Lorde

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Lorde in 2013, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor

Place of Birth: Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 7 November, 1996

Ethnicity: Irish, English, Serbian, Croatian, German, Scottish, possibly 1/32 Polynesian/Pacific Islander

Lorde is a Kiwi singer, songwriter, and record producer.

She is the daughter of Vic O’Connor (Victor Peter Gerrard Andrew O’Connor) and poet Sonja Yelich (Sonja Marija Yelich). Her father was one of eight children in a religious Catholic family.

Lorde’s paternal grandmother was named Elsa.

Lorde’s maternal grandfather is George Branko Yelich (the son of Branko Jelić/Jelik/Yelich and Radmilla/Radmila Anrath, born Terezija Anrat). George was born in Wukovar/Vukovar, Općina Vukovar, Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia. George and his mother came to New Zealand, through Trieste, in June of 1949. Lorde’s great-grandfather Branko was the son of Dorde Jelić and Kristina Rozanović. Lorde’s great-grandmother Radmila was the daughter of Dragutin “Karl” Anrat and Wilhelmina “Vilma” Rozanović. Lorde’s grandfather George was of the Orthodox Christian faith. His mother Radmilla likely converted from Catholicism to Orthodoxy. She may have had partial German ancestry. Referring to her Eastern European roots, Lorde stated in an interview on Vevo Lift that she is a “little bit Croatian,” and has also said that her ancestry is Serbian.

Lorde’s maternal grandmother is named Lana/Leilani Carol (the daughter of Patricia “Pat” Howley). Patricia was the daughter of Clyde Emile Howley, who had English and Scottish ancestry, and of Mickey Florence Moore, who herself was born on Wallis Islands, as Florence Ellen Edith Moore, to an Irish-born father, Matthew Moore, and a mother, Fausita, who likely was a native Islander. A picture of Mickey can be seen here.

Sources: http://www.fasterlouder.com.au
https://www.novosti.rs

Genealogy of Lorde (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

91 Responses

  1. andrew says:

    why should she necessarily have English ancestry? why not Scottish?

  2. Blaise Perry says:

    I actually have some more information. I went through some City of Vukovar and NZ Immigration records and found some info about her ancestors.

    Based on NZ immigration records – Ella’s grandfather – (George) Branko Yelich – came to New Zealand with his mother Radmilla Yelich (Anrath) via Trieste in June of 1949. Radmilla – a shoemaker from Vukovar – is stated as a widow.

    Here is where it becomes interesting – Radmilla Yelich birth date is listed as April 16, 1915 – born in Vukovar. On this immigration record, both Radmilla and (George) Branko are listed as of Orthodox faith. Radmilla’s birth is actually registered in City of Vukovar Catholic records, under the name of Terezija Anrat. In City of Vukovar Marriage Index – her marriage is recorded under her new name – Radmilla. It appears that she changed her Catholic first name some time before her marriage – to a more Orthodox one. She married an Orthodox – Branko Jelić (born c. 1910) in 1940.

    A year later, on September 23, 1941 – her son – (George) Branko Jelić was born – also in Vukovar.

    P.S. – Sonja’s middle name is Marija.

    • Blaise Perry says:

      I don’t know where the rumors about her possible Serbian or Dalmatian descent came from, but both seem to be untrue. Her Croatian ancestors came from Slavonia.

      I think that I may have found Branko Jelić’s parents’ marriage record, but until I don’t know it for sure, I can’t reveal anything.

      Ella’s father full name is Victor Peter Gerrard Andrew O’Connor.

  3. Fatmonkey says:

    This Serbian article on the “Blic” newspaper site conveys the latest interview with Lorde (from 08/25/2017) in which she clarifies that her maternal ancestry is Serbian (she’s descended from the Serbs in Croatia). I gather most of the readers here would need assistance from Google Translate to read the article, though.

    http://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/njene-hitove-pevusi-ceo-svet-svi-su-mislili-da-ima-hrvatsko-poreklo-pa-porucila-ja/v8gpcz6

    • bablah says:

      Je l’ možeš naći taj intervju za Metro? jesu to neke naše novine ili novozelandske?

    • happening says:

      New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 is a stronger proof for Jelic/Jelik/Yelich family origin and religion upon arrival. Based on that, Lorde paternal line is of Serbian descent.

      • bablah says:

        Her gradfather was half Serbian, half German. Karl and Wilhelmina are German names, and Anrath is a German surname. I find it funny that someone claimed that her great-grandfather was Croatian, becaise he was baptized in a SERBIAN Orthodox church (which is the only orthodox church in Vukovar) in Croatia.

  4. bablah says:

    This is her uncle’s grave:
    https://billiongraves.com/grave/person/6358855#/

    The inscription says:
    Loving son of George Branko and son of Lana

    Sooooo, Lana does sound Croatian, unlike Leilani, but I’m still not sure if she’s really Croatian.

  5. bearboy says:

    You’re funny @Neiltennant. sincerely @Bearboy

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