James Van Der Beek
Van Der Beek in 2012, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: James David Van Der Beek
Place of Birth: Cheshire, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: March 8, 1977
Ethnicity: Dutch, German, some English and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, possibly small amount of French
James Van Der Beek is an American actor. His roles include Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, as well as the films Angus, I Love You, I Love You Not, Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, The Rules of Attraction, The Plague, Labor Day, and Bad Hair, and the shows Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber, and Vampirina.
He is the son of Melinda, a dancer and gymnastics teacher, and James Van Der Beek, a cell phone company executive and professional baseball player. His father is roughly of half Dutch and half German descent. His name means “from the creek” in Dutch.
James is married to business consultant Kimberly Brook, with whom he has six children. The two married at the Kabbalah Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.
James’s paternal grandfather was Harry Clifford Vanderbeek/Van Der Beek (the son of Harry Blanchard Vanderbeek and Anna Hasbrouck). James’s grandfather Harry was born in New Jersey, and was of Dutch descent. James’s great-grandfather Harry was the son of Issac Vanderbeck and Anna. James’s great-grandmother Anna Hasbrouck was the daughter of Augustus Hasbrouck and Ann/Anna Herring Devoe.
James’s paternal grandmother was Louise Lutjens (the daughter of Herman Lutjens and Rosina/Rose Schwamb). Louise was born in New York. Herman was born in Rotenburg, Germany. Rosina was of German descent, and was the daughter of Theodore Schwamb and Barbara Schmidt.
James’s maternal grandfather was Franz Reinhold Weber (the son of Gustav F. Weber and Blossom White). Franz was born in Minnesota. Gustav was born in Paris, France, to a father from Germany and a mother from France.
James’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth/Eliza Bell Rogers (the daughter of Franz E. Rogers and Florence May Bell). James’s grandmother Elizabeth was born in Indiana, and had English, German, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry. Franz was the son of Elijah Eden Rogers and Susan Malinda Harmon. Florence was the daughter of Nathaniel Bell and Margaret Adalaide Troutman.
Sources: Genealogy of James Van Der Beek (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
James’s paternal grandfather, Harry Clifford Van Der Beek, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
James’s paternal grandmother, Louise Lutjens, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
James’s maternal grandfather, Franz Reinhold Weber, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
James Van Der Beek and Elizabeth Banks are 4th cousins 1x removed.
James Van Der Beek > James A. Van Der Beek > Harry Van Der Beek > Anna Hasbrouck > Augustus Hasbrouck > Augustus Hasbrouck < Wilhelmus Hasbrouck < Katherine Hasbrouck < Elizabeth Stearns < Joseph P Mitchell < Mark Mitchell < Elizabeth "Banks" Mitchell.
”The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franz R. Weber of 69 Spring St., Harrington Park.”
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/492868596/
This is his grandfather’s death record:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZPM-MTK
Grandfather on census:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWBM-QYF
I can’t find his great-grandmother Blossom’s parents. I also don’t know which is the right Elizabeth Rogers, but she was born January 30, 1918 in Illinois. I’m also not totally convinced Gustav’s mother is French, she might be German from France.
James’ maternal grandfather was Franz Reinhold Weber (son of Gustav F. Weber and Blossom White). Gustav was born in Paris, France to a German father and French mother.
James’ maternal grandfather was Elizabeth B. Rogers.
*maternal grandmother was Elizabeth B. Rogers
of course…
No wonder I couldn’t find Elizabeth, she’s from Indiana, not Illinois.
James’ maternal grandfather was Elizabeth Bell Rogers (the daughter of Franz E. Rogers and Florence May Bell). Elizabeth was born in Indiana. Franz was the son of Elijah Eden Rogers and Susan Malinda Harmon. Florence was the daughter of Nathaniel Bell and Margaret Adalaide Troutman.
His grandmother was of English, German and Scots-Irish descent.