John Stamos

Stamos in 2011, image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: John Phillip Stamos

Place of Birth: Cypress, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 19, 1963

Ethnicity:
*father – Greek
*mother – one half British Isles [English, Irish], one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish, one quarter German

John Stamos is an American actor, producer, musician, comedian, and singer. He is known for his roles on television’s General Hospital, Full House, ER, Grandfathered, Scream Queens, and You, and in the films Never Too Young to Die and Born to Ride, as well as stage roles and other works.

John is the son of Loretta Donna, a bathing suit model, and William John Stamos, a restaurateur. His father was of Greek heritage, with roots on the island of Santorini. His mother was of one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish and one quarter German descent, with the rest a mix of English and Irish. The family’s original surname is Stamatopoulos. John’s character on the show Jake in Progress (2005) was named Jake Phillips, likely after John’s maternal grandfather and great-grandfather.

John is married to model, actress, and writer Caitlin McHugh, with whom he has a son.

John’s paternal grandfather was John/Ioannes/Ioannis Stamatopoulos/Stamos (the son of Vasilios/Vasilis Stamatopoulos and Georgitsa Tsiapralis). John’s grandfather John was Greek, from Kakouri.

John’s paternal grandmother was Adeline/Adelina/Adaline/Andelina/Lena Psaras (the daughter of Thomas/Tom Frank Psaras and Mary Lagousis). Adeline was born in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, to Greek parents. Thomas was born in Kakouri or Tripoli. Mary was born in Kakouri, to a mother surnamed Simposni.

John’s maternal grandfather was Jake Phillips, Jr. (the son of Jacob/Jake Phillips and Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach). John’s grandfather Jake was born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. John’s great-grandfather Jake was a Jewish emigrant, who was likely born in Riga, Latvia. He was the son of Wolf Phillips and Gusta Greenberg. John’s great-grandmother Mary/Margaret was born in Canada, the daughter of German (Lutheran) parents, Frederich/Frederick Sachs, from Wolferode, and Frederike/Fredericke/Fredericka/Friedricka Caroline Dorothea “Rachel” Wilken/Wilkins, from Steinhagen. John’s great-great-grandmother Frederike was killed by her second husband, Harry Staples.

John’s maternal grandmother was Eloise Florence Ridgeley (the daughter of Ralph Frank Ridgley and Rose Florence Money). Eloise was born in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Ralph was the son of William Frank Ridgley and Grace Ethel Stanchfield, whose grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. Rose was the daughter of Augusta J. Money and Susan L.

Stamos in 1990, photo credit: Alan Light

Sources: Genealogies of John Stamos – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com

John’s maternal grandfather, Jake Phillips, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Jake Phillips, Jr. on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of John’s maternal great-grandparents, Jacob/Jake Phillips and Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal great-grandparents, Jacob/Jake Phillips and Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach, on the 1901 Canada Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of John’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Frederich/Frederick Sachs and Frederike/Fredericke/Fredericka/Friedricka Caroline Dorothea “Rachel” Wilken/Wilkins – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of John’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Frederike/Fredericke/Fredericka/Friedricka Caroline Dorothea “Rachel” (Wilken/Wilkins) Sachs – https://www.findagrave.com