Reid Hoffman

Birth Name: Reid Garrett Hoffman

Place of Birth: Santa Clara, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 5, 1967

Ethnicity: German, some English and Scottish

Reid Hoffman is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author. He is the co-founder of LinkedIn, of which he was executive chairman.

Reid is the son of Deanna Ruth (Rutter) and William Parker Hoffman, Jr. His paternal great-great-great-grandfather was Theophilus Adam Wylie, a Christian Presbyterian minister and Indiana University president pro tempore. His uncle, Eric Hoffman, is a writer.

He is married to Michelle Yee.

Various web sites and lists of names claim that Reid is Jewish, presumably because of his surname. This is not accurate.

Reid’s paternal grandfather was William Parker “Bill” Hoffman (the son of William Dawson “W. D.” Hoffman and Zoe Parker). Reid’s grandfather William was born in Oakland, California, and was a Santa Clara County Chief Assistant District Attorney. Reid’s great-grandfather William was a newspaper reporter. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the son of William Hoffman and Hannah/Anna Dawson. Reid’s great-grandmother Zoe was the daughter of William Parker and Martha.

Reid’s paternal grandmother was Louise Wylie (the daughter of Laurence Seabrooke/Seabrook Wylie and Ethel Marion/Marian Goshert). Louise was born in Alhambra, California. Laurence was the son of Samuel Brown Wylie and Sarah/Sara Seabrooke/Seabrook Mitchell. Ethel was the daughter of Alfred E. Goshert and Eda/Ida May Evans.

Reid’s maternal grandfather was Rudolph Louis Rutter (the son of Rudolf/Rudolph Rutter and Matilda/Mathilda Winkel). Reid’s grandfather Rudolph was born in New York, to ethnic German parents from Poland. Reid’s great-grandfather Rudolf was born in Warsaw, the son of Daniel Rutter and Katharina Schmidt. Matilda was born in Łomża, Podlaskie, the daughter of Karl Winkel and Karoline/Caroline Felbeck/Felberg.

Reid’s maternal grandmother was Cosette Marjorie Baer (the daughter of Henri Ivan Baer and Matilda Bell Harriott). Cosette was born in East Killingly, Windham, Connecticut. Henri was born in Alsace-Lorraine, the son of George Baer and Adele Berthe Fischer/Fisher, who were ethnic Germans. Matilda was the daughter of Frank Pierce Harriott and Annie Matilda Brennecke.

Sources: Genealogy of Reid Hoffman – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Reid’s paternal grandfather, William Parker “Bill” Hoffman – https://www.losaltosonline.com

Marriage record of Reid’s paternal great-grandparents, William Dawson “W. D.” Hoffman and Zoe Parker – https://www.familysearch.org

Biographical notation of Reid’s paternal great-grandfather, William Dawson “W. D.” Hoffman – https://prabook.com

Genealogy of Reid’s paternal grandmother, Louise Wylie (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Reid’s paternal grandmother, Louise (Wylie) Hoffman – https://www.losaltosonline.com

Marriage record of Reid’s paternal great-grandparents, Laurence Seabrooke/Seabrook Wylie and Ethel Marion/Marian Goshert – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Reid’s maternal grandfather, Rudolph Louis Rutter (focusing on his own mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Reid’s maternal grandfather, Rudolph Louis Rutter, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Reid’s maternal great-grandparents, Rudolf/Rudolph Rutter and Matilda/Mathilda Winkel – https://www.familysearch.org

Naturalization record of Reid’s maternal great-grandfather, Rudolf/Rudolph Rutter – https://www.familysearch.org

Reid’s maternal grandmother, Cosette Marjorie Baer, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Reid’s maternal great-grandparents, Henri Ivan Baer and Matilda Bell Harriott – https://www.familysearch.org