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
I’m 1/4 Samaon. My grandfather is American Samoan and I have the kinkiest, curliest hair ever, so does my mom, his daughter. However, it’s not at the level of African American hair but it is super curly. So difficult to manage and I’m light skinned because my dad is white.
you should try read a history book about the pacific/polynesians & get educated with your pacific/polynesian side,cuz samoans are not black,& polynesians have thick hair not kinky.Whats up with people saying stuff,like oh i have kinky hair so i must have black in me or something,everyone(towards people who are not familiar with the pacific/polynesian cultures) can you guys open your minds up more & realize that there are other ethnicities & cultures that have brown skin,or thick hair,& stuff.sigh.sorry not trying to come off mean,but im just frustrated with this topic issue alot of times.
You are clearly a plastic Samoan and so is your MUM
Of course Samoan’s are of African descent. African’s sailed to those islands centuries ago and populated. Why are some cultures who are of Asian or Pacific Islander mixtures, so scared to admit there’s some African blood down the line. The same is true of Puerto Rico, so many of today’s Puerto Rican’s are of African heritage , from slave ships who stopped on the island first.
man you are wrong, ugggh ,im tired of having to keep on correcting people with this topic issue,Pacific/Polynesians islanders are NOT black or have African,they are there “OWN” ethnicity!!And stop making up assumptions,”oh well the Africans sailed to the Pacific” blah,blah,you are just assuming,dont be putting the wrong idea & making assuptions when you dont got proof,its just your hypothesis.Have you ever thought where the pacific/polynesian islands are located,they are located close to the Hot equator,which is prob the reason for majority of their beautiful brown skin,cuz Africa is not the only country that is under the hot sun.African people are not the only people,that have colored skin,just cuz someone is brown,does not always mean they have black in them,& if you actually compare the two ethncities & cultures,they are not the same,they are different in features,cultures,languages,customs & everything else,but besides not being pale skinned,or tribal likeness, & pacific/polynesians do-not look black.And Pacific/Polynesians can basically have all types of hair,but typically long,thick,wavy or curly & straight hair,Not kinky.And from what ive heard,Polynesians are possibly made up of micronesian,malaysian & european.But to sum it all up,PACIFIC/POLYNESIANS ARE NOW THEIR OWN ETHNICITY,THEY ARE PACIFIC POLYNESIANS!!not part this or part that,NO,but PACIFIC/POLYNESIAN ISLANDERS!African people & their culture are beautiful too(as Every ethnicities are beautiful in their own way aswell & as every ethnicities/cultures can have their good & not so good traits)but just saying,dont get it twisted or confused with these two beautiful but Different ethnicities & cultures,they are there Own & nothings wrong with that,dont need to be claiming some different culture just out of skin complexions & stuff.
Um Pacific Islanders are also Melanisian/negrito- which is black- it may not be African, but it is still black- black people dont only come from Africa!
huh,Pacific/Polynesian islanders are PACIFIC/POLYNESIANS!yes they are brown,but brown does not always refer to black,they can i=either be refered as ehtnic,or of coloured,cuz Pacific islanders are there own,& they are not black/negrito,did i not just said that,SIGH!
ewwww who do you think you are AMBER. Polynesians and Melanesians are totally different from each other.
Omlyf you tell them SILLAU. Theese people do not know who we are and yet they try so hard to claim that we come from friggin Africa. I hope you got urself educated wayngo
thanks,tyrone. [: , same to you,we need to correct & educate them about the pacific/polynesians,if neccessary.
This is amazing to me….It clearly states that Rock is part African-Canadian and all of you on here continue to say African American…Wow!
wtf????
OKAY NOW heres what im gonna seay all yall Maules & Palagis talkin stuff on samoans that u know nothin about go some were els wit ur samoan hating selfs MMMkkaayy…kayy.. Now all yall that arnt hater and you just dont make scence cuz you know NOTHIN get your butt to daa Library or somthin before you comment okayy…okayy!! now all maa fellow samoan family members Lets now even try to fight with dem we know Who and What we are!! and we are PROUD SAMOANS!!!!!