Johnny Depp
Depp in 2008
Birth Name: John Christopher Depp II
Place of Birth: Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States
Date of Birth: June 9, 1963
Ethnicity: English, along with small/distant amounts of Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French/French-Canadian, Dutch, Flemish Belgian, and German, as well as 3/2048 African
Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician. He is the star of the films A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Platoon, Cry-Baby, Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood, Dead Man, Donnie Brasco, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sleepy Hollow, Chocolat, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, The Libertine, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Public Enemies, Alice in Wonderland (2010), and its sequel; Dark Shadows (2012), The Lone Ranger (2013), Black Mass, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and the series 21 Jump Street. Johnny was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2003, and again in 2009. He has often worked with director Tim Burton. He is a member of rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires, with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. He also founded film production company Infinitum Nihil.
Johnny is the son of Betty Sue (Wells), a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, a civil engineer. He was raised partly in Miramar, Florida. He has two children, including actress and model Lily-Rose Depp, with his former partner, French singer, model, and actress Vanessa Paradis.
Much or most of Johnny’s ancestry traces back to England. He also has small amounts (to varying degrees) of Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French, French-Canadian, Dutch, Flemish Belgian, and German, ancestry, as well as 3/2048 African ancestry (through Elizabeth Key Grinstead, who is his ancestor twice over). Johnny’s patrilineal line is generally traced to Pierre Deppe, a Huguenot, who was born, c. 1706, in France, and to Pierre’s wife, Angelica/Angeline LeVillian/le Villian.
Both of Johnny’s parents, as well as all of Johnny’s grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, were born in Kentucky. Johnny has stated, on several occasions, that he has or likely has Native American ancestry (of varying tribes, most often Cherokee). For example:
I guess I have some Native American somewhere down the line… My great grandmother was quite a bit of Native American, she grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek.
It does not appear that this Native American ancestry has been documented. All of Johnny’s grandparents and great-grandparents are listed as “White” on United States Censuses. No verified Native American ancestry has been produced for Johnny Depp.
LOS ANGELES – MAY 18: Depp arrives for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” US Premiere in Hollywood, CA, 2017, photo by DFree
Johnny’s paternal grandfather was Oren Larry Depp (the son of Oren Richard Depp and Effie A. Palmore). Johnny’s grandfather Oren was born in Barren County, Kentucky. Johnny’s great-grandfather Oren was the son of John Burkes/Burks Depp and Mariba Elizabeth Reneau. Effie was the daughter of Andrew H. Palmore and Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” McCreary.
Johnny’s paternal grandmother was Violet Mattie Grinstead (the daughter of Robert Fauntleroy “Roy” Grinstead and Mary E. Bailey). Roy was the son of Christopher Tompkins Grinstead and Martha S. “Mattie” Sanders. Mary was the daughter of Joseph Taylor Bailey and Martha Ann Mansfield.
Johnny’s maternal grandfather was Walter Everett/Everette Wells (the son of Richard Mack/Mac Wells and Annie/Anna Cooper). Richard was the son of Commodore Perry Wells and Rebecca Ann “Beckie” Litteral/Little. Johnny’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of William M. “Bill” Cooper and Sallie/Sarah Kelly/Craft.
Johnny’s maternal grandmother was Bessie Whitaker (the daughter of Branch Whitaker and May/Mae Slone). Branch was the son of William C. Whitaker and Sirilda/Sarilda/Serilda Fletcher/Fletchet. May was the daughter of Wiley Slone and Amanda Bradley.
Johnny is descended from a woman, Martha, who was born in 1612, and who was of African descent. Martha had a daughter, Elizabeth Key Grinstead, married to William Grinstead, who were Johnny’s ancestors. Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Key, was caucasian, of English descent. Elizabeth was the first woman of African ancestry to successfully take legal action to free herself from slavery. This happened in 1656. Johnny is descended from Martha twice (on one family tree, she is both one of his eight times great-grandmothers, and one of his nine times great-grandmothers). That would mean that Johnny is of 3/2048 African ancestry.
Some family trees state that Johnny’s nine times great-grandmother was a woman named Nicketti Opechancanough, who is said to have been of Powhatan Native American ancestry. If true, that would make Johnny of 1/2048 Powhatan Native American descent. However, stories about her are believed to be a myth. Scholarly research and records dispute the existence of Nicketti Opechancanough.
