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 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.
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 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 bet if you do a DNA test on Samoans or any other Polynesians it will lead back to AFRICA. Like it or not. WE ALL COME FROM AFRICA. So you all need to do YOUR research. And Nadia is somewhat right. Either way, Samoans and others are /will be treated no better then a person of African decent. Face it. All people of color are a threat to non colorerd folks. And for the record. Black people are REALLY BROWN. Do your damn research. Melanin BROWN!!! The deepest darkest pigment is really BROWN. SMH
Although Nadia is WRONG by calling Samoans black, there are only 3 different races on earth: Negroid, Caucasoid, and Mongoloid. Negroids are mostly but not limited to peoples of African descent, Caucasoids are white people and people of African decent whose genetics have mutated to accomodate colder northern climates, and mongoloids are peoples with typically thicker skin and an extra layer of skin in the eyelids for protection (which distorts shape of eye). The other “races” named are purely different ethnicities or nationalities categorized by their different phenotypes. Different ethnicities look unique based on the percentage of each race in their own phenotype that is why different hispanics/latinos can look more black, white, mogolian, or mixed than another. Somoans are not black because generally their genetic makeup isn’t more than 50% African, but they descend from a mixture of all three races. Hope this helps…
Can you please stop it with the percentage crap please. Im Samoan i know what i am and that is Polynesian Samoan.
Even though you are Samoan that doesn’t make you right, for example many black people don’t even know what African country they are from. In fact, I never argued that you aren’t Samoan. But, it still remains that there are only three races and the distinct mixtures of those races (hint: I’m trying to tell you Samoan isn’t a race). So of those what do you suggest we are. I say WE because although I identify more with my hispanic culture I am still half Samoan.
Well then dont say anything.
Wow someone who looks into anthropology and the human genetics. right on
KNOW YOUR ROLEEEEEEEEEEE
Shut up.
This site is a playground for trolls.
(;
Wow…I think Nadia has to be one of the most ignorant people I’ve meet. First off there are not only whites blacks and asians! Where did you get you get this from? If from your own eyes you need to get glasses. Black is refined of africans… Not latinos, or soamoans. Their a different names for a legitimate purpose…cause they are all different! Africans have dark skin and afro hair with a wider nose structure. Latinos usually have olive to tanned skin with curly or straight dark hair. Point being if they are just “black” as you claim them to be, why are the physcial features in no comparison? I’ll answer that for you, because they aren’t black and your just wrong. Not to mention I’ve studied multiple world cultures and race corses in college so don’t argue with me. Just go get an education before you speak out and start casting uneducated, offensive, stereotypes.
Gabriella you are a big liar and a wanna be know it all!!!!!!! FIRST off you must have failed your college courses because you would know that Nadia isn’t wrong just misinformed because in all college courses pertaining to culture they bring up the three race theory which is a popular misconception brought upon by early white supremacy. Secondly you idiot latinos is a misused word and has more to do with religion then race, and as far as features of African Americans you gave a very stereotypical observation but then again you lack a lot of intelligence so I shouldn’t expect much. IRONIC though right, how you called someone uneducated and you were spouting nonsense doesn’t feel so good huh?
R u serious??? There r only 3 types of people in the world? Black white & Asian? What about Hispanics? Polynesians? Mongolians? Indians? Let me guess all those races r just myths right? Y don’t u take a trip over 2 wikipedia & learn something since the imaginary world u live in only has 3 races. U should b embarrassed of ur ignorance.
You tell them TINA. Frick these people frustrate me
Hispanic is not a race, and Mongolians are Asian!
KNOW YOUR ROLE
You clearly don’t understand. Hispanic is not a race, it’s an ethnic identity. The three main groups of humans are negroid, Caucasoid and mongoloid. The Native Americans were thought to be mongoloid. Indian is an ethnicity(if you mean east indian). Ethnicity is not the same as “Race” . A race can be a part of an ethnicity and an ethnicity can be a part of an ethnicity
For example, Japanese people are ethnically japanese but racially mongoloid(or asian)
A negroid(black person) is racially black but can be ethnically Jamaican
@Multiethnicchick
I curious about something,does a black person have to be negroid,for you to see him as a black person?