Hikaru Nakamura

Place of Birth: Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Date of Birth: December 9, 1987

Ethnicity:
*father – Japanese
*mother – German, Swedish, English, Scottish, Welsh

Hikaru Nakamura is a Japanese-American professional chess grandmaster, and streamer. He is a chess prodigy, and a five time United States champion.

Hikaru was born in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, to a Japanese father, Shuichi Nakamura, and an American mother, Carolyn Merrow, who is a teacher and classically trained musician. His family moved to the U.S. when he was two, living in White Plains, New York. Hikaru’s first name 光 means ‘light’ or ‘shine,’ and his surname 中村 means ‘middle village.’

Hikaru has said:

Fun fact of the day: I am 12.5% German, 12.5% Swedish, 50% Japanese and 25% mix of randomness!

Hikaru’s maternal grandfather was Raymond Theodore Merrow (the son of Raymond Merrow and Lilly H. Carlson). Hikaru’s great-grandfather Raymond was the son of Ira Nocross Merrow and Tena Craig. Lilly was the daughter of Swedish parents, John Carlson and Hulda.

Hikaru’s maternal grandmother is Margaret Ann Reinhold (the daughter of Leland A. Reinhold and Ruby Louise Crowley). Margaret was born in Panama City, Panama, to American parents. Leland was the son of Daniel G. Reinhold and Lena Mock/Mack. Ruby was the daughter of Arthur Crowley and Emma Jane Gilliam.

Source: Genealogy of Hikaru’s maternal great-grandmother, Ruby Louise (Crowley) Reinhold – https://www.findagrave.com