Jonah Marais

Birth Name: Jonah Marais Roth Frantzich

Place of Birth: Ramsey, Minnesota, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 16, 1998

Ethnicity:
*50% Norwegian
*25% Ashkenazi Jewish
*12.5% Swedish, remote Polish
*12.5% Finnish

Jonah Marais is an American singer and songwriter. He is a member of the musical group Why Don’t We.

Jonah’s paternal grandfather is William Paul Frantzich (the son of Paul Nathaniel Frantzich and Saina “Ina” Pulkkinen). William was born in Hennepin, Minnesota. Paul was the son of Swedish emigrants, Carl Ugo Frantzich, from Lommared, Ormunga, and Wilhelmina Lind. The surname Frantzich comes from a Polish ancestor of Jonah, who immigrated to Sweden, Jonas Frantzich (1689-1722). Saina was a Finnish immigrant.

Jonah’s paternal grandmother was Saundra Louise “Sunny” Tallakson (the daughter of Harold Arthur Tallakson and Margaret Beatrice Whitehill). Sunny was born in Hennepin, Minnesota. Harold was the son of Niels Tallakson and Helene Ingeborg Anderson, who were born in Wisconsin, both of them to Norwegian immigrants. Margaret was the daughter of Nels Whitehill, who was a Norwegian emigrant, from Trondhjem, and of Sophia Anderson, who was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants.

Jonah’s maternal grandfather was Melvin “Mel” Roth (born Melvin Rothstein, the son of Morris/Mayer Rothstein and Sophie Klein). Melvin was born in Minnesota, to Russian Jewish parents. He was a practicing Lutheran, and is buried in a Christian grave, so he likely converted to Lutheranism or joined the Lutheran church. Morris was the son of Meyer Rautstein/Rothstein and Etel Prisman. Sophie was the daughter of Simach Klein and Nechama.

Jonah’s maternal grandmother was Ruth Marie Grove (the daughter of Clarence Godfred Grove and Dora Matilda Amundsen/Amundson). Ruth was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clarence was the son of Hans G. Grove, a Norwegian immigrant, and of Sarah M. Harrisville, whose parents were also Norwegian. Dora was the daughter of Norwegian emigrants, James Amundsen/Amundson, from Oslo, and Cora Gudmunson/Gudmunsen.

Sources: Genealogies of Jonah’s maternal grandparents, Melvin “Mel” Roth/Rothstein and Ruth Marie (Grove) Roth – https://es.findagrave.com

Genealogy of Jonah’s maternal grandfather, Melvin “Mel” Roth/Rothstein (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.geni.com