Pharrell Williams

5th Annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards - Arrivals

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).

BRIT Awards 2014 - Arrivals

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

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

142 Responses

  1. p41 says:

    Listen to the people saying, “he’s just black”, where in West Africa could you possibly drop him off and have him blend in with the locals? And no, he does not look like those cup eyed Ethiopians. He looks either Aisan and Black or Native American and Black. Unlike those AA’s who say, “Ah got eendyan in me”, he actually looks it.

    • Jessica Mae says:

      He has native american in his blood line. native americans are basically from asia so it makes sense. however, your comment is ignorant so i will school you. Africa is not a country and it popluated with many different races besides black. Many blacks in some regions have very Asian like feature such as jaw bones and eyes BUT they are dark with wool like hair. Ethiopians/Somoli’s are “mostly” mixed with Arab blood. South Africans range from whites to black to mixed. Egyptians are of arab blood. There are many mixed Nigerians too!

      • wtf says:

        Sorry jessica mae but let me school YOU! arab has no blood line! Lmfao they are a mixture of black white and Asian through many years of mixing africa was all black south african whites are NOT native to african land darling.you may want to pick up a book before “schooling ” anyone!africans are only mixed now due to colonizing.including Egyptians which once upon a time were Black as well.Duhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

    • BRAZIL says:

      go to south african and drop him

      those people look like him

      go to ethipia and drop him

      THATS LIKE SAYING

      DROP MEGAN FOX – TO IRELAND

      AND EVERYBODY THINKS SHE IS NATIVE AMERICAN

      AFRICA IS AFRICA

      AND

      AMERICA IS AMERICA

  2. - says:

    Yeah, to the person that said Pharell is 1/4 Korean, shut up okay? Where is your proof that he said he’s a quarter Korean? Do you believe everything your friend says? lol. I know a lot of people of Black heritage who have chinky eyes, so why are people always trying to assume? I’ve heard that Pharell had Filipino heritage, but since nothing has been confirmed, he is African-American. Let’s just leave it at that.

  3. angel says:

    This is sooooo ridiculous! He is not asian! Or mixed with asian….he is just a regular african american….born in virginia Whats wrong with him…being just black. People tell me im pretty all the time…except they ask are you mixed with black & white, black & asian or black & latino as if you cant just be a beautiful african american woman. Pharell is just trying to make money off asian people.

  4. liz says:

    he looks mexican and black to me.

  5. Yanna says:

    I believe he is Japanese and Black thus the reason he is in co- horts with so many Japanese entertainers and spokespeople and has an fashion line relating to “Tokyo” either that or Thai and Black. But he’s def mixed.

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