Tom Waits

Waits in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Thomas Alan Waits

Place of Birth: Pomona, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: December 7, 1949

Ethnicity: Norwegian (maternal grandmother), English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, German, Swiss-German, Welsh

Tom Waits is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. He has co-starred in the films Seven Psychopaths and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

He is the son of Alma and Jesse Frank Waits. He was raised in Whittier, California. Tom is married to musician, songwriter, record producer, and artist Kathleen Brennan, with whom he has three children.

Tom’s paternal grandfather was Jesse Scott Waits (the son of William Tell Waits and Sarah Jane Shook). Jesse was born in Texas. William was the son of James Cope Waits and Martha Ann Christian. Sarah was the daughter of Wiley Alexander Shook and Mary Gipson Witherspoon/Weatherspoon.

Tom’s paternal grandmother was Beulah Clayton Williams (the daughter of David Frederick Williams and Mary Elizabeth Catherine Marshall). Beulah was born in Texas. David was the son of Pascal Klough Williams and Joanna Garvin. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Matthew C. Marshall and Rebecca Brooks.

Tom’s maternal grandfather was Wealthy Howard Johnson (the son of Silas Johnson and Nancy Ann Rodabaugh). Wealthy was born in Pennsylvania. Nancy was the daughter of John Rodabaugh and Maria Locard.

Tom’s maternal grandmother was Olga Regina/Regine Olsen (the daughter of Tollef Olsen and Anna Marie Garrdarie Davidson). Olga was born in Minnesota, to Norwegian parents. Tollef was born in Romedal, the son of Ole Jensen and Ragnhild Tollefsdatter/Botillen. Anna was born in Ullensaker, the daughter of David Martinius Danielsen and Marte Marie Kristoffersdatter.

Sources: Genealogy of Tom Waits – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Tom’s paternal great-grandfather, William Tell Waits – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com