Peter Aykroyd

Birth Name: Peter Jonathan Aykroyd

Date of Birth: November 19, 1955

Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Date of Death: November 6, 2021

Place of Death: Spokane, Washington, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – English, as well as Irish or Scottish, Dutch, and French
*mother – French-Canadian

Peter Aykroyd was a Canadian actor, comedian, and writer. He was a cast member on the show Saturday Night Live. He was the son of Lorraine Hélène (Gougeon) and Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, a civil engineer and policy advisor to the Canadian P.M. He was the brother of actor, comedian, and musician Dan Aykroyd.

On his father’s side, he had English, as well as Irish or Scottish, and more distant Dutch and French, ancestry. Some of his ancestors had lived in the United States.

On his mother’s side, he was of French-Canadian descent.

Peter’s patrilineal line can be traced to Samuel Aykroyd, who was born, c. 1761, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.

Peter’s paternal grandfather was Maurice James Gladstone Aykroyd (the son of Samuel Augusta Aykroyd and Ellen Jane “Jennie” Wemp). Maurice was born in Frontenac County, Ontario. Samuel was the son of Daniel Aykroyd and Martha McKnight/Knight. Ellen was the daughter of James Jackson Wemp and Elizabeth Thompson McGinnis/McGinniss.

Peter’s paternal grandmother was Marjorie Judith Girdlestone/Girdleston Lightfoot (the daughter of Francis/Frances Cuthbert Lightfoot and Sarah Louisa/Louise Girdlestone/Girdleston). Marjorie was born in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada, to English parents. She likely also had some distant French ancestry. Francis was born in Tiverton, Devon, England, the son of Nicholas Francis Lightfoot and Sarah Farley, who was born in Barbados, West Indies. Peter’s great-grandmother Sarah was born in Tunstead, Norfolk, England, and was the daughter of George William Girdlestone and Mary Ann Orris.

Peter’s maternal grandfather was named Edward Joseph Gougeon (the son of Joseph Gougeon). Edward was born in Ontario.

Peter’s maternal grandmother was named Irene Victoria Laurin/Laurier. Irene was born in Québec.

Sources: Genealogy of Peter Aykroyd – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Peter’s paternal grandparents, Maurice James Gladstone Aykroyd and Marjorie Judith Girdlestone/Girdleston Lightfoot – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Peter’s maternal grandfather, Edward Joseph Gougeon – https://www.newspapers.com