Pharrell Williams
Williams in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Pharrell Lanscilo Williams
Place of Birth: Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 5, 1973
Ethnicity: African-American
Pharrell Williams is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer. He is a member of the music duo The Neptunes, with Chad Hugo, and the rock band N.E.R.D, which also includes Chad. He is also known as Pharrell, Skateboard P, Sk8board, Auto Goon, Magnum, the Verb Lord; and Station Wagon P.
His parents, Carolyn L. (Hoggard) and Pharoah Williams, Jr., are both African-American. Pharrell is married to model Helen Lasichanh, with whom he has four children. He is said to be a cousin of musician, record producer, and DJ Timbaland.
Pharrell’s paternal grandfather was Pharoah/Pharaoh Williams, Sr. (the son of Cato Thomas Williams and Ora Cooper). Pharrell’s grandfather Pharoah was born in North Carolina. Cato was the son of Fenner Williams and Martha Alford. Fenner’s parents, Louis May and Louisa, were slaves, and Fenner likely also was born into slavery.
Pharrell’s paternal grandmother was Carol Lee “Carrie” Sills/Sears (the daughter of Mark Stamper Sills and Rebecca O’Niel/O’Neal). Carrie was born in North Carolina. Mark was the son of Ed Sills and Lucy Stamp. Rebecca was the daughter of Rufus O’Niel and Joanna Allen.
Pharrell’s maternal grandfather was Cleon Dorson Hoggard, Sr. (the son of James Edward Hoggard and Emma Edwards).
Pharrell’s maternal grandmother was Lucille Sarah Johnson (the daughter of Lee Edward Johnson and Sarah F. Lamb/Lambe).
Williams with wife Helen Lasichanh, 2014
An article published at “Diary of a Hollywood Street King” claimed that Pharrell’s mother is Filipino. This information is not accurate. Pharrell’s mother is African-American, and is pictured at the bottom right of this page. Also, for whatever reason, Ebony.com stated that Pharrell is of part Laotian descent. They may have confused Pharrell’s mother with Pharrell’s wife, Helen Lasichanh, who is of part Laotian descent.
Sources: Family history of Pharrell Williams, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – https://www.megansmolenyak.com
Accompanying video – https://www.youtube.com
Diary of a Hollywood Street King article that makes the incorrect claim that Pharrell’s mother is Filipino – http://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com
Genealogy of Pharrell Williams (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com
he’s boss
Looks Zambo
Pharrell’s middle name is Lanscilo: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=Pharrell&gsln=Williams&MSAV=0&cp=0&catbucket=rstp&uidh=ft6&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=4257154&recoff=7+9&db=General-9277&indiv=1&ml_rpos=5
Just looks like a black guy
No he doesn’t, he looks mixed with Asian or Native American,
he looks nelson mandela
True. Most people don’t grasp that because Africa is a very large continent, there is not one phenotype for sub Saharan Africans, who comprise the most genetically diverse human population.
wow I thought he was mixed
Same… I thought he was Blasian or Blaxican.
Most African Americans have about a quarter white European ancestry mostly due to of slave owners raping enslaved women or, to a lesser extent, consensual relationships. It’s best to remember that “African-American” does not equate to someone having 100% Black African ancestry. Moreover, skin color does not tell you someone’s genetic ancestry.