Meg Ryan
Ryan in 2009, photo by miromiro/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Margaret Mary Emily Hyra
Place of Birth: Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 19, 1961
Ethnicity:
*father – half Rusyn/Ruthenian, half Polish
*mother – Irish, one quarter German
Meg Ryan is an American actress, director, and producer. She is known for her roles in Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally…, Joe Versus the Volcano, Courage Under Fire, When a Man Loves a Woman, I.Q., You’ve Got Mail, Top Gun, Innerspace, and Amityville 3-D, among other films.
Meg is the daughter of Susan, an actress and English teacher, and Harry Hyra, a math teacher. Her father is of half Rusyn/Ruthenian and half Polish ancestry. Her mother is of approximately three quarters Irish and one quarter German descent. Meg was born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra, and took on Anne as a confirmation name. Her brother is singer, songwriter, and musician Andrew Hyra. Meg has a son, actor Jack Quaid, with her former husband, actor Dennis Quaid; and a daughter, that she adopted from China.
Meg’s paternal grandfather was Michael Orest Hyra (the son of Orest J. Hyra and Anna “Annie” Durniak). Meg’s grandfather Michael was born in New York, of Rusyn/Ruthenian descent. Meg’s great-grandfather Orest was born in Galicia, Halychyna, the son of Georgi John Hyra and Katarzyna Mary Fylak. Anna was born in Pennsylvania, to immigrant parents.
Meg’s paternal grandmother was named Mary Helen Jackowitz (the daughter of Michael Jackowitz/Jackiwicz/Jackewicz and Petronella). Mary Helen was born in Connecticut, to Polish parents, from Kaunas, Lithuania.
Meg’s maternal grandfather was William Edwin Duggan (the son of Michael John Duggan and Matilda Dolz). William was born in New York. Michael was born in Ireland, the son of Denis Duggan and Johanna Kellaher. Matilda was born in New York, to German parents, George Dolz and Mary Elizabeth Franck.
Meg’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Mary Ryan (the daughter of Thomas Timothy Ryan and Emily Louise McManus or O’Connor). Margaret was born in New York. Thomas was born in New York, to Irish parents, Timothy Ryan and Johanna Luby. Emily was born in New York, the daughter of Phillip H. McManus, who was born in Ireland, and of Ann/Ana Thomas, who was also born in the British Isles.
Sources: Genealogy of Meg Ryan (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Meg’s paternal grandfather, Michael Orest Hyra, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s paternal grandmother, Mary Helen Jackowitz, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Meg’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal grandfather, William Edwin Duggan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Meg’s maternal great-grandparents, Michael John Duggan and Matilda Dolz – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Ryan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Margaret Mary Ryan on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Meg’s maternal great-grandparents, Thomas Timothy Ryan and Emily Louise McManus or O’Connor, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
*William Edwin Duggan
*Margaret Mary Ryan
Her paternal great-grandmother’s name, Petronella, does not sound much Polish. My guess is that she was German(ic).
Petronella is for example a common name in South Africa (Afrikaners->Dutch/German).
Not exactly. The name Petronella or Petronela was used by Polish people. It was never popular, but it has been used by Polish speaking people since the 13th century. Definitely more common 100-200 years ago than it is nowadays.
Thanks.
Was Ryan’s paternal grandmother of Polish descent, or do I have dissenters?
Yes she was. Her parents were from Kaunas.
But they don’t seem to have been ethnic Lithuanians, right?
They’re Polish-speaking on 1920 census. Their daughters have Polish first names (Bronislawa and Stanislawa) and their last name is Polish. I couldn’t find them on Ellis Island records.
Meg Ryan is very plain. I liked her voice work in Anastasia, though.