Kehlani
03/11/2018 – Kehlani – 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards – Arrivals – The Forum – Inglewood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: David Gabber / PRPhotos.com
Birth Name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish
Place of Birth: Oakland, Alameda, California, United States
Date of Birth: April 24, 1995
Ethnicity:
*paternal grandfather – African-American
*paternal grandmother – Scottish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, distant Cornish and Irish, possibly Choctaw Native American
*mother – Blackfoot and Cherokee Native American, Spanish, Mexican, Filipino
Kehlani is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer.
Kehlani was adopted and raised by Kehlani’s maternal aunt, Tanya Marie French. Kehlani’s biological mother is evidently of Blackfoot and Cherokee Native American, and Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino, descent. Kehlani’s biological father, Elon Thompson Parrish, died when she was a toddler. Kehlani’s paternal grandfather was African-American. Kehlani’s paternal grandmother is of Scottish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Welsh, as well as distant Cornish, Irish, and possibly Choctaw Native American, ancestry.
Kehlani has identified as “Black, White, Native American and Spanish” in an interview on Hot 97, and specified that “Blackfoot Cherokee” are Kehlani’s Native American tribes. Kehlani has also claimed a small amount of Filipino ancestry, and, in another interview, Mexican (at 24:14 at the link).
Kehlani has a daughter with her guitarist Javaughn Young-White. Javaughn’s brother is comedian Jaboukie Young-White.
Kehlani’s paternal grandfather is Guy Corwin Parrish (the son of Robert Lawrence Parrish and Jean Andra Thompson). Guy was born in Los Angeles, California, and is African-American. Robert was the son of J. A. Parrish and Belle Way. Jean was the daughter of Jesse Thompson and Kathryn Morris.
Kehlani’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Suzanne Thompson (the daughter of James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace). Suzanne was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. James was the son of James Buchanan Thompson, Sr., whose own parents were Scottish, and of Barbara Adelaide Brown. Kehlani’s great-grandmother Ruth was the daughter of Baxter Boxbe Wallace and Nancy J. Jones.
Kehlani’s maternal grandfather was named Christopher French.
Kehlani in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com
Sources: Birth record of Kehlani’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Divorce record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Kehlani’s paternal grandfather, Guy Corwin Parrish – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, Robert Lawrence Parrish and Jeana Andra Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace – https://www.familysearch.org
Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr. – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson and Barbara Ade Brown – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandmother, Ruth Imogene (Wallace) Thompson – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
At 24:14, she states that she recently learned she’s Black, White, Mexican, and Spanish
https://soundcloud.com/shookwithamp/s2ep2-exclusive-pride-month-kehlani
And that by the time the Filipino decent would reach her, she wouldn’t have any
Her father was Elon Thompson Parrish.
Kehlani’s paternal grandfather is Guy Corwin Parrish (the son of Robert Lawrence Parrish and Jean Andra Thompson). Guy is African-American, and was born in Los Angeles, California. Robert was the son of J. A. Parrish and Belle Way. Jean was the daughter of Jesse Thompson and Kathryn Morris.
Kehlani’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Suzanne Thompson (the daughter of James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace). Suzanne was white, and was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. James was the son of James Buchanan Thompson, Sr., whose own parents were Scottish, and of Barbara Adelaide Brown. Kehlani’s great-grandmother Ruth was the daughter of Baxter Boxbe Wallace and Nancy J. Jones.
Birth record of Kehlani – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLB9-47N
Birth record of Kehlani’s father – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLP7-2V2
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6KZ-LQB
Divorce record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPYH-7G2
Birth record of Kehlani’s paternal grandfather, Guy Corwin Parrish – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VL6C-P6G
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, Robert Lawrence Parrish and Jeana Andra Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VW-6HJ
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMPK-M3T
Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDJM-YG8
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr. – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com/obituaries/James-B-ThompsonJr-506/#!/Obituary
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandmother, Ruth Imogene (Wallace) Thompson – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com/obituaries/Ruth-Thompson-17/#!/Obituary
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson and Barbara Ade Brown – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM2T-H8M
Remark: In addition to Scottish ancestry, Kehlani’s paternal grandmother also had English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Welsh, as well as distant Cornish, Irish, and possibly Choctaw Native American ancestries.
She was adopted and raised by her maternal aunt, Tanya Marie French. Some sources say that her biological mother is named “Meechie” (that’s her nickname, not her real name). I’m still looking into her real name based on Tanya’s possible relatives on her own public record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJX2-2JQS
Manila, where did you get these informations?
Kehlani’s grandmother is Jeanie Sewell. Kehlani’s mother’s name is Michelle.
