Jillian Michaels
photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Jillian L. McKarus
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: February 18, 1974
Ethnicity:
*father – Lebanese
*maternal grandfather – Italian/Sicilian
*maternal grandmother – Ashkenazi Jewish
Jillian Michaels is an American fitness expert, certified nutritionist, businessperson, media personality, and author. She starred on the reality show Just Jillian.
She was raised in Tarzana, Los Angeles. Jillian is married to fashion designer Deshanna Marie Minuto. She has two children with her former fiancée Heidi Rhoades.
Jillian’s paternal grandfather was Roger Essa McKarus/Makarus (the son of Essa McKarus/Makarus and Ruth/Radih Jamba/Jammara). Roger was born in Kfeir, Lebanon. Jillian’s great-grandfather Essa was the son of Rustom Makarios Ghiz/Al-Ghuzz and Anna Shames. Ruth was the daughter of Michael Jamra and Assaba.
Jillian’s paternal grandmother was Nellie Eva Courey/Coury (the daughter of Naijeeb/Najib/Najeeb/Najeb Courey and Elizabeth Ruth/Ratha/Rathar Saba). Nellie was born in Michigan, to Lebanese parents, with roots in Kfeir, Hasbaya, who lived in Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia. Naijeeb was the son of Daoud/Job Courey and Sayouda/Sadie Fakourey. Rathar was the daughter of George Saba and Derbah Mansoor.
Jillian’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Saldi (the son of Michael Saldi and Raffaella/Raffaele Iacino). Joseph was the son of Italian parents. Michael was the son of Francesco/Frank Paolo Saldi, who was born in Grotte, Agrigento, Sicily, and of Nellie.
Jillian’s maternal grandmother was Regina Maltson (the daughter of Casper Maltson and Minnie Landkron). Regina was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, to a Russian Jewish father and an Austrian Jewish mother. Minnie was the daughter of Samuel Landkron and Rosie Dolk.
Sources: Genealogy of Jillian Michaels – http://www.geni.com
Marriage record of Jillian’s paternal grandparents, Roger Essa McKarus/Makarus and Nellie Eva Courey/Coury – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Jillian’s paternal great-grandparents, Naijeeb/Najib/Najeeb/Najeb Courey and Elizabeth Ruth/Ratha/Rathar Saba – https://www.familysearch.org
Inmmigration Act from 1926 of her paternal grandfather Roger McKarus (born in 1914) along with his father Essa, mother Ruth, and sister Zahia where it says he was born in Kfeir, Lebanon https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7FQL-M56Z
Another Immigration Act from 1926 of her paternal grandfather Roger McKarus (here it says he was born on July 15, 1909) where it says he was born in Lebanon not Syria https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FYW-YFTC
Passport application of Nicholas Makarus, brother or half brother of Roger Makarus, where it says he was born in Kefira (Kfeir), Hasbaya, Lebanon https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJG-LBKC
The Makarus family in the 1930 Census in Ohio https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X44C-M2X
Jillian Michaels is not an unusual case of Lebanese Christian-Jewish marriage. Famous people with the same mix include singer Tiny Tim, chess player Jennifer Shahade, producer Thomas Langmann, Argentinian writer Alicia Kozameh and tennis player Nicolas Massu..
The problem between “Lebanon” and Israel is more like a problem between “Muslim Lebanon” aka Hezbollah and Israel. Political/religious issues doesn’t necessarily reflect the sentiment/position of the majority of the inhabitants and a lot of them oppose those political issues and will like the two countries to collaborate in every possible way.
In the diaspora you can see successful artistic, commercial and scientific collaborations between Lebanese Christians and Jews. Examples include the band Chromeo, the dj collaboration Duck Sauce famous for their hits, the Barenboim–Said Akademie created by Daniel Barenboim who is jewish and Edward Said who was of Lebanese and Palestinian Christian descent.
>Raffaella Iacino).
Michael was the son of Francesco/Frank Paolo Saldi, who was born in Grotte, Agrigento, Sicily, and of Nellie.
Michael Saldi was born on month day 1887, at birth place, to Francesco (Frank) Paolo Saldi and Nellie Saldi.
Francesco was born on December 3 1856, in Grotte, Agrigento, Italy.
Nellie was born circa 1857, in Italy.
Jillian Michaels paternal grandfather Roger Makarus was born in Kfeir, Lebanon, the son of Essa Makarus and Ruth/Radih Jamba/Jammara who were both born in Kfeir, Lebanon (mispelled as Kefira in the act) as can be seen in their naturalization of 1920 here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1G-Q366
Jillian Michael paternal grandmother Nellie Coury was born in Michigan to Lebanese parents. Her parents Najeeb Courey and Rathar/Elizabeth Saba were married in 1912 in Ohio as can be seen here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDLR-JD7
Marriage Act of Roger Makarus and Nellie Courey in 1938 in Ohio https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q48-C2G
This makes Jillian Michaels of Lebanese descent not Syrian-Lebanese descent
makes her jewish…
syrian/lebanese father and jewish mother, thats pretty rare… it is actually unthinkable in jewish/israeli society
her father has likely a Christian background
Yes, he does. Most Arab immigrants to the U.S. of a certain period were Christian.