Sources: Genealogies of Johnny Depp – https://famouskin.com
http://www.geni.com
http://www.genealogy.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Johnny’s paternal grandparents, Oren Larry Depp and Violet Mattie Grinstead – http://www.findagrave.com
Johnny’s paternal grandfather, Oren Larry Depp (“Laramore Depp”), on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Johnny’s paternal grandmother, Violet Mattie Grinstead (“Violet M. Grinstead”), on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Johnny’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Christopher Tompkins Grinstead and Martha S. “Mattie” Sanders, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy and obituary of Johnny’s mother – https://www.findagrave.com
Johnny’s maternal grandfather, Walter Everett/Everette Wells (“Everette Wells”), on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Johnny’s maternal great-grandmother, Annie/Anna (Cooper) Wells, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Johnny’s maternal great-great-grandparents, William M. “Bill” Cooper and Sallie/Sarah Kelly/Craft, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Johnny’s maternal grandmother, Bessie Whitaker, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Article about Johnny’s ancestor, Elizabeth (Key) Grinstead – http://www.womenhistoryblog.com
Depp isn’t Native American and has no confirmable ancestry from a Native American tribe, hence the reason it’s not up there.
As for him being ”African-American”, really?
Being 3/2048 African probably makes him what?
0.2% black?
Lol, having a Negroid in your family tree from over 400 years ago is irrelevant.
I guarantee you that at least 75% of whites in the world have one black in their family tree.
He’s white, has no known Native ancestry, and having one Negro in your family tree from over 400 years ago is extraneous and doesn’t make him non-white or black, at all.
He hardly looks any different from your typical white boy walking down the street.
He African that’s a lie.
He actually looks like a Native American more than any of his ethnicities.
He looks like the 1/2048 Native American ancestry he has?
LMAO <3
Yeah. Def not Native atall. lmao
Ha. He is European with a distant African ancestor more recent than his native heritage. He did get adopted into the Comanche tribe though. *eye roll*
Pathetic. Hate the tribes that adopt theses Fake Natives.
Making Native’s look like a Joke.
Shame on them.
Most Slaves in the 1600’s were “indentured servants” and were white. Is there any proof that this Martha was African, or is it just a rumor like his supposed abundant Native ancestry?
It’s a famous story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Key_Grinstead
@kjhui
(Most Slaves in the 1600′s were “indentured servants” and were white.)
Well you’re half right,there were indeed white ones.However there were also black ones to,unless people like Anthony Johnson didn’t actually exist.The Blacks ones were just like the white ones,who upon their freedom,were to become part of the colony.Then bacon rebellion kinda ended “indentured servitude” for whites.After that ,the word was slave period,especially for white women who married black slaves
I don’t know about anyone else nor do I care but I grew up knowing several Native Americans and well they all had dark hair, dark eyes and high cheekbones. Sound familiar?
Therefore I have no problem with Depp playing a Native American. He’s been claiming Native American Heritage since he broke unto the celebrity scene over 25 years ago. So I refuse to be cynical about the fact that he very well may be. After all to look at him is to see it.
Oh, he’s definitely been claiming Native American heritage since he became famous. Sometimes it would be his grandpa who was a full-blooded Cherokee, and sometimes it would be his grandmother’s mother who told him all about it, and sometimes it was on his dad’s side, too, and sometimes Johnny said he was one quarter Cherokee, and sometimes he would say his great-grandmother probably “grew up” Cherokee, or maybe Creek, or maybe he said Navajo that one time.
“After all to look at him is to see it.”
-Absolutely. He looks just like Ezra Miller.
But Johnny Depp’s family tree is the one place I don’t see Native heritage.*
*(except for the one ancestor born in the early 1600s)
@follers
Did you see the interview he did for the movie?I don’t think Depp knows what he’s talking about.
Which interview?
@follers
It was one of those interviews,which i forgot to book mark.I’ll look for it again,but he’s says in the interview
(“I guess I have some Native American somewhere down the line. My great grandmother was quite a bit of Native American, she grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian.”)
The Interview Is Inside The Actor’s Studio: At 2:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7yVC-OeePU
Oh, I’ve seen that one, and many others.
This one may be my favorite (the part about the “quarter” of “Indian blood”).
http://www.johnnydeppfan.com/interviews/jeopie.htm
@total_23
Oh man,is this my little homie,where you been?
@follers
Hey Follers,this isn’t the one I was taking about.I now remember looking at it on my Nintendo WII,that’s why i didn’t bookmark it,and can’t find it.I do remember reading that a lot of people claiming to be Cherokee are that by culture alone,and not by blood.If i remember correctly,in the 1900’s census,there were about 37,000 Cherokee.Of that number ,2000 were full blood,7000 were adopted(black and white),and the rest were mixed bloods(all types).Now none of this mean anything to Depp,because now he has been made ,a member of The Comanche Nation .So now Depp not only identifies in real life as part Cherokee and Creek Indian, based on a Kentucky great-grandmother’s ancestry,he’s now a Comanche.