Thomas McDonell

McDonell in 2011, image via DFree / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Thomas H. McDonnell

Place of Birth: New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 2, 1986

Ethnicity:
*father – Swedish, as well as Scottish, English, German, Irish
*mother – Ashkenazi Jewish

Thomas McDonell is an American actor, artist, and musician. He is known for his roles in the films Prom (2011), Fun Size, The Devil’s Hand, and Simchas and Sorrows, and on the shows Suburgatory, The 100, and The Long Road Home.

His father is of one half Swedish, three eighths British Isles [Scottish, Irish, English], and one eighth German, descent. His maternal grandparents were Jewish emigrants, from Poland and Lithuania, respectively.

Thomas’s paternal grandfather was named Robert Meinrad McDonell (the son of Meinrad/Meinrod/Minrad Willard McDonell and Elsie J.). Robert was born in Minnesota. Meinrad was of Scottish descent, and was the son of John Andrew/Allan McDonell, who was born in Saint Andrews, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada; and of Margaret “Maggie” Campbell, who was born in Minnesota or Michigan, to a Canadian father of Scottish descent, and to an Irish mother. Thomas’s great-grandmother Elsie’s parents, Carl John and Augusta, were Swedish.

Thomas’s paternal grandmother was Irma Sophronia Nelson (the daughter of John Robert Nelson and Laura Sophronia/Fronie Pinney). John was born in Minnesota, to Swedish parents. Laura was the daughter of Henry Fordyce Pinney, who was of English and Irish descent, and of Elizabeth/Elise M. Boortz, who was German.

Thomas’s maternal grandfather was named Albert Raffeld (the son of Isaac Meyer Halevi). Albert was a Jewish emigrant, from Warsaw, Poland.

Thomas’s maternal grandmother was Libby S. Gutfarb (the daughter of Baruch Gutfarb and Hannah Alperin). Libby was a Jewish emigrant, from Butrimonys, Lithuania.

Sources: Genealogy of Thomas’s paternal grandfather, Robert Meinrad McDonell (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Thomas’s paternal grandfather, Robert Meinrad McDonell, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Thomas’s paternal great-grandfather, Meinrad Willard McDonell, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Thomas’s maternal grandmother, Libby S. Gutfarb, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org