Elizabeth Banks

Banks in 2012, photo by PR Photos

Birth Name: Elizabeth Irene Mitchell

Place of Birth: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 10, 1974

Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, one sixteenth Dutch, remote French Huguenot

Elizabeth Banks is an American actress, producer, and director. She is married to producer and writer Max Handelman, with whom she has two children.

She has English, Irish, Scottish, one sixteenth Dutch, and remote French Huguenot, ancestry.

Elizabeth was raised in a family of Protestant and Catholic background. Elizabeth’s husband is from a Jewish family, and Elizabeth went through the process of converting to Judaism. In 2013, she stated of her religion:

I did not have my mikveh, so technically I’m not converted… I’ve been essentially a Jew for like 15 years… I haven’t had a Christmas tree in 15 years… Frankly, because I’m already doing everything [in terms of religious practice], I feel like I’m as Jewish as I’m ever going to be.

Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Phineus/Phineas Mitchell (the son of Joseph Irving Mitchell and Elizabeth Clarissa Stearns). Elizabeth’s grandfather Joseph was born in Massachusetts. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Joseph was the son of Joseph Isadore Mitchell, who was born in Leicester, England, and of Mary Jane Holmes. Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Elizabeth Stearns was of the daughter of Edward Llewellyn Stearns and Katherine H. Hasbrouck, who was of Dutch descent.

Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother was Clarissa Adrienne/Adrian Knox (the daughter of Clarence Kay Knox and Catherine J. McCabe). Clarissa was born in Massachusetts. Clarence was born in Massachusetts, the son of Scottish parents, Hugh Robertson Knox, who was born in Glasgow, and Catherine Gray. Elizabeth’s great-grandmother Catherine J. McCabe was the daughter of Owen McCabe, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and of Catherine Teevan, who was born in Northern Ireland.

Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather was Richard Edward Wallace, Sr. (the son of Richard Cullen Wallace and Anna Kirby). Elizabeth’s grandfather Richard was born in Massachusetts. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Richard was born in Massachusetts, to Irish parents, James Aloysius Wallace and Christine Agnes Ryan. Anna was born in Massachusetts, of Irish descent.

Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother was Irene Webster Howard (the daughter of Webster Eugene Howard and Eleanor Marie Casey). Irene was born in Massachusetts, and had Irish and English ancestry. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Webster was the son of Charles William Howard and Alice Claudia Miskelly. Eleanor was the daughter of Richard Leo/Lyman Casey and Ellen Marie Harkins.

Sources: Genealogy of Elizabeth Banks – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Elizabeth Banks (focusing on her father’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com

Obituary of Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather, Richard Edward Wallace, Sr. – http://www.pittsfield.com

Elizabeth’s maternal great-grandparents, Richard Cullen Wallace and Anna Kirby, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Elizabeth’s maternal great-grandfather, Webster Eugene Howard (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Elizabeth Banks discusses her religion – http://www.jewcy.com