Johnny Knoxville

Knoxville in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Philip John Clapp

Place of Birth: Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 11, 1971

Ethnicity: English, some German and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant Irish, remote French and Dutch

Johnny Knoxville is an American stunt performer, actor, film producer, screenwriter, comedian, and professional wrestler. He has been the ringleader of the Jackass crew, which has also included Jason “Wee Man” Acuña, Spike Jonze, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, and Jeff Tremaine.

He is the son of Lemoyne, who taught Sunday school, and Philip Clapp, a tire and car salesman. His family has lived in the United States, and more specifically in the American South, for many generations. He has English, some German and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant Irish, and remote French and Dutch, ancestry. His parents’ surnames, Clapp and Houck, are German.

His cousin is singer and songwriter Roger Alan Wade. Johnny is married to Naomi Nelson. He has a daughter with his former wife Melanie Lynn Cates; and two children with Naomi.

Johnny’s patrilineal line can be traced to his great-great-great-great-great-grandparents, John Ludwig Clapp (born, c. 1704, in Kassel, Germany) and Anna Margaret Strader (born, c. 1717, in Kassel).

Johnny’s paternal grandfather was John Boston Clapp (the son of John William “Boston” Clapp and Martha Mary Majors). Johnny’s grandfather John was born in Tennessee. Johnny’s great-grandfather John was the son of Boston Clapp and Mary Polly Tennyhill. Martha was the daughter of Thomas B. Majors and Lucinda Jones.

Johnny’s paternal grandmother was Sarah Jane Ramsey (the daughter of Paul Hatton Ramsey and Daisy/Daisey Mae Maples). Sarah was born in Tennessee. Paul was the son of Alven Ramsey and Sarah Rice. Daisy was the daughter of Thomas Millard Philmore Maples and Lydia Jane Lowe.

Johnny’s maternal grandfather was John Wesley Houck (the son of Henry Martin Houck and Minnie Alice Ray). Johnny’s grandfather John was born in West Virginia. Henry was the son of Jacob Houck and Temperance Tatum Greer. Minnie was the daughter of Henry Harrison Ray and Cynthia Ray.

Johnny’s maternal grandmother was Nora Lemoyna Smither (the daughter of William F. Smithers and Louisianna Chambers). Nora was born in Tennessee. She was adopted and raised by her relatives, Reuben Franklin Smithers and Rebecca Ann Jeffers. Louisianna was the daughter of John U. Chambers and Martha Arlena Sexton.

Sources: Genealogy of Johnny Knoxville (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Johnny’s paternal grandparents, John Boston Clapp and Sarah Jane Ramsey, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Johnny’s paternal grandmother, Sarah Jane Ramsey, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Johnny’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Thomas Millard Philmore Maples – https://www.findagrave.com

Johnny’s maternal grandfather, John Wesley Houck, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Johnny’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Jacob Houck and Temperance Tatum Greer – https://www.findagrave.com

Johnny’s maternal grandmother, Nora Lemoyna Smither, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org