Ellen DeGeneres
DeGeneres in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Ellen Lee DeGeneres
Place of Birth: Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 26, 1958
Ethnicity: Cajun/French, English, Irish, German, distant Dutch and Swiss-German
Ellen DeGeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer. She was the host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show from 2003 to 2022. She voiced Dory in the films Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
Ellen is the daughter of Elizabeth Jane “Betty” (Pfeffer) and Elliott Everett DeGeneres. Her surname, DeGeneres, is of French origin, and her ancestry includes Cajun/French, English, Irish, German, and distant Dutch and Swiss-German. Ellen is married to Australian actress Portia de Rossi.
Ellen’s patrilineal line can be traced to Jean Baptiste DeGeneres, who was born, c. 1691, in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France. Jean Baptiste immigrated to Haiti.
Ellen’s paternal grandfather was Elliott/Elliot Everett DeGeneres (the son of Alfred George DeGeneres and Julia E. Bellieu/Billiu). Elliott was born in Mississippi. Alfred was the son of Joseph C. DeGeneres and Mary Whittemore. Julia was the daughter of John Sargent Billiu and Mary Frances Williams.
Ellen’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Elodie Martin (the daughter of Emile “Lee” Paul Martin and Jane “Jennie”/”Jeannie” G. Dickson). Ruth was born in Louisiana. Emile was the son of Pierre Numa Martin and Marguerite Elodie Bossie.
Ellen’s maternal grandfather was William Dick Pfeffer (the son of William Pfeffer and Pauline Schunke). Ellen’s grandfather William was born in Texas. Ellen’s great-grandfather William was the son of Phillip Pfeffer and Augusta Eliesa W. Koch, who were born in Germany. Pauline was also the daughter of German parents, William Schunke and Emelia Becker.
Ellen’s maternal grandmother was Mildred Morrill (the daughter of George Morrill and Mary Helen McArdle). Mildred was born in Louisiana, and was of Irish or significantly Irish ancestry. George was the son of Charles Morrill and Mary Fox. Mary Helen was the daughter of James Philip McArdle and Helen McBreen.
Sources: http://www.canada.com
Genealogies of Ellen DeGeneres – http://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Ellen DeGeneres (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.famouskin.com
Lisa Kudrow discusses Ellen’s family tree – https://www.youtube.com
https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/DeGeneres-Family-Tree-1
her patrilineal line can be traced back to Jean Baptiste DeGeneres, who was born, c. 1691, in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France, and emigrated to Haiti, where he died.
Ellen’s father has also distant German and Swiss-German ancestry, and he also descends twice from the noted Pilgrim William Brewster
“Lisa Kudrow Explores Ellen’s Family Tree”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20qNRnDhYmw
Ellen’s parents are Elliott Everett DeGeneres and Elizabeth Jane Pfeffer
Ellen DeGeneres’s grandfather was of French-Canadian ancestry. He was a distant cousin of Madonna’s mother. Here is an article elaborating on it:
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Madonna+Ellen+DeGeneres+distant+cousins+with+Canadian+roots/2749366/story.html
Ellen’s paternal grandparents were both of mixed French and British Isles descent. Cajuns are all descended from French-Canadians. Most French-Canadians are distant cousins of each other.
Put a long black wig on her and she would look no different to Courtney Cox.
I always thought Ellen was Italian because of the surname. My bad! I love her eyes, like blue crystal. She cracks me up too :)