Nevermind, she must be her adoptive grandmother. She also calls her aunt ”mom”.
there are some Eastern Euro ethnicities to fix here and there if you want. Welcome back
@andrew
What needs fixing?
Indeed. We need you.
@bablah
What about Michael Dukakis’ Aromanian ancestry?
@andrew
Michael Boukis (1857-1944), the father of Michael’s mother, Euterpe, comes from Zagorohoria region of Epirus in northwest Greece. The small village of Leshnitsa, now called Vrisohori, lies some twenty mountainous miles northeast of Ioaninna, the capital of Epirus. The ancestors of Michael Boukis included Vlachs, nomadic Balkan people of Romanian-speaking origins. As a teenager, Michael, whose father was a shepherd, moved to Larissa capital of Thessaly, where he worked as a bookkeeper in a marketing firm. On one of his trips back to Leshnitsa he married Chrysoula Kambourios (1860-1940). In Larissa, Michael and Chrysoula Boukis would have six children, the fourth of whom, Euterpe, would be the mother of Michael Dukakis.
From the book ”Greek Americans: Struggle and Success” by Peter C. Moskos and Charles C. Moskos
Also mentions their contact in America being Barba Yiorgo (uncle Yiorgo). Them using the word ”barba” as uncle also might indicate a Romance-speaking background, though it’s not an exclusively Romance word, since it’s for instance a common word in Dalmatia.
Other than that, I can’t find anything else. Their language on the census is Greek, and their passenger records are nowhere to be found.
If you want to stay in touch, contact me via my findagrave account:
https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/49217789
@bablah
thanks for the effort, he’s definitely part Aromanian.
And cool account
@bablah
check this profile: http://ethnicelebs.com/thomas-eagleton
I tried to log to Findagrave but there’s some technical issue
Why would she be her adoptive grandmother? I guess you also found her Facebook account (I won’t link anything since that’s not liked by the moderators) and found that she refers to Kehlani as her “grandy”. Can’t she be her maternal grandmother? I, myself, found her via Kehlani’s (maternal) aunt Tanya’s Facebook. She isn’t married to Kehlani’s paternal grandfather, his wife’s name is Daisy Tan Parrish and Jeanie wished her a happy birthday on Facebook.
On her Facebook she wrote:
“Check out my Hanai Pomaikaii today on the Harry Connick Jr. Show!
Bringing some island culture to the mainland!
So proud of you……❤️ aunti Jeanie Sewell
Good job momma M.Healani Klein”
Kehlani’s Hawaiian name was probably inspired by something (her grandmother’s Hawaiian heritage) and there is an obvious similarity to the name “Healani”. Jeanie is the daughter of Wallace Klein and Marvalee Healani Bay. Marvalee is the daughter of Roger Owen Bay and Lenore Pi’ilani.
Am I missing something with this?
Nevermind, I think I’ve solved it. Kehlani’s grandfather Guy calls Jeanie Sewell “mom” in a comment, so she might actually be Kehlani’s paternal great-grandmother, not grandmother. Since Guy’s mother is also named Jean, maybe Manila found the wrong great-grandmother?
Wallace and Marvalee might not be Jeanie’s parents then. Marvalee is alive, and I doubt she would be if that was the case. And Guy Parrish isn’t her Facebook friend. Also, Jeanie Sewell has a son named Marlon Parrish listed on her Facebook. Marlon was born in 1966, to a mother surnamed Sewell. I don’t know how this comes together, but Jeanie makes a lot of references to Hawaii, so there might be a connection to that place (plus, Kehlani’s father was a surfer).
@madman
Don’t overthink it. That is not her grandfather, that’s her uncle. Jeanie was married to her grandfather and had several children with him. I figured it out after posting that comment. I’m guessing that she’s close to her because she’s the mother of her uncles.
Also, I think Manila is on the wrong track regarding her aunt and that her middle name is Monique.
I think this is her aunt:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLV5-VD5
and this her mother:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VL9T-2TT
I managed to find Tanya in a highschool yearbook, but Michelle is a ghost. Her grandfather might be this guy:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGQF-8WM
I see. Haven’t had the chance to look into it further, but this makes sense. Good to have you back!
I also found those birth records when searching for her aunt, but thought it couldn’t be them when I found out her middle name was Monique. But if her mother’s nickname is Meechie, they seem to fit pretty well (her aunt is also older than her mother). Michelle’s middle name is Cherie.
We could at least add:
Kehlani’s maternal grandparents’ surnames were likely French and Boyd.
She actually did say Blackfoot Cherokee…
https://twitter.com/kehlani/status/805546359654907904
Her mother’s maiden name is French
Birth certificate – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLB9-47N
That much in love, that she tried to kill herself, CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!