Shane Gillis
Birth Name: Shane Michael Gillis
Place of Birth: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 11, 1987
Ethnicity: Irish (over 90%), remote German and Dutch, possibly distant Scottish
Shane Gillis is an American stand-up comedian, actor, sketch comedy writer, and podcaster. He appears on sketch show Gilly & Keeves, with John McKeever, and co-hosts a podcast with Matt McCusker.
He was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, outside Pittsburgh. Shane has stated that a 23andMe DNA test he took showed his genetic ancestry to be:
*100% British & Irish
He added that the results showed genetic matches in Dublin, Ireland, then Glasgow, Scotland, and a small amount in England.
Shane’s paternal grandfather was Francis DeSales “Frank” Gillis (the son of Roderick/Rodrick Joseph Gillis and Elizabeth D. Brennan). Francis was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Roderick was the son of Dr. Alexander F. Gillis, who was born in Ontario, Canada, to Scottish parents, who were possibly themselves of Irish ancestry; and of Anna A. Boyle, who was of Irish, and more distant Dutch and German, ancestry. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Brennan, whose parents were Irish, and of Margaret McGarry, who was born in Roscommon, Ireland.
Shane’s paternal grandmother was Christine L./Veronica Lafferty (the daughter of Francis Aloysius “Frank” Lafferty and Anna Delores Dillon). Christine was born in Kaolin, Pennsylvania. Francis was the son of Michael Peter Lafferty and Mary Magdelyn Kelly; they were born in Londonderry, Ireland, Michael to parents from County Limerick and Mary Magdelyn to parents from County Cork. Anna was the daughter of Edward J. Dillon and Johanna “Hanna”/Hannah Burns, who were also the children of Irish immigrants.
Shane’s maternal grandfather was John Edward Kilkenny (the son of Martin Kilkenny and Mary Cregg). John was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Irish parents.
Shane’s maternal grandmother was Patricia M. Keelan (the daughter of Joseph Keelan and Mary Motley). Patricia was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Joseph was the son of Irish parents, Thomas Keelan and Annie Farley. Mary’s parents were also Irish.
Sources: Genealogies and obituaries of Shane’s paternal grandparents, Francis DeSales “Frank” Gillis and Christine L./Veronica (Lafferty) Gillis – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies and obituaries of Shane’s maternal grandparents, John Edward Kilkenny and Patricia M. (Keelan) Kilkenny – https://www.findagrave.com
Shane is the son Phil Gillis and Joan Kilkenny. He is of mainly Irish descent (92.1875%), with some Scottish (6.25%) and remote English, Dutch and German descent (combining 1.5625%).
His paternal grandfather was Francis DeSales Gillis (the son of Roderick Joseph Gillis and Elizabeth D Brennan). Roderick was the son of Dr Alexander F Gillis who was born in Ontario, Canada to Scottish parents and Anna A Boyle who was mainly of Irish descent and had some Englis, Dutch and German descent. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Brennan whose parents were Irish and Margaret McGarry was born in Roscommon, Ireland.
His paternal grandmother was Christine Veronica Lafferty (the daughter of Francis Aloysius Lafferty and Anna Delores Dillon). Francis was the son of Michael Peter Lafferty who was born in County Londonderry, Ireland whose parents were from County Limerick and Mary Magdelyn Kelly born in Londonderry,Ireland who parents were from County Cork. Anna was the daughter of Edward J Dillon whose parents were from Ireland and Johanna “Hanna” Burns whose parents were from Ireland.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/LR9T-WXT
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117075256/francis-desales-gillis
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110715139/christine_l_gillis
His maternal grandfather was John Edward Kilkenny (the son of Martin Kilkenny and Mary Cregg). Martin Kilkenny was born in Ireland and Mary Cregg was also born in Ireland.
His maternal grandmother was Patricia M Keelan (the son of Joseph Keelan and Mary Motley). Joseph was the son Thomas Keelan and Annie Farley who were both born in Ireland. Mary parents were both born in Ireland.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/G3PD-G33
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159524973/john-e.-kilkenny
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204625800/patricia_m_kilkenny
He got “100% British & Irish” on a 23andme he did on his podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnL0f3Mo8yQ
He says the breakdown shows primarily Dublin, then Glasgow and a little English.