Mariah Carey

Carey in 2009

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

Date of Birth: March 27, 1969 (see here)

Ethnicity:
*paternal grandfather – Cuban/African-Cuban
*paternal grandmother – African-American
*mother – Irish

Mariah Carey is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She is the daughter of Patricia (Hickey), an opera singer and vocal coach, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer.

Mariah’s paternal grandfather was a Cuban immigrant, with African-Cuban ancestry (he was almost certainly not from Venezuela, as some sources state). Mariah’s paternal grandmother was African-American. Mariah’s mother, who is white, is of Irish heritage. Mariah stated in an interview that her mother is a third generation Irish-American. A picture of Mariah with her father can be seen here. A picture of Mariah with her mother can be seen here.

Her name is from the song “They Call the Wind Maria,” of the 1951 musical Paint Your Wagon.

Mariah’s biracial family was the target of racial slurs and hostility while Mariah was growing up. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she was raised by her mother. She was raised at least partly in Greenlawn, on Long Island.

Mariah has two children with her former husband, actor and television personality Nick Cannon.

Mariah’s paternal grandfather, Roberto Nuñez (later Robert Edward Carey), was the son of Alfred and Margaret. Roberto is sometimes described as being from a family from Venezuela. Mariah stated in an interview with Latina Magazine, “we don’t know if he was Venezuelan and white or Venezuelan and black… We’re confused,” and also, seemingly speaking about Roberto Nuñez’s father, stated, “apparently he had red hair and freckles, but he could’ve been black or white. We just don’t know.” Mariah stated in the same interview that Roberto’s mother was named Margarita Nuñez, and that Robeto took the surname Carey after his own biological father (according to Mariah, Roberto’s parents were not married).

The marriage record of Mariah’s paternal grandparents lists Mariah’s grandfather as having been born in Cuba. The 1930 United States Census also lists Roberto Nuñez (then Robert Carey) as having been born in Cuba, to Cuban parents, and as having moved to the United States in 1907. The family may have covered up their background, as some other Cubans did, due to anti-Cuban sentiment in the U.S. The 1930 United States Census lists Roberto’s race as “Negro” (Black).

A picture of her grandfather can be seen here (near the bottom of the page).

Mariah’s paternal grandmother was Addie Cole (the daughter of Will/William Cole and Emma McQueen/McQuean). Addie was born in North Carolina, to a North Carolina-born father and an Alabama-born mother. Addie and her parents were African-American. Emma was the daughter of William/Bill McQueen and Eliza/Liza. A picture of Mariah’s grandmother Addie can be seen here.

Mariah’s maternal grandfather was John Wesley Hickey (the son of John Hickey and Mary Mowen). Mariah’s grandfather John was born in Illinois, and was of Irish ancestry.

Mariah’s maternal grandmother was Ann Elizabeth Egan (the daughter of Charles Thomas Egan and Anna Elizabeth Blanchfield). Mariah’s grandmother Ann was born in Illinois. Charles was born in Illinois, to Irish-born parents. Mariah’s great-grandmother Anna was the daughter of James S. Blanchfield, whose own parents were Irish, from Dublin, and of Mary A. Ryan, an Irish immigrant.

03/24/2018 – Mariah Carey – Nickelodeon’s 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards – Arrivals – The Forum – Inglewood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: David Gabber / PRPhotos.com

Sources: Interview with Mariah Carey, Latina Magazine, 2003 – http://www.mariahjournal.com

Genealogies of Mariah Carey – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com

Mariah’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Mariah’s paternal grandparents, Roberto Nuñez (later Robert Edward Carey) and Addie Cole – https://www.familysearch.org

Information about Mariah’s paternal grandparents, Roberto Nuñez (later Robert Edward Carey) and Addie Cole – http://www.genealogue.com

Mariah’s maternal grandfather, John Wesley Hickey, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

793 Responses

    • italiano90 says:

      Aside from her nose, she doesn’t look THAT racially ambiguous. I see a lot of white women at the supermarket that resemble Mariah but with a more narrow nose. I’d also say she’s a bit lighter than oliver. She has pink undertones, pink areolas, pink knuckles, etc.

      • Multiethnicchick says:

        My 100% white grandma has a broad nose like mariah. Heck even broader. A european with a broad nose is different than a black african with a broad nose

  1. History Guy says:

    Personally, I think she looks mixed. Look at her bone structure in her face. She has very dark brown eyes too, that are round and almond shaped. Her skin tone throws people off. She also has had, some plastic surgery on her nose, but I can still see the black, in her nose shape. Also she contours her face, with make up. Her dad’s father was likely tri racial, African/European/Native, and the dad’s mother was African American. I believe Mariah Carey is around 1/3 African. Her dad was close to half black, probably around 60%. Mariah and all of her siblings, are ambiguous looking.

  2. Oaken05 says:

    Oh, I get it. Your a troll commercially spamming your website on other people’s sites:

    https://www.whorichest.com/

    How tacky.

  3. Jacklyn 224 says:

    Yes,this is how I love mixed race women,fair with a slight tan and lovely. I adore mariah.

  4. savanna says:

    Pic of her paternal grandfather

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