Rachel Platten
Platten in 2017, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Rachel Ashley Platten
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 20, 1981
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (three quarters), as well as English, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, remote Dutch and French
Rachel Platten is an American singer, songwriter, and author. She is known for her song “Fight Song.”
She is the daughter of Pamela, a therapist, and Paul Platten. Her father, and maternal grandfather, are/were Jewish, of Russian Jewish and Belarusian Jewish heritage. Her maternal grandmother was Catholic, and had English, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and remote Dutch and French, ancestry. Rachel was raised Jewish. She grew up mostly in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.
She is married to Kevin Lazan, with whom she has two children.
Rachel’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her third great-grandfather, Abraham Platten.
Rachel’s paternal grandfather was Sumner M. Platten (the son of David Nathan Platten and Celia Grushka). Sumner was born in Massachusetts. David was born in Massachusetts, to Russian Jewish immigrants, Naim Platten and Sarah Carro. Celia was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and was the daughter of Philip Grushka and Mary J. Weintraub.
Rachel’s maternal grandfather was Milton Jabush (the son of Hyman Jabush and Rebecca Zeiberg). Milton was born in New York. Hyman was a Belarusian Jewish immigrant. Rebecca was also a Jewish immigrant, and was the daughter of Israel Zeiberg and Ida Zeiberg, who were born with the same surname.
Rachel’s maternal grandmother was Bobbie/Bobbi Meese Henry (the daughter of Ulysses Grant Henry and Bessie Mae Smith). Bobbie was born in Ohio. Ulysses was the son of Henderson Calloway Henry and Maude/Maud Etta White. Bessie was the daughter of Fred Russell Smith and Laura Mae Jones.
Rachel’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her ninth great-grandmother, Grace Hartfield.
Sources: Genealogy of Rachel Platten – https://www.geni.com
Rachel’s paternal grandfather, Sumner M. Platten, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Rachel’s paternal grandfather, Sumner M. Platten – http://www.legacy.com
Obituary of Rachel’s maternal grandmother, Bobbie/Bobbi Meese (Henry) Jabush Abrams – http://www.legacy.com
Rachel’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her third great-grandfather, Abraham Platten.
David’s middle name is Nathan, and was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Naim Platten and Sarah Carro. Celia was the daughter of Philip Grushka and Mary J. Weintraub.
Correction for Hyman Jabush: He was a Belarusian Jewish immigrant, however I cannot understand his birthplace as it is inscribed as “Moleliff”. Rebecca was the daughter of Israel Zeiberg and Ida Zeiberg, who were both born with the same surname.
Ulysses was the son of Henderson Calloway Henry and Etta Maude White. Bessie was the daughter of Fred Russell Smith and Laura Mae Jones.
Rachel’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her ninth great-grandmother, Grace Hartfield.
Genealogy of Rachel Platten – https://www.geni.com/people/Rachel-Platten/6000000040984665799
Rachel’s maternal grandmother had also Irish, Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Scottish, Welsh, remote Dutch, and remote French roots.
Rachel’s paternal grandmother is Frances M. and is the only living grandparent left.
Rachel’s maternal grandparents are now deceased.
Sorry, Frances’ middle initial is unclear whether it is E, M, or S based on her US Public Records.
I think Frances is Rachel’s step-grandmother, since in his obituary, Rachel’s grandfather is listed as having step-children.