Jenna Dewan
Dewan in 2009, image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Jenna Lee Dewan
Place of Birth: Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 3, 1980
Ethnicity:
*father – Lebanese, Polish
*mother – German, English, Cornish
Jenna Dewan, also billed by her former married name Jenna Dewan-Tatum, is an American actress, producer, dancer, and model. She is known for her leading roles in the films Step Up and Tamara.
Jenna’s father is of half Lebanese and half Polish descent. Jenna’s mother has German, English, and Cornish ancestry. Jenna has a daughter with her former husband, actor and dancer Channing Tatum; and two children with her fiancé, actor and singer Steve Kazee.
Jenna’s paternal grandfather was Emil Dewan (the son of Elias/Eli Abdo Dewan and Marie Bardwell). Emil was born in Massachusetts, to Lebanese parents.
Jenna’s paternal grandmother was Evelyn Ziemba (the daughter of Ignatius/Ignacy Franciszek Ziemba and Katarzyna/Katherine/Catherine Gruszka). Evelyn was born in Massachusetts, to Polish parents, her father from Kalembina and her mother from Dębica. Katarzyna was the daughter of John/Jan Gruszka and Maryanna.
Jenna’s maternal grandfather was Donald Dudley Bursch (the son of Donald Skidmore Bursch and Mary Louise Bamman). Jenna’s great-grandfather Donald was the son of Daniel Fredrick Wilhelm Bursch, who was born in New York, to German parents, his father from Hamelin, Lower Saxony and his mother from Twistringen, Lower Saxony, and of Ida T. Gabie. Mary Louise was the daughter of Martin J. Bamman and Frances Elizabeth/L. Davis.
Jenna’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Anne/Ann Wheeler (the daughter of Joseph Edward Wheeler and Bertha Mary Bray). Elizabeth was born in Barahona, the Dominican Republic. Joseph was the son of Edward Francis Wheeler and Clarissa Anna Goar. Bertha was the daughter of Oscar Simon Bray, who was born in New Jersey, to Cornish parents, and of Bertha Matilda “Maggie” Janner, who was German, from Ratzeburg.
Sources: Genealogies of Jenna Dewan – http://gw.geneanet.org
https://www.geni.com
Jenna’s paternal grandfather, Emil Dewan, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jenna’s paternal grandmother, Evelyn Ziemba, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jenna’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Oscar Simon Bray and Bertha Matilda “Maggie” Janner, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Interview where Jenna talks about her background – http://channingtatumunwrapped.com
She looks mixed and I was right.
This whole time I thought she was Hispanic (mulatto). But as soon as I read she wasn’t I saw a white girl with a bit of exotica to her.
WOW! She looks just like one of my relatives who’s full Punjabi Sikh.
She’s pretty but she doesn’t look white at all. Shes part middle eastern yet she looks super latina with amerindian in her. There’s nothing white about her. Dark olive skin, sharp features, different eye shape. She would definitely stick out and look ethnic in my town.
You are one ignorant person…
Stating an opinion doesn’t make someone ignorant, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Firstly she looks white. She does not look Latina or Amerindian. Latinos are not a race, so how can you ‘look’ Latino?… Latin American people come from all different backgrounds. Most importantly Latino is a Spanish translated word for Latin which is an Italian cognate of the word Latium (Lazio) which designates the area of Rome. Before the word Hispanic or Latino was implied to Native Americans the only Hispanics/Latinos were Europeans.
Secondly Middle Eastern people are Caucasians.
Race is defined by cranio-facial anthropology (bone structure) and things like DNA etc, not by skin color lol.
http://orig11.deviantart.net/ee08/f/2012/196/f/8/caucasoid_skull_by_dizneykhan-d57ccow.jpg
Agreed. Finally someone else speaks truth. Middle eastern are Caucasian people too. Not European Caucasian but part of race nevertheless.
Nope, only people of European origins are white. Lebanese are not white.
People with white skin color are white not only Europeans!
Bravo
She’s not white she’s mixed. Actually latino can be considered a race, you need to read the dictionary definition of race.
Also she’s not caucasian because the lebanese are not caucasian. You need to look up the definition of caucasian. Once you read that you will realize she’s not white or caucasian, she’s mixed, this is due to her lebanese side.
Latino can’t be considered a race at all.How speaking a Latín derivated language can be considered a race?.So a black and white whose first language is Spanish can be considered from the same race just because a language?.Following that logic, all who speak English is from the same race ” Anglophone”.So, all Americans are Anglophone and look the same, not white, black, asian, “hispanic” americans exist just Anglos.
lebanese and syrian are caucasian
Caucasian is a myth, race doesn’t exist
I agree. I wouldn’t regard her as white caucasian either, most people wouldn’t.
Pretty Pretty!!