Nikki Reed
Reed in 2010, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Nicole Houston Reed
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: May 17, 1988
Ethnicity:
*father – three fourths Ashkenazi Jewish, one fourth German
*mother – English, one fourth Italian, as well as Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, Swiss-German, distant Welsh and French
Nikki Reed is an American actress, musician, model, and writer. She is famous for starring in, and co-writing, the 2003 film Thirteen. Nikki is married to actor, model, and director Ian Somerhalder, with whom she has a daughter.
Nikki’s father, Seth Reed (Seth August Reed), is of three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish (from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia), and one quarter German, descent. Nikki’s mother, Cheryl (Houston), is of one quarter Italian descent, with her other roots being English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, Swiss-German, and distant Welsh and French. While she is not religious, Nikki has described herself as Jewish. Her brother was Bar Mitzvah.
Nikki has stated that her mother has Cherokee Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this Cherokee Native American ancestry has been verified/documented. No Native American ancestors appear on family trees of Nikki Reed, and all of Nikki’s maternal grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents are listed as “White” on United States Censuses.
Nikki’s paternal grandfather is John August Reed (the son of Orrel Phillipius/Philip Reed and Frieda/Freida Kristina Biehle). John was born in Ohio. Orrel was born in Ohio, to David Fredrick Reed and Molly/Mollie Sampliner, who were Jewish emigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Freida was also born in Ohio, the daughter of August Frederick Biehle and Christina Fredricka Mussler, emigrants from Alsace and Germany, who were of non-Jewish background. Freida’s brother, Nikki’s great-great-uncle, was modernist painter August Biehle (August Frederick Biehle, Jr.).
Nikki’s paternal grandmother was Laurel Rose “Laurie” Mattlin (the daughter of Moses Oscar Mattlin and Fayette Yelsky). Laurel was born in Ohio. Moses and Fayette was Russian Jewish immigrants. Moses was the son of Harris Mattlin and Ida Malinoff. Fayette was the daughter of Jacob Yelsky and Anna Getzlovitz.
Nikki’s maternal grandfather was Newton Stewart Houston, Jr. (the son of Newton Stewart Houston, Sr. and Lilian/Lilyan/Lillyan M. Sellarole). Nikki’s grandfather Newton was born in Maryland. Nikki’s great-grandfather Newton was the son of Newton Franklin Houston and Josephine May Forsythe. Lilian was born in New Jersey, the daughter of Italian parents, Domenicol Sellarole and Assunta Mary Sanzari, who was born in Benevento, Campania.
Nikki’s maternal grandmother was Jacqueline Lee Wilcox (the daughter of William Mitchell Wilcox and Merle Mildred Hall). Jacqueline was born in California. William was the son of George William Wilcox and Lessie Gay Foster. Merle was the daughter of Irvine Bertie Hall and Della Margaret Clodfelter.
Sources: Genealogy of Nikki Reed (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Nikki’s paternal grandfather, John August Reed, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s paternal great-grandfather, Orrel Phillipius/Philip Reed, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s paternal grandmother, Laurel Rose “Laurie” Mattlin, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s maternal great-grandfather, Newton Stewart Houston, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Newton Franklin Houston and Josephine May Forsythe, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Nikki’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Newton Franklin Houston (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Nikki’s maternal great-grandmother, Lilian/Lilyan/Lillyan M. Sellarole, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Nikki’s mother (focusing on her own mother’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Nikki’s maternal grandmother, Jacqueline Lee Wilcox, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s maternal great-grandfather, William Mitchell Wilcox, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
William Mitchell Wilcox on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nikki’s maternal great-grandmother, Merle Mildred Hall, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Merle Mildred Hall on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
profile by mzpreciousz, Ethnic, Follers and Manila
Hi, I was wondering what the origin of Reed is. Did her paternal side change it? I believe she is Jewish, but i am curious about the surname.
“Orrel was born in Ohio, to David Fredrick Reed and Molly/Mollie Sampliner, who were Jewish immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire”.
Whether the name was “Reed” in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, I don’t know.
Typical rich white Californian.
She looks Turkish.
Seth’s middle name is August.
Cheryl’s birth surname is actually Beach since Cheryl Beach and Cheryl Houston share the same date of birth. So, her full birth name is Cheryl Joyce Beach. She married Seth twice.
I am not sure if her maternal grandparents are Newton Stewart Houston Jr. (the son of Newton Stewart Houston, Sr. and Lilian Sellarole) and Jacqueline Lee Wilcox (the daughter of William Mitchell Wilcox and Merle Mildred Hall). Kindly verify her maternal grandparents’ ancestries.
Sources:
* Cheryl’s birth record: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGC9-68G
* (likely) Newton, Jr. and Jacqueline’s marriage record: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-29950-16078-96
Thank you! You’re a treasure.
It looks like Nikki’s mother’s last name was changed from “Houston” to “Beach” after her mother re-married.
She is italian, native american (cherokkee), english, italian, irish, welsh, and german