Tom Brady
Brady in 2012, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Thomas Edward Brady, Jr.
Place of Birth: San Mateo, California, United States
Date of Birth: August 3, 1977
Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, small amount of English
*mother – Polish, one quarter Swedish, one quarter Norwegian, German
Tom Brady is an American professional football player. A quarterback, he has played for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was voted Super Bowl MVP for Super Bowl XXXVI (2002), XXXVIII (2004), XLIX (2015), LI (2017), and LV (2021). He is 6′4″.
Tom is the son of Galynn Ann (Johnson) and Thomas Edward Brady. His father is of Irish, and a small amount of English, descent. His mother is of approximately one quarter Swedish, one quarter Norwegian, three eighths Polish, and one eighth German, descent. Tom has a son with his former partner, actress Bridget Moynahan; and two children with his former wife, Brazilian fashion model Gisele Bündchen. His brother-in-law is professional baseball player Kevin Youkilis, who is married to Tom’s sister, Julie.
His great-uncle, Michael Buckley, Jr., was the first American prisoner of war in World War II.
Tom’s paternal grandfather was Harry Christopher Brady (the son of Philip F. Brady and Ellen/Nellie G. Donahue). Harry was born in San Francisco, California. Philip was born in Massachusetts, to Irish parents, John Brady, from County Monaghan, and Bridget Bailey/Bayley. They left Ireland because of the Great Famine, and moved to Boston, and then San Francisco. Tom’s first cousin, three times removed, was Major League Baseball player “Steady” Pete Meegan, who was the son of Ann, Bridget’s sister. Tom’s great-grandmother Ellen was born in California, the daughter of Dennis Donahue, who was from County Derry, Ireland, and of Margaret Devenney, who also had roots in Derry.
Tom’s paternal grandmother was Margaret Patricia Buckley (the daughter of Michael J. Buckley and Barbara Lally). Margaret was born in Fresno County, California. Michael was born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin, the son of Irish parents, Patrick Buckley, from Inniscarra, County Cork, and Bridget Donlan, from Ennis, County Clare. Tom’s great-grandmother Barbara was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, England, the daughter of Martin Lally and Elizabeth Moore, whose own father was born in Ireland and whose own mother was born in England.
Tom’s maternal grandfather was Gordon Emanuel Johnson (the son of Arthur W. Johnson and Rena Lund). Gordon was born in Browerville, Todd, Minnesota. Arthur was born in Minnesota, to Swedish parents, Isaac Johnson and Martha. Rena was born in Norway.
Tom’s maternal grandmother was Bernice Theresa Obitz (the daughter of Charles John Obitz/Opitz and Anna M. Stish). Bernice was born in Todd County, Minnesota. Charles was born in Minnesota, the son of Wilhelm/William Opitz/Obitz, who was an ethnic German, and of Maria/Mary Ulke, who was Polish. Anna was born in Ashton, Sherman, Nebraska, of Polish descent, the daughter of Peter J. Stish, from Opole, and of Nancy/Nancie/Nartazzice Kowschliski, who herself was the daughter of Julius Kowschliski and Rosalin Kanopikofek.
Sources: Family history of Tom Brady – http://www.makemyfamilytree.com
Genealogies of Tom Brady – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com
Genealogies of Tom’s maternal grandparents, Gordon Emanuel Johnson and Bernice Theresa Obitz – https://www.findagrave.com
Tom’s maternal grandfather, Gordon Emanuel Johnson, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Tom’s maternal grandmother, Bernice Theresa Obitz, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
GOAT
*18.75% Polish
*12.5% Swedish
*12.5% Norwegian
*6.25% likely German
yup. hopefully the Jets can defeat Brady and the Patriots next weekend :)
best quarterback in NFL history :)
Bablah, what was Brady’s maternal grandmother’s exact ethnicity?
Honestly, no idea. Nancy (Anastasia) and Peter were Polish. Peter was from Opole. Can’t say much else.
William Obitz/Opitz was German. Maria/Mary Ulik was Polish. So Tom is 1/16th German.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW1T-F24
How do you know he was an ethnic German? Not the language or birthplace thing again?
That’s exactly what I’m gonna go to. The 1920 census has the most detailed information about this. Why would Charles list his father’s birthplace and language as Germany and German, if his father, like his mother (who is listed as Poland and Polish there), was ethnically Polish? I would say the most specific census, birthplace-wise, is the most reliable. For Charles mother it’s Poland (or Prussia, if you want). For his father it’s only Germany. And Obitz and Opitz are German surnames, not Polish. There’s no evidence that William was Polish.
I admit that what I did on Bruce McGill’s page was stupid. But this is a different case, there’s no Jews involved (which would have complicated the issue).
Thoughts, bablah?
@follers I agree that Wilhelm Obitz is a German last name, but the birth place varies so saying it’s deffinitely in Germany and not Poland is a stretch. He was probably German, but I’d like to know more about him and where he came from (and if there is a baptismal record or something).
The birth place doesn’t vary for Wilhelm, it says Germany everywhere. For Maria it varies, but since parts of present-day Poland was Germany back then it doesn’t bother me due to the fact that her language is Polish, and Ulik is a Polish surname. Wilhelm’s birth place, language, and surname all points towards a German background.
It also says Prussia on the document that says Prussia for Maria too. He could still be a German from Poland, I can’t find a match on Castle Garden or any other port.
It’s crossed over and replaced with Germany. But the birth place really doesn’t say that much, especially when it is about a place that encompass many ethnic groups. You have to look at the language and surname. And in this case, they are German. There’s no reason to think he was Polish (except that his wife was, which isn’t a very good reason).
Was I saying he was Polish? o_0
I said he was likely German twice. I just think both might have been from Poland.
When you said that he could’ve been from Poland I thought you meant he could’ve been Polish. I was just clarifying my point. But yes, he could’ve been a German from present-day Poland.