Lars von Trier

von Trier in 2011, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Lars Trier

Place of Birth: Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

Date of Birth: 30 April, 1956

Ethnicity: Danish, some German, Norwegian, and Swedish, remote Austrian and Belgian

Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is known for his films The Element of Crime, Epidemic, Europa, Breaking the Waves, The Idiots, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Manderlay, Melancholia, Nymphomaniac, and The House That Jack Built.

Lars’s mother was Inger Høst, who was of mostly Danish origin, along with some German. Lars was raised believing that his biological father was Ulf Trier. Ulf was the son of Bergliot (Moe) and Svend Trier, and was of half Ashkenazi Jewish descent. The Trier family are a prominent Jewish family in Scandinia and Germany.

Shortly before her death, Inger told Lars that his biological father was not Ulf, but rather Inger’s employer, Fritz Michael Hartmann, who came from a musical family, of mostly Danish and German ancestry, along with Norwegian, Swedish, Austrian, and Belgian. Fritz was a WWII resistance fighter.

Lars has two children with his former wife Cæcilia Holbek; and two children with his former wife Bente Frøge.

Lars’s biological paternal grandfather was Rudolph Puggard/Puggaard Hartmann (the son of Wilhelm Emilius/Emil Zinn Hartmann and Bolette Puggaard). Rudolph was born in Copenhagen. Lars’s great-grandfather Emil Hartmann was a prominent composer, and was the son of Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann and Emma Hartmann, born Amalia/Amaliea Emma Sophie Zinn, who were also both composers, with Emma using the pen name Frederik H. Palmer. Lars’s great-great-grandfather Johan was considered one of the leading Danish composers of the 19th century, along with Johan’s son-in-law Niels Gade. Johan’s father was composer and violinist August Wilhelm Hartmann, and his grandfather, Lars’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, was Silesian composer Johann Hartmann. Through this line, Lars is a great-great-great-great-nephew of organist and composer Johan Ernst Hartmann, and a relative of composer and pianist Niels Viggo Bentzon. Lars’s great-great-grandmother Emma was the granddaughter of prominent merchant Johann/Johan Ludvig Zinn. Lars’s great-grandmother Bolette was the daughter of Christopher Rudolph Puggaard and Caspersine/Casperfine Andresine/Signe Andréa Brandt.

Lars’s biological paternal grandmother was Michaela Hammerich (the daughter of Johannes Hammerich and Tomine/Thomine Groth). Michaela was born in På Iselingen Gods, Vordingborg, Sjælland. Johannes was the son of Martin Johannes Hammerich, a prominent art historian, educator, author, and translator, and of Ane Mathea Aagaard. Tomine was the daughter of Eiler Peter Christoffer/Christopher Munthe Groth and Margrethe Marie Boye.

Lars’s maternal grandfather was Harald Høst (the son of Hans Peter Høst and Anna Elisabeth Krarup). Harald was born in Randers Købstad. Hans was the son of Frederik Stoud Høst and Johanne Margrete Mollerup. Anna was the daughter of Niels Bygum Krarup and Maria Amalie Aarestrup.

Lars’s maternal grandmother was Karen Gulstad (the daughter of Carl Ludvig Gulstad and Anna Louise Amalie Carlsen). Karen was born in Vangede Mark, Gentofte Sogn, Sokkelund Herred, Copenhagen. Carl was the son of Heinrich Alexander Christian Stricker Gulstad and Annette Adolphine Aagaard Hass. Anna was the daughter of Otto Johannes Carlsen and Sophie Frederikke Louise Leonhart, who was born in Rellingen, Kreis Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Sources: Genealogies of Lars von Trier – http://www.geni.com
http://finnholbek.dk