Lola Falana

Birth Name: Loletha Elayne Falana

Place of Birth: Camden, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 11, 1942

Ethnicity: African-American, as well as distant Italian and Catalan/Spanish

Lola Falana is an American singer, dancer, model, and actress.

She is the daughter of Cleo and Bennett Falana. Her parents were both black. She is sometimes said to have Cuban/African-Cuban ancestry. It is not clear if this is accurate. Her recent ancestors were American-born. Her surname traces back to a small amount of Italian and Catalan/Spanish ancestry, with roots in Florence, Tuscany and Minorca, Balearic Islands.

Lola’s paternal grandfather was George Peter Falana (the son of George Pete Faluna/Falana and Mary E. Young). Lola’s grandfather George was born in Ocala, Marion, Florida. Lola’s great-grandfather George was the son of Emanuel Estevan Falana and Sarah Ann Vandergrifft.

Lola’s paternal grandmother was named Lilla Armstrong. Lilla was born in Georgia.

Sources: Lola’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Lola’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Lola’s paternal grandfather, George Peter Falana, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Lola’s mother – http://www.legacy.com