Gerard Butler
Butler in 2011, DFree / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Gerard James Butler
Place of Birth: Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Date of Birth: 13 November, 1969
Ethnicity: Irish, possibly Scottish
Gerard Butler is a Scottish actor. He has starred in the films Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, 300, The Bounty Hunter, and Olympus Has Fallen, among many others.
Gerard was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was raised Catholic. He is either of entirely or partially Irish ancestry. It is not clear if he is also of Scottish descent. His mother’s maiden name is Hanton, which can be Scottish or Irish. Gerard has said that he is “a little Scots boy whose whole family are Irish. They really are – my family is from all over Ireland.”
Gerard’s family moved to Montréal, Québec, Canada, when he was several months old. He returned with his mother to Scotland not long after, and was raised there. Gerard is related to writer and director Mike Flood.
Gerard’s paternal grandfather was Johnny Butler (the son of Edward Butler and Mary Brennan). Edward and Mary were from Myshall, County Carlow, Ireland.
Gerard’s maternal grandfather was named James Hanton. James was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland.
Gerard’s maternal grandmother was named Mary/May Flood. May was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The Flood family was from County Wicklow, Ireland.
Sources: Some of Gerard’s family history – http://groups.yahoo.com
Genealogy of Gerard Butler (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Whaat? This Scottish actor is Irish?
Not a single Scottish ancestor??
Not sure. He has said he is of Irish descent. His family is Catholic.
Yes, that sounds a bit crazy … :D
But that’s what “ethnicity” means – he is Scottish, of course, but his ancestors not so far away were Irish, so his ethnic roots are Irish. (What’s not so different …) It’s the difference between nationality and ethnicity. (Otherwise there were no “Americans” apart from Native Americans.) But at a point his descendants will be Scottish according to ethnic criteria, and only genetics will give a hint to Irish roots.
He’s an Irish lad by all accounts.
Not surprised. He’s too attractive to be Scottish. Many good looking men in the British Isles are either Irish or English.
Here’s a better pic Ethnic, update it please
http://i.imgur.com/EXVn6cx.jpg
is that pic on bigstock or prphotos? If not I cant use it due to copyright issues.
No sorry, I just found it on google. I checked big stock and prphotos but all of them are charging for license rights, do you have to pay for all the pictures you upload?
Are we sure all of his ancestry is Irish? His parents were not Irish immigrants. They were both born in Scotland.
Here is some info on his father’s side:
Gerard’s paternal grandfather was Johnny Butler (the son of Edward Butler and Mary Brennan). Edward and Mary were both from Myshall, County Carlow, Ireland.
Some of Gerard’s family history – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gerard_Butler_Pride_Of_Scotland/message/9626
correction
Brennan is super Irish (the singer Enya has that last name)..but what’s with the fake curly hair in the photo? they’re incredible
@andrew
How do you know it’s fake?what if he flat irons his hair normally?
they’re made with curlers
I never doubted his Brennan great-grandmother (and her husband) were Irish. What are you implying?
He is Scottish by birth but he is of Irish ancestry.
http://www.wildaboutmovies.com/…/GerardButlerInterview30... – United States
http://www.gerardjamesbutler.co.uk/Gerard_Butler_Biography.html
As far as I understand he’s Scottish and has confirmed it on the Ellen DeGeneres show.