Joyce Carol Oates‏

Place of Birth: Lockport, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 16, 1938

Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, German, English
*mother – Hungarian

Joyce Carol Oates is an American author and university professor. She is known for her novels “Black Water,” “What I Lived For,” and “Blonde” (2000), and short story collections “The Wheel of Love” and “Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories.”

She is the daughter of Carolina Elizabeth (Bush) and Frederic James Oates. Her father had Irish, German, and English ancestry. Her mother was of Hungarian origin. Joyce’s mother was fostered by John Bùs/Bush and Lena. Joyce was raised in Millersport, New York, a farming community.

Joyce was married to educator, author, and book editor Raymond J. Smith, until his death; and then to professor, Charles Gross, until his death.

Joyce’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Carlton Oates (the son of James Oates and Caroline/Carrie Spedding). Joseph was born in New York. James was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, the son of Dominick Oates and Mary Mullaney. Caroline was born in Canada, the daughter of William Spedding and Margarett Lannahan, who was born in Ireland.

Joyce’s paternal grandmother was Blanche Woodside (born Blanche I. Morningstar, the daughter of John Morningstar and Hattie Perkins Saws). Blanche was born in New York. John was the son of emigrants from Germany, Johann/John Morningstar/Morgenstern, from Bavaria, and Albertina/Betty/Betsy Kaiser, from Obermünstertal, Münstertal/Schwarzwald, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. Hattie’s parents, James Amosy Perkins and Hattie Josephine Hutson, were of English origin.

Joyce’s maternal grandfather was named Stephen Bush.

Joyce’s maternal grandmother was Elizabetha Torony (the daughter of Andras Torony and Orsze Szur). Elizabetha was born in Budapest.

Joyce sometimes makes reference to her paternal grandmother having been Jewish. It does not appear that this statement is accurate. Joyce’s paternal grandmother’s mother was not Jewish. It is not clear if Joyce’s paternal grandmother’s father was Jewish, but there is some evidence that he was not.

Sources: Genealogy of Joyce Carol Oates – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Joyce’s paternal grandparents, Joseph Carlton Oates and Blanche I. Morningstar – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Joyce’s father (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com

Joyce’s paternal grandmother, Blanche I. Morningstar, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Joyce’s paternal great-grandfather, John Morningstar, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Article about Joyce’s mother’s family – http://www.newyorker.com