Josh Duhamel

Duhamel in 2011, image by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Joshua David Duhamel

Place of Birth: Minot, North Dakota, U.S.

Date of Birth: November 14, 1972

Ethnicity: German (more than half), as well as one eighth Norwegian, 1/16th French-Canadian, Irish, and English

Josh Duhamel is an American fashion model and actor. His roles include the films Win a Date with Tad Hamitlon!, Turistas, Transformers, and several of its sequels; When in Rome, Life as We Know It, New Year’s Eve (2011), Safe Haven, You’re Not You, Love, Simon; and Think Like a Dog; television’s All My Children, Las Vegas, Battle Creek, and Jupiter’s Legacy; and the video games Call of Duty: WWII and The Callisto Protocol.

He is the son of Bonnie, a teacher and businessperson, and Larry David Duhamel, an advertising salesperson. His father is of one eighth French-Canadian descent, along with German, English, Norwegian, and Irish. His mother is of mostly German, and some English, ancestry. His surname Duhamel means “from the hamlet” in French.

Josh is married to model, television host, and beauty pageant titleholder Audra Mari, who was Miss World America 2016. He has a son with his former wife, singer and actress Fergie.

An AncestryDNA test whose results were displayed on the show Who Do You Think You Are? (2018) stated that Josh’s genetic ancestry is:

*36% Great Britain
*17% Europe West
*13% Scandinavia
*9% Europe East
*9% Ireland/Scotland/Wales
*8% Europe South

Josh’s paternal grandfather was Lawrence Louis “Larry” Duhamel (the son of Louis William Duhamel and Agnes Catherine/K. Rader). Lawrence was born in Kenmare, North Dakota. Josh’s great-grandfather Louis was the son of William Brassar Duhamel, who was French-Canadian, from Ontario, and of Mary Jane O’Brien/O’Brian, whose parents were Irish. Agnes was the daughter of German parents.

Josh’s paternal grandmother was Vergil Delores Baker (the daughter of Clifford Mark Baker and Minnie Constance Bjorn). Vergil was born in Minot, North Dakota. Clifford was the son of Bernard Mortimer Baker and Florence Adda Perry, who had English ancestry. Minnie was born in North Dakota, the daughter of Norwegian parents, Alfred Christopher Bjorn and Helga Nathilda Aarstad/Orstad.

Josh’s maternal grandfather was Walter John Bachmeier (the son of Daniel/Dan Bachmeier and Theresia Sander). Walter was born in North Dakota. Daniel was an ethnic German from Russia. Theresia was born in North Dakota, the daughter of ethnic German parents from the Russian Empire, Rochus Sander/Saudar, from Selz, Kutschurgan Colony, and Theresia/Trieca/Theresa Bartsch, who was also from the Odessa area.

Josh’s maternal grandmother is Eileen Grace Smith (the daughter of George Edward/Edgar Smith and Elizabeth Gertrude Hannis). Eileen was born in North Dakota. George was born in Illinois, the son of Edgar Scott Smith and Hermina Bretthauer, who was of German descent. Elizabeth was born in North Dakota, the daughter of Peter Hannis, who was German, and of Anna Lydia Hierath, who was born in Vysoké Jamné. Anna was the daughter of Josef Karl Hierath and Anna Marie Riedel, and was of Sudeten German descent.

Sources: Josh’s appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?, 2018 – https://www.youtube.com

Genealogy of Josh Duhamel – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Josh Duhamel (focusing on his father’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Josh’s maternal grandfather, Walter John Bachmeier (focusing on his own mother’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Josh’s maternal grandfather, Walter John Bachmeier – http://www.hertzfuneralhomes.com

Josh’s maternal great-grandparents, Daniel/Dan Bachmeier and Theresia Sander, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Josh’s maternal grandmother, Eileen Grace Smith, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org