John Cena

Cena in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: John Felix Anthony Cena

Place of Birth: West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 23, 1977

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian
*mother – French-Canadian, English

John Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and reality television show host. He has the most world championship reigns in WWE history. He has had leading roles in the films The Marine, 12 Rounds, Legendary, The Reunion, Trainwreck, Sisters, The Wall (2017), Daddy’s Home 2, Blockers, Bumblebee, Playing with Fire, F9 and Fast X, The Suicide Squad, Vacation Friends, and The Independent, and, in voice role, Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery, Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania, Ferdinand, and Dolittle. He has also starred on the show Peacemaker, and, in voice-over, Dallas & Robo; appeared in the Fred franchise, and hosted American Grit, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, and Wipeout. He has also been credited as Juan Cena, The Prototype, and Mr. P.

John is the son of Carol Frances (Lupien) and John Joseph Cena, who was a ring announcer for Chaotic Wrestling. His father is of Italian descent. His mother is of half French-Canadian and around half Colonial American (English) ancestry. John’s maternal grandfather was professional baseball player Tony Lupien. John is married to Shay Shariatzadeh.

The word Cena means “dinner” or “supper” in Italian.

He is a cousin of hip hop artist Tha Trademarc and computer scientist Natalie Enright Jerger.

John’s paternal grandfather was Felix Joseph Cena (the son of Agostino/August Cena and Madalena/Madolena Baleyns/Balegno). Felix was born in Tovey, Christian, Illinois, to Italian parents. Agostino was born in Livorno/Leghorn, Province of Livorno, Tuscany, the son of Guiseppe Cena and Margaret. Madalena was the daughter of Felice Baleyns/Belegante and Angela Gralia.

John’s paternal grandmother was Caterino Ann “Catherine”/Katherine DiVincenzo (the daughter of Antonio DiVincenzo and Felicia/Felecia Sardella/Saedella/Sardelli). Caterino was born in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts, to Italian parents, from Pontecorvo, Province of Frosinone, Lazio. Antonio was the son of Domenico Ludovico DiVincenzo.

John’s maternal grandfather was Ulysses John “Tony” Lupien, Jr. (the son of Ulysses John Lupien and Eugenie Marie Gosselin). John’s grandfather Tony Lupien was born in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the son of parents who were of French-Canadian descent. John’s great-grandfather Ulysses J. Lupien was a businessperson and politician, who was City Manager of Lowell, Massachusetts. He was the son of Francois Xavier “Frank” Lupien, who was from St-Ours, Québec, and of Laura Mary/Marie Brusseau/Brouseau, who was from St-Jean, Québec. Eugenie was born in Matane, Québec, the daughter of Desiré J. Gosselin and Gracieuse “Grace” Guay.

John’s maternal grandmother was Natalie Nichols (the daughter of Charles Nichols and Julia/Julie Ellen/Helena Skelton). Natalie was born in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, and had deep Colonial American (English) roots, going back to the 1600s. Charles was the son of Charles H. Nichols and Martha Emma Dix. He was the Executive Secretary of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. Julia was the daughter of Horace T. Skelton and Julia C. Hobbs.

Some web sites claim that John has Arbereshe ancestry. The Arbereshe are an ethnic Albanian group that moved to Southern Italy and Sicily in the 1500s. These claims have not been verified.

Sources: Genealogies of John Cena – http://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com
https://www.wikitree.com

John’s paternal grandfather, Felix Joseph Cena, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s paternal grandmother, Caterino Ann “Catherine”/Katherine DiVincenzo, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of John’s maternal great-grandparents, Charles Nichols and Julia/Julie Ellen Skelton – https://www.familysearch.org