Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Huntington-Whiteley in 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Rosie Alice Huntington-Whiteley

Place of Birth: Plymouth, Devon, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 18 April, 1987

Ethnicity: English, three eighths Jewish [Ashkenazi, some Sephardi]

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a British model, actress, designer, and businessperson. She is known for her roles in the films Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mad Max: Fury Road. She has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and the face of Burberry’s brand fragrance Burberry Body. She has also worked with Marks & Spencer and denim-focused fashion brand Paige.

She is the daughter of Fiona (Jackson), a fitness instructor, and Charles Huntington-Whiteley, a chartered surveyor. Her brother, Toby Huntington-Whiteley, is also a model. She was raised on a farm, near Tavistock, Devon. Rosie has two children with her fiancé, actor and competitive diver Jason Statham.

Rosie’s father is of three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish, with some Sephardi Jewish, and one quarter English, background. Rosie’s mother is likely of English ancestry. Rosie’s paternal grandparents both had funerals in churches, so it is possible that they had practiced Christianity.

Rosie’s paternal grandfather was Nigel Charles Huntington-Whiteley (the son of Eric Arthur Huntington-Whiteley and Enid Etta Cohn/Kohn). Nigel was born in Kensington, London, England. Rosie’s great-grandfather Eric was a Wing-Commander. He was of English, non-Jewish, background, and was the son of Sir Herbert James Huntington-Whiteley, 1st Baronet, a Conservative politician, and of Florence Kate Huntington. Rosie’s great-grandmother Enid was Jewish, from a family of Polish Jewish immigrants to England, and was the daughter of Solly/Solomon Cohn and Annie Stump.

Rosie’s paternal grandmother was Gillian Margaret Franks (the daughter of Jacob Franks and Janatt/Janet Lily/Lilian Green). Gillian was born in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Her parents were both Jewish. Jacob was the son of Emanuel Garemmatz/Franks and Raina/Raynor/Raine Da Costa Fonrega, who were Dutch Jews. The names Da Costa and Fonrega almost certainly indicate at least some Sephardi Jewish ancestry. Janatt was the daughter of English Jews, Jacob Green, from London, and Amelia Levine, from Middlesex.

Rosie’s maternal grandfather was named Alan Jackson.

Rosie’s maternal grandmother’s maiden name was Wilson.

Sources: Some of Rosie’s father’s family history – http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Genealogy of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Rosie’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Emanuel Garemmatz/Franks and Raina/Raynor/Raine Da Costa Fonrega – https://familysearch.org