Taylor Fritz

LOS ANGELES – DEC 13: Taylor Fritz at the “Father Figures” Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on December 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA kathclick/bigstock.com

Birth Name: Taylor Harry Fritz

Place of Birth: Rancho Santa Fe, California, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 28, 1997

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (maternal grandfather), German, Swiss-German, English, Scottish, Irish

Taylor Fritz is an American professional tennis player. He has a career-high ranking of no. 5 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has won five ATP Tour singles titles, including a Masters 1000 title at the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, and is the No. 1 American player. He won a junior major singles title at the 2015 US Open.

Taylor is the son of professional tennis players Kathy May and Guy Fritz. His mother also competed as Kathy May Teacher, during her first marriage, to professional tennis player Brian Teacher, and Kathy May-Paben, during her second marriage, to Donn Paben.

His maternal great-great-grandfather, David May, a Jewish emigrant from Kaiserlautern, Germany, founded the The May Department Stores Company, which merged with Macy’s. His sons grew the store into a nationwide chain. Taylor’s maternal great-grandmother “Kitty” Prest was married to film director and producer Mervyn LeRoy, until his death. Taylor is a first cousin, twice removed, of philanthropist and art collector Morton D. May.

Taylor has a son with his former wife Raquel Pedraza.

Taylor’s paternal grandfather was Harry Fritz (the son of John Henry Fritz and Lillian/Lilian May/Mae Juni). Harry was born in California. Lillian was the daughter of Benedict Juni, who was born in Salvisberg, Bern, Switzerland, and of Bertha A. Krause, whose parents were German, her father from Allerstorf, Mecklenburg, Schwering and her mother from Sachsen.

Taylor’s paternal grandmother was Beverly Clair Burdette (the daughter of Fred P. Burdette and Freda Bell Musgrove). Freda was the daughter of Guy Henry Musgrove and Ivah Harker McWhorter.

Taylor’s maternal grandfather was David May II (the son of Thomas/Tom S. May and Anita Kay Keiler). David was born in Missouri. Thomas was born in Colorado, to a Jewish family, the son of Col. David May, who was born in Oberhausen, Wallhalben, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and of Rosa Shoenberg, whose parents were also from Germany. Anita was born in Kentucky, the daughter of John William Keiler, the son of Jewish emigrants, his father from Germany and his mother from England; and of Blanche Christie Friedman, whose parents were also German Jews. The Keiler family was prominent in Paducah, Kentucky’s Jewish community.

Taylor’s maternal grandmother was Rita Rend (the daughter of William P. Rend and Kathryn/Katheryn/Katherine “Kitty” (Prest) Spiegel). Rita was born in Illinois. William was the son of Joseph Paul Rend, a prominent financier, who owned many coal properties, and of Agnes Robinson English. Joseph’s father, William Patrick Rend, was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, and was president of the W.P. Rend Coal company. Joseph’s mother was from New Brunswick, Canada. Taylor’s great-grandmother Kathryn was the daughter of Francis C. Prest and Ollie Belle Batt.

Sources: Genealogy of Taylor Fritz (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogies and obituaries of Taylor’s maternal grandparents, David May II and Rita (Rend) May – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Taylor’s maternal grandfather, David May II – https://www.latimes.com

Obituary of Taylor’s maternal step-grandfather, Herbert Roedling – https://alumniassociation.mayo.edu