Jerry Cantrell

Cantrell in 2009, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Jerry Fulton Cantrell, Jr.

Place of Birth: Tacoma, Washington, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 18, 1966

Ethnicity:
*father – English, French, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Welsh, 3/32 Choctaw Native American, distant Dutch and Irish
*mother – Bohemian Czech, Norwegian

Jerry Cantrell is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and main songwriter of rock band Alice in Chains. William DuVall, Mike Inez, Sean Kinney, Layne Staley, and Mike Starr also are/have been members of the band.

He is the son of Gloria and Jerry Cantrell, Sr. His father was from Atoka, Oklahoma.

Jerry’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his twenty-first great-grandfather, John Cantrell.

Jerry’s paternal grandfather was Herbert Franklin Cantrell (the son of Fred Carl Cantrell and Delphia Blanche Campbell). Herbert was born in Thayer, Missouri. Fred was the son of Charles Franklin “Cass” Cantrell and Charlotte Temple “Lottie” Risner. Delphia was the daughter of John Wesley Campbell and Dora Anise Compton.

Jerry’s paternal grandmother was Opal Harriett Lain (the daughter of Elijah Houston “Lige” Lain and Sarah Harriet “Babe” Tomlinson). Opal was born in Atoka, Oklahoma. Lige was the son of Braddock Harris Lain and Josephine Greer. Sarah was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Tomlinson and Harriet/Harriett Gardner, who was of three quarters Choctaw descent. A picture of Opal can be seen here.

Jerry’s maternal grandfather was Elmer James Krumpos (the son of Matey “Matthew/Mike” Krumpos and Barbara Zdeneková). Elmer was born in Lankin, North Dakota, to Czech emigrants, from Bohemia. Matey was the son of Gabriel Krumpos and Marie Kadlecová, and was likely from Plzeň. Barbara was from Tabor, and was the daughter of Václav “James/Wencelsaus” Zdeněk and Anna Barešová.

Jerry’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Elizabeth Aus (the daughter of Johannes “John” Pettersen, later Sandaas, Aus, and Anna Kristine Olsdatter Skjæggeby). Dorothy was born in Eatonville, Washington. Johannes was a Norwegian emigrant, from Skjeberg (now part of Halden), and was the son of Petter Anton Johannesen Hornas Østre and Elisabet Hansdatter Aagento. Anna was also a Norwegian emigrant, from Borge (now part of Fredrikstad), and was the daughter of Ole Christian Andreasen Rødroen and Anette Christine Hedwig Christiansdatter Steengaden.

Sources: Marriage record of Jerry’s parents – http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov

Jerry’s father on the 1950 U.S. census – https://1950census.archives.gov

Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandfather, Herbert Franklin Cantrell – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Jerry’s paternal grandmother, Opal Harriett (Lain) Jack – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Jerry Cantrell (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Jerry’s maternal grandfather, Elmer James Krumpos, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Baptismal record of Jerry’s maternal great-grandfather, Johannes “John” Pettersen Aus – http://www.arkivverket.no

Baptismal record of Jerry’s maternal great-grandmother, Anna Kristine Olsdatter – http://www.arkivverket.no