Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Rachel Elizabeth Brosnahan
Place of Birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Date of Birth: July 12, 1990
Ethnicity: Irish, English, as well as 1/16th French
Rachel Brosnahan is an American actress and producer. Her roles include the shows House of Cards, The Blacklist, Manhattan, The Dovekeepers, Crisis in Six Scenes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and 50 States of Fright; and the films Nor’easter, Beautiful Creatures, Louder Than Bombs, The Finest Hours, Burn Country, Patriots Day, Change in the Air, Spies in Disguise, The Courier (2020), I’m Your Woman, and Dead for a Dollar. She will star as Lois Lane in the upcoming major Superman film.
She is the daughter of Carol and Earl Brosnahan, who worked in children’s publishing. Her father is American, and is of Irish, and one eighth French, descent. Her mother is English. Her aunt, father’s sister, was fashion designer Kate Spade. Rachel is married to actor Jason Ralph. She was raised mostly in Highland Park, Illinois, on the North Shore of Chicago.
While Rachel has played several Jewish characters, she herself is not Jewish.
Rachel’s paternal grandfather is Earl Francis Brosnahan II (the son of Earl Francis Brosnahan and Helen Rose Mottin). Rachel’s grandfather Earl was born in Missouri. Rachel’s great-grandfather Earl was the son of Daniel Thomas Brosnahan and Mary Eleanor/Ellen Conner/Connor, who were born in Missouri, both of them of Irish descent. Helen was the daughter of Leger Nicholas Mottin, who was of French descent, and of Katherine/Catherine Margaret “Munnie” Roache/Roche, whose parents were from Midleton, County Cork, Ireland.
Rachel’s paternal grandmother was June Therese/Theresa Mullen (the daughter of John A. V. Mullen and Theresa/Terese O’Flanigan/O’Flanagan). June was born in Missouri, and was of Irish descent. John was the son of Bernard Mullen and Mary. Theresa was the daughter of Frank O’Flanagan and Mary.
Rachel’s maternal grandfather was Gordon Best (the son of Ernest Gordon Best and Margaret Hurcombe). Rachel’s grandfather Gordon was born in Leeds South, Yorkshire, England. Ernest was the son of John Herbert Best and Mary Hannah Bentley.
Rachel’s maternal grandmother was Shirley Sumner (the daughter of John Wainwright Sumner and Clarice Hepworth). Shirley was born in Leeds North, Yorkshire, England. John was the son of John Sumner and Ann Elkington. Clarice was the daughter of Harry Hepworth and Martha Rider.
Source: Genealogy of Rachel Brosnahan – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Rachel’s father (focusing on his father’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
Rachel’s paternal great-grandfather, Earl Francis Brosnahan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Rachel’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Daniel T. Brosnahan, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Rachel’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Leger Nicholas Mottin, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Rachel’s paternal grandmother, June Therese/Theresa (Mullen) Brosnahan – http://www.legacy.com
>/Terese O’Flanigan/O’Flanagan). June was born in Missouri. John was the son of Bernard Mullen and Mary. Theresa was the daughter of Frank O’Flanagan and Mary.
Well, this is frustrating, her Hepworth line runs cold. My Hepworth ancestors were from basically the same area in Yorkshire as hers.
Finally figured it out – had to go back to 1575 and Henry Hepworth as our common ancestor. 12th cousin 2x removed.
Her recent role is as a Jew. When I first saw her in House of Cards, I thought she might be Jewish because of her first name Rachel.
You mean The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Oh, yes, she was Jewish in Manhattan and The Dovekeepers (both on TV) as well.
I haven’t seen The Dovekeepers, but I saw Manhattan, which I also liked. She is a good actress.