Elizabeth May

May in 2014, photo by Green Party of Canada [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Birth Name: Elizabeth Evans May

Place of Birth: Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 9, 1954

Ethnicity: Welsh, Scottish, English, German, Irish

Elizabeth May is a Canadian politician, environmentalist, author, activist, and lawyer. She has served as Leader of the Green Party of Canada, since November 19, 2022; and, previously, from August 26, 2006 to November 4, 2019. She has been a Member of the Canadian Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands (BC), since May 2, 2011, and Parliamentary Leader of the Green Party of Canada, from November 4, 2022 to November 19, 2022.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Stephanie (Middleton) and John Middleton May (born John Walter May). Her parents were born in New York. Her father was partly raised in England. Her family moved to Canada, specifically Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, in 1972. Her parents operated landlocked schooner the Marion Elizabeth, which had been turned into a restaurant and gift shop.

Elizabeth is married to John Kidder, who co-founded the Green Party of British Columbia. John is the brother of actress Margot Kidder. Elizabeth has a daughter with her former partner Ian Burton.

Elizabeth is a practicing Anglican.

Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather was John Alfred “Jack” May (the son of Johan/John Wolfgang/William May and Rebecca Stocks). Elizabeth’s grandfather Jack was born in London, England. Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Johan was born in Kitzingen, Bayern, Germany.

Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother was named Ethel Parran. Ethel was English.

Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Hazlehurst/Hazelhurst Middleton (the son of Charles Francis Middleton, Jr. and Lois Hazlehurst). Thomas was born in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Charles was the son of Charles Francis Middleton, Sr. and Augusta Loftus Jordan, who was born in Dublin, County Tipperary, Ireland. Lois was the daughter of George Edward Hazlehurst and Mary Montgomery Fogartie.

Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother was Ruth Vinson Stephens (the daughter of The Rev. James Vinson Stephens and Margarett Elizabeth “Bessie” Evans). Ruth was born in Radnor, Delaware, Ohio, U.S. The Rev. James was a Welsh poet and clergyman, of the Congregational Church, and was the son of David Stephens and Mary Vinson. Margarett was the daughter of Thomas W. Evans and Sarah Jones.

Sources: Elizabeth’s paternal grandparents, John Alfred “Jack” May and Ethel Parran, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Elizabeth’s maternal grandparents, Thomas Hazlehurst/Hazelhurst Middleton and Ruth Vinson Stephens – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather, Thomas Hazlehurst/Hazelhurst Middleton – https://www.wikitree.com

Birth record of Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother, Ruth Vinson Stephens – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Elizabeth’s maternal great-grandparents, James Vinson Stephens and Margarett Elizabeth “Bessie” Evans – https://www.familysearch.org