, Samoa. Talavou was the son of Malietoa Fa’alata Talavou Fitisemanu and Salumalo Leilua. Fa’alata’s father was Malietoa Talavou Tonumaipe’a, King of Samoa. Alisa was the daughter of John Tuiloma Crichton, whose father was from Glasgow, Scotland, and of Talau’ula Malolo.
Dwayne’s maternal grandmother was Lia Maivia (born Ofelia Fuataga, the daughter of Sanitoa Aulaumea and Talaleu Soesa Fuataga). Lia Maivia was born in Lalomanu, Aleipata, Western Samoa, then under New Zealand rule, now independent. Sanitoa was the son of Aulaumea T. and Tulafono.
Dwyane’s adoptive maternal grandfather was born Fanene Pita Anderson (the son of Rebecca Fanene). Fanene was born on American Samoa; he wrestled under the name Peter Maivia, and was also known as Peter Anderson. In Dwayne’s own early wrestling days, he was known as Rocky Maivia, a combination of the nicknames of his father, Rocky Johnson, and Peter Maivia. Peter himself was adopted by Ifopo F. Amituana’i, the father of The Rev. Amituana’i Anoa’i. Ifopo was the great-grandfather of professional wrestler and actor Roman Reigns and professional wrestler Rikishi, and the great-great-grandfather of professional wrestlers Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso. The family was from Utulei on American Samoa. Dwayne is also a fourth cousin, once removed, of actress Eliana Sua. Dwayne’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, William Crichton and Uputaua Falemalu Lesa, were also Eliana’s paternal great-great-great-great-grandparents. Peter Maivia was also a cousin of Australian-born professional wrestler Nia Jax‘s father.
Sources: https://www.cbc.ca
Genealogies of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – http://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Family history of Dwayne’s father – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Marriage records of Dwayne’s paternal great-grandparents, Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
Dwayne’s paternal great-grandparents, Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles, on the 1901 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles on the 1911 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Johnson with wife Lauren Hashian, 2013, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
NO ENA, your ex must have been the only Samoan you’ve met if you think Samoans are dark skinned and look half black. Only ignorant people and those who haven’t met enough of us think that. People are getting the nesian dempgraphics mixed up or aren’t considering it at all. MELANESIANS, are thought to be from an original mix, which includes black. The masses are more prone to have naturally kinky hair etc. POLYNESIANS ARE NOT, Polynesians aka Samoans, Tongans, Maori’s, Cook Islanders, Hawaiians etc. come in all shades of brown, caramel and even lighter and most have naturally curly/bushy to straight (Indian type) hair.
your best friend*
The point is they aint black but they do look like they got some black up in them!
hawaiians are much lighter and they are asian [well they have ancestors from an asian country]
( 38.6%) asian, the largest group
they ancestors from melanisians as well- who have asian DNA- melanisians look like Africans and sometimes darker than Africans!
i know that
i was just stating that they are predominantly asian, but they have europeans, black/african americans, natives, pacific islanders also people from hispanic countries living there too, just that asians are the majority
hawaiians/polynesians are not asian,we are,are own ethincity.from what ive heard,i heard polynesians are made up of melanesian(or i think malaysian),micronesian and european,from what ive heard.but basically now,we are,are Own ethnicity,group and culture.were not black and were not asians!We Are Pacific Islanders!!!
Wrong. Hawaiians Are Polynesians like Samoans
Lol i love how you just said that straight forward
Hey, since Black people come in all shades as well what does that say about you? I guess you don’t know what ha;f Black looks like after all lol.
Well half black people come in all shades and colors as well some can be dark some can be light, some have white people features some have black people features, it is usually pretty easy to tell, but sometimes you cant tell!
Linda….You said it and I appreciate you doing your research before you throw your comments out there like somewho are VERY ignorant…Duwayne Johnson is a very, sexy biracial man and I know he’s proud of his heritage as he should be…Those who can’t accept mixing races OOOOH WELLLLL and by the way I’m also part African American and Samoan :=)
@kalohe you said no blacks are realted to polynesians? it is a lie my best friend is 100% polynesian he has brown skin and a very kinky afro he looks black tell me why he looks like that? My ex husband who is white though samoans were black , samoans look like they are half black they have dark skin , afro , curly hair many people concider them black .I am part polynesian by the way.
there actually called melanisians are negritos, the original pacific islanders look african, are like black polynesians, they are not african though and they are not polynesian they are there own race, I love learning about them very cool and original, I would still call them black because we call dark people with tight curly hair black, you dont have to be African to be black!
to me,its more of calling someone who is brown,dark,whatever in a category as coloured or ethnic,not black.i mean indians(the kind from india)can be as dark as the africans,but i wouldnt call them black,just cause they can be dark as an african,but i would call them either ethnic or colored,same for pacific polynesian people,not black,but ethnic or something,cuz their not black.
ENA you maybe 50% polynesian but you are defntly 100% PLASTIC. Get in touch with your Roots you poor lost child. Sick of all you people… SERIOUSLY.
dwayne will you marry me???
disgusting,im the real rafael
To rafael
I was going to say,I thought you were a guy.People are notorious for stealing names on this site
Stfu who cares!! Fckn pussy ass bitches
Gay!!!!
so i was watching a show about samoa, and the presenter said that samoans/polynesians are mixed with european and east asian descent. is this true? cause i dont see it, i thought they were mixes or african, east asian, and aboriginal? and maybe some european, but they look too dark to be european and east asian, plus their hair is super curly, with an afro-texture to it. look at troy polamalu’s hair, so beautiful
Europeans have come to island a lot over the centuries,but they are also mixed with the other ethnicity you said.As well these groups are also mixed with black blood(Malaysia the Philippines(not all filipino’s), Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia,Melanesians ).There were different groups of black people in all those areas through the centuries,and they all mixed with each other.Today groups are water down,yet with certain groups the evidence is still pretty clear
thats not true
europeans never mixed with them
–
the only mix samoan have is black and asian
How many times am i gna put up with you boss. u must be a palangi so im just gna tell you to get over the fact that euros like yourself did mix with my samoan people not just asians u ufa
Well it depends on what u mean. If youre talking about within the last 200 years yes many european sailora mixed in the islands. A little more recently filipinos and asians have movrled around. And if you are talking about thousands if years ago yes many believe their ancestors were from malaysia and maybe east asia. Of course since then theyve been isolated long enough to develope a common ethnicity. And no blacks arent related to polynesians. But does it really matter? If you go back far enough we all have a common origin.
Not all samoans have curly bushy hair yeaa i do but A LOT of my family members have straight hair thick but not bushy…but honestly idk if us samoans are Eurepeon or Aisain i dont think so..lmao ANd i and a lot of Samoans dont look Mauele/Black some of us look mexican,Palagi/White& many diffrent..! and Troy Palumalu is mostly Tongun just had to say lmao!!
Kayy Thank You!!
yeah,polynesians hair,can range from anytype.to curly,straight,wavy,thick,thin,long,short,etc.(but is typically head full of thick hair,whether long,and is usually straight,wavy or curly).but anyways it seems more that troy polamalu,is samoan,or mostly samoan than tongan,just had to say that.
no man what are you talking samoans
have only asian and black mixture
BOSS – SHUT UR F^&*N MOUTH. Im just about sick of you alright