Gina Carano

Carano in 2013, photo by prphotos

Birth Name: Gina Joy Carano

Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 16, 1982

Ethnicity: Italian (3/16ths), English, Scottish, smaller amounts of Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Dutch, and German

Gina Carano is an American actress, television personality, fitness model, MMA fighter, and American Gladiator. She is the daughter of Dana Joy (Cason) and Glenn Thomas Carano, a professional football player. She is also known as Conviction and Crush.

Gina stated in an interview that she is a fourth-generation Italian American, and has “just a small percentage of Italian” ancestry. Her ancestry is, specifically, three sixteenths (3/16ths) Italian. Her other roots are English, Scottish, and smaller amounts of Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Dutch, and German.

Gina’s paternal grandfather is Donald Louis Carano (the son of Louis Joseph “Louie” Carano and Mildred F. Bisagno). Gina’s great-grandfather Louis’s parents, Benedetto/Bendetto “Ben” Carano and Emelia/Emilia Ferrari, were Italian emigrants, probably from Liguria, Italy. Mildred’s father, Joseph Anthony “Joe” Bisagno, was an Italian emigrant, who was born in Genoa, Liguria, Italy. Mildred’s mother, Sarah Faye “Sadie” Tefft, was from Wisconsin, and was the daughter of Henry B. Tefft and Alice Maud McIntyre. Sarah’s ancestry included English, and more distant Scottish, roots. This means that Gina’s grandfather Donald was of three quarters Italian ancestry.

Gina’s paternal grandmother is Paddy Creek (the daughter of Thomas H. Creek and Patsy Velaris Jones). Paddy was born in California. Thomas was the son of George Washington Creek and Ollie/Alle Clay. Paddy’s ancestry includes English, and some German and Dutch.

Gina’s maternal grandfather is Jack Edward Cason (the son of Vernon Dewey Cason and Dallas Smock). Jack was born in Oklahoma, and is a member of the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame. Vernon was the son of Edward M. Cason and Maude E. Harrison. Dallas was the daughter of James Smock and Melissa.

Gina’s maternal grandmother is Maxine Yvonne Cobb (the daughter of Theo Franklin Cobb and Julia Elizabeth Johnson). Maxine was born in Oklahoma. Theo was the son of Franklin David Cobb and Hattie Gertrude Garrison. Julia was the daughter of Alfred Thomas Johnson and Nettie Maybur Reasoner.

Sources: Genealogy of Gina Carano – https://www.geni.com

Gina’s paternal great-grandfather, Louis Joseph “Louie” Carano, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Immigration record of Gina’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Benedetto/Bendetto “Ben” Carano – https://familysearch.org

Gina’s paternal great-grandmother, Mildred F. Bisagno, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Gina’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Joseph Anthony “Joe” Bisagno, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Gina’s paternal great-grandfather, Thomas H. Creek, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage announcement of Gina’s maternal grandparents, Jack Edward Cason and Maxine Yvonne Cobb – https://www.newspapers.com

Gina’s maternal grandfather, Jack Edward Cason, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Biography of Gina’s maternal grandfather, Jack Edward Cason – http://www.sportshalloffame.net

Gina’s maternal great-grandmother, Dallas Smock, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Gina’s maternal great-grandmother, Julia Elizabeth (Johnson) Cobb – http://www.lasvegassun.com

Gina mentions her Italian background – http://archivio.panorama.it