Eric Cantona

Cantona in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona

Place of Birth: Marseille, France

Date of Birth: 24 May, 1966

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian, one quarter French
*mother – Spanish Catalan

Eric Cantona is a French actor, director, producer, and professional footballer. He played for the French national team.

Eric is the son of Éléonore Raurich and Albert Cantona. He is married to actress Rachida Brakni. He has two children with his former wife Isabelle Ferrer; and two children with Rachida.

Eric is sometimes described as having Romani ancestry, specifically “Manouche.” It does not appear that this is accurate.

Eric’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Cantona (the son of Salvatore Cantona and Maria Josephine Caria). Joseph was born in Roquefort, France, to parents from Sardinia, Italy. Salvatore was born in Ozieri, Sassari, the son of Salvatore Cantona and Marie. Eric’s great-grandmother Maria Josephine was born in Terralba, Oristano, the daughter of Salvatore Caria and Giovannina Fiori.

Eric’s paternal grandmother was Lucienne Thérèse Louise Faglia (the daughter of Gardenzio Luigi Mattia Faglia and Maria/Marie Anna Ollive). Lucienne was born in Marseille, Provence, France. Gardenzio was born in Borgosesia, Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy, the son of Luigi Faglia and Angela Viglino, who were from Borgosesia and Savona, Liguria, respectively. Maria Anna was the daughter of Marie Ollive, who was born in Marseille, to French parents, François-Victor Ollive and Marie-Magdeleine Bicay.

Eric’s maternal grandfather was Pedro Raurich (the son of José Raurich-Muner and Josépha Ventura-Candona).

Eric’s maternal grandmother was Francesca/Francisca Farnos (the daughter of José Farnos-Dolin and Carmen Treix-Armangol).

Sources: Genealogies of Eric Cantona – http://www.rfgenealogie.com
http://gw.geneanet.org