Sofia Carson

Carson in 2016, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Sofia Daccarett Char

Place of Birth: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 10, 1993

Ethnicity: Colombian – including Arab [Syrian-Lebanese, Palestinian], Spanish, possibly English, possibly other

Sofia Carson is an American singer and actress.

Sofia is the daughter of Laura (Char) and José Fernando Daccarett. Her parents were born in Barranquilla, Colombia. Sofia speaks fluent English and Spanish. Carson is her maternal grandmother’s maiden name.

One of Sofia’s great-uncles (maternal grandfather’s brother) was Fuad Char, a Senator of Colombia (from 1990 to 1995; 1998 to 2006; and 2010 to 2014) and a Minister of Economic Development, from 1987 to 1988. One of Fuad’s sons, Alejandro Char Chaljub, has been mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia, since 2008.

Sofia’s paternal grandfather is René Roque Daccarett Giha (the son of José Miguel Daccarett and Zoila Giha). René was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. José Miguel had Palestinian origins.

Sofia’s paternal grandmother is named Rosa María Escobar.

Sofia’s maternal grandfather is Simón Char Abdala (the son of Richard/Ricardo Char Zaslawy and Erlinda Abdala Chadjur). Richard was born in Damascus, Syria, the son of Miguel Char and María Zaslawy, and moved to Colombia in 1926. Erlinda was born in Colombia, the daughter of Lebanese parents, Simón Abdala and Rosa Chadjur.

Sofia’s maternal grandmother is named Lauraine E. Carson. Lauraine is American.

Sofia has stated:

My mom is Colombian, so I was raised going to Colombia every year to see my family. I am lucky enough that I get to speak both languages and they are both a part of who I am. Also, we were raised eating mac and cheese and popcorn, but also, deditos de queso, empanadas, arroz con pollo and listening to boleros, or reggaeton, but also listening to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and others. We’ve been raised completely biculturally. I think it’s a cool experience; I never really knew or appreciated [the] good it would do me in my future to be bicultural – to have both cultures with me and both languages – than right now in this moment in my career. Speaking Spanish has been such a plus and I feel so proud to be Colombian, and to be Latin and to go around the world and speak my languages. It’s great.

Sources: http://www.elheraldo.co (in Spanish)
http://www.jetset.com.co (in Spanish)
http://www.alfresco.com.co (in Spanish)

Immigration record of Sofia’s paternal grandfather, René Roque Daccarett Giha – http://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Sofia’s mother – http://genealogiacolombiana.com