Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Thomas in 2003, photo by PrPhotos.com
Birth Name: Jonathan Taylor Weiss
Place of Birth: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 8, 1981
Ethnicity: German, Swiss-German, Portuguese, distant Irish and French, possibly English
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor and director. His father is of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent, with some Swiss-German roots, and distant Irish and French ancestry. His mother is of Portuguese and possibly English ancestry. His uncle is actor and playwright Jeff Weiss.
Jonathan’s paternal Weiss line traces back to a Johannes “John” Weiss, who was born, c. 1756, in Wies, Lorrach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
Jonathan’s paternal grandfather was Benjamin Laucks Weiss (the son of George Jacob Weiss and Emma A. Laucks). Benjamin was born in Pennsylvania, and was from a Lutheran family that had lived in Pennsylvania for many generations, of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent, with some Swiss-German roots. Benjamin also had remote French ancestry. George’s parents were The Rev. Benjamin J. Weiss and Emma Rahn Merkel. Jonathan’s great-great-grandfather The Rev. Benjamin was a minister in the Reformed Church (also known as the German Reformed Church), who preached in both German and English. Jonathan’s great-grandmother Emma was the daughter of Henry R. Laucks and Emma R. Raser/Raezer.
Jonathan’s paternal grandmother was Helen E. Eagle (the daughter of Charles R. Eagle and Nora Hetty Boerkert/Borkert). Helen was born in Pennsylvania, and was also from a Lutheran family of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent, with distant Irish roots. Charles was the son of Richard L. Eagle and Ellen Reifschneider. Nora was the daughter of Albert G. Borkert and Malinda Wentzel.
Jonathan’s maternal grandparents’ surnames were Gonsalves and White. Jonathan’s maternal grandfather was of Portuguese descent. It is not clear of Jonathan’s maternal grandmother was of Portuguese descent as well. The surname White could have been changed from a Portuguese surname, or it could imply English ancestry.
Sources: Genealogy of Jonathan Taylor Thomas – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Engagement announcement of Jonathan’s paternal grandparents, Benjamin Laucks Weiss and Helen E. Eagle, 1925 – http://news.google.com
Jonathan’s paternal grandfather, Benjamin Laucks Weiss, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Jonathan’s paternal great-grandparents, George Jacob Weiss and Emma A. Laucks – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jonathan’s paternal great-grandfather, George Jacob Weiss – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Another genealogy of Jonathan’s paternal great-grandfather, George Jacob Weiss (focusing on his own mother’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Biography of Jonathan’s paternal great-great-grandfather, The Rev. Benjamin J. Weiss – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
More of Jonathan’s patrilineal Weiss genealogy – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Genealogy of Jonathan’s paternal grandmother, Helen E. Eagle (focusing on her own father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Obituary of Jonathan’s paternal grandmother, Helen E. (Eagle) Weiss – http://articles.mcall.com
Correction/Edition
I might’ve found his profile on Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Jonathan-Taylor-Thomas/6000000020237516184.
Thank you,
Dustin Schrull
Yes, but it’s empty. :-)
Correction/edition
I’ve tried to find some more information on John’s mother’s side and I found this on familysearch.org, this might be John’s maternal grandmother since she married a Gonsalves and White was her maiden name too: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPF4-KXK.
Thank you,
Dustin Schrull
It’s possible, but this woman was born in Mexico. I think Thomas would have mentioned it if he is of part Mexican descent?
It would be surprising, I wouldn’t have thought that he’s also Mexican descent too. I’ve tried to research more about his mother’s side by using familysearch.org and typing in Gonsalves and White and found that death record and thought that would be Johnathan’s grandmother.