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:
*50% Greek
*12.5% Ashkenazi Jewish
*12.5% German
*25% mix of English and Irish

John Stamos is an American actor, producer, musician, comedian, and singer. He is known for playing Jesse Katsopolis on Full House, and for his roles on television’s General Hospital, Scream Queens, ER, and Grandfathered, 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, a bathing suit model, and William John Stamos, a restaurateur. His father was of Greek heritage, with roots in 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 “Stamotopoulos.” John’s character on the show Jake in Progress (2005) was named Jake Phillips, presumably 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 B. Stamatopoulos/Stamos (the son of Vasilios Stamatopoulos and Georgitsa Tsiapralis). John’s grandfather John was Greek, from Kakouri.

John’s paternal grandmother was Adeline/Lena T. Psaras (the daughter of Thomas/Tom Frank Psaras and Mary Logisis/Lagousis). Adeline was born in Ohio, to Greek parents. Thomas was from Tripoli, Greece. Mary’s mother’s maiden name was 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 California. John’s great-grandfather Jacob was a Jewish immigrant, who was likely born in Riga, Latvia, and 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 Ridgley/Ridgeley (the daughter of Ralph Frank Ridgley and Rose Florence Monly/Money). Eloise was born in Minnesota. Ralph was the son of William Frank Ridgley and Grace Ethel Stanchfield. Rose was the daughter of Augusta J. Money and Susan L.

Stamos in 1990, photo credit: Alan Light

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

Genealogy of John Stamos (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.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

Genealogy of John’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach – https://www.ancestry.co.uk

Genealogy of John’s maternal great-grandmother, Mary/Margaret Sacks/Sachs/Sach (through Mary/Margaret’s brother) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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