Ethel Merman

Birth Name: Ethel Agnes Zimmerman

Date of Birth: January 16, 1908

Place of Birth: Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, United States

Date of Death: February 15, 1984

Place of Death: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*German (father)
*Scottish (mother)

Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. She was known as the “undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage.”

She was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann. Her father, Edward Zimmerman, was of German descent. Her mother, Agnes (Gardner), was the daughter of Scottish parents. She had two children with her former husband, newspaper executive Robert Levitt.

While some thought Ethel was of Jewish heritage, she was not.

Ethel’s paternal grandfather was Charles Zimmermann (the son of George Christopher Zimmermann and Julianna Messner). Charles was German.

Ethel’s paternal grandmother was Emma Cecilia Schafer (the daughter of John Michael Schafer/Schaeffer and Martha Becker). Emma was born in New York, of German descent.

Ethel’s maternal grandfather was named Robert G. Gardner.

Ethel’s maternal grandmother was named Mary Ann Hunter.

Source: Ethel Merman on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org