Emily Ratajkowski

Ratajkowski in 2013, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski

Place of Birth: Westminster, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 7 June, 1991

Ethnicity:
*25% Polish
*25% Ashkenazi Jewish
*50% mix of Irish, with some German and English, and remote Welsh

Emily Ratajkowski is an American model and actress. Her roles include the films Gone Girl, We Are Your Friends, Cruise, I Feel Pretty, In Darkness, Welcome Home, and Lying and Stealing, and the music videos for “Blurred Lines” and “Love Somebody.”

She was born in Westminster, London, England, to American parents, Kathleen Balgley, a professor, and J. D. Ratajkowski, an art teacher and painter. She was raised in San Diego, California, U.S., from a young age.

Emily’s father is of half Polish ancestry, with his other roots being Irish, as well as German, English, and remote Welsh. Emily’s maternal grandfather was a Polish Jewish immigrant. Her maternal grandmother was of Irish and German descent. Emily’s father was raised Catholic. Emily’s mother was also raised Catholic; she discovered that her own father was Jewish as an adult, and came to embrace Judaism. Emily’s mother teaches at a Jewish school.

Emily is married to producer and actor Sebastian Bear-McClard, whose mother is filmmaker, writer, and photographer Liza Béar. The couple has one child.

A picture of a younger Emily with her parents can be seen here. A picture of Emily’s mother can be seen here.

Emily’s paternal grandfather was Joseph T. Ratajkowski (the son of Joseph David Ratajkowske/Ratajkowski and Clementine Tanski). Emily’s grandfather Joseph was born in Illinois, to Polish parents.

Emily’s paternal grandmother was Mary Lee Hays (the daughter of Clarence Jerry Hays and Kathleen Burns). Mary Lee was born in West Virginia, and had Irish, as well as German, English, and remote Welsh, ancestry. Clarence was the son of Lincoln J. Hayes/Hays and Rose G. O’Farrell. Kathleen was the daughter of Charles William Burns and Inez L. Bumgarner.

Emily’s maternal grandfather was Ely D. Balgley (the son of Israel Balgley and Sarah Slomianski/Slomionski). Ely was born to a Jewish family on the Poland-Russia border. He was a piano prodigy. Ely’s father Israel was born in Brest, Belarus, the son of Ze’ev Wolf Balgley and Bluma Auerbach.

Emily’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Josephine O’Hara (the daughter of James Hoban O’Hara and Mae/May/Mary Josephine Eidel). Margaret was born in New York. James was the son of Arthur J. O’Hara and Margaret E. Howley, and was of Irish descent. Mae was the daughter of Jacob Eidel and Josephine Miller, who were German emigrants, with Josephine having been from Bad Waldsee, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg.

Sources: Genealogy of Emily Ratajkowski – https://www.geni.com

Emily’s paternal grandfather, Joseph T. Ratajkowski, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Emily’s maternal grandfather, Ely D. Balgley, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Emily’s maternal grandmother, Margaret Josephine O’Hara, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Margaret Josephine O’Hara on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Emily’s maternal grandmother, Margaret Josephine (O’Hara) Balgley – https://www.legacy.com

Obituary of Emily’s great-uncle, Richard Francis O’Hara (the brother of Emily’s maternal grandmother, Margaret Josephine O’Hara) – http://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of Emily’s maternal great-grandparents, James Hoban O’Hara and Mae/May/Mary Josephine Eidel – https://familysearch.org

Emily’s maternal great-grandmother, Mae/May/Mary Josephine Eidel, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org