Tom Waits

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/Paschal Klough Williams and Joanna/Anna Garvin. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Matthew Calhoun Marshall and Rebecca Brooks.

Tom’s maternal grandfather was Wealthy Howard Johnson (the son of Silas Johnson and Nancy Ann/Nannie Rodabaugh/Rodebaugh). Wealthy was born in Pennsylvania. Silas was the son of Zephaniah Johnson and Rachel/Rachael Ulrey/Ulery. Nancy was the daughter of John Rodabaugh/Rodebaugh and Maria Locard/Lockard.

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: Genealogies of Tom Waits – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com

2 Responses

  1. drzaius21 says:

    He is mainly from the British Isles from his paternal side with a bit of German. As for his maternal side he is obviously Norwegian and as well from the British Isles and German. Not surprised that his major make up is from the British Isles and some from Germany, but having a grandmother from Norway is though.

    https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/K239-T3C
    https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Waits-528#:~:text=Thomas%20Alan%20Waits%20(born%20December,his%20trademark%20deep%2C%20gravelly%20voice.

  2. andrew says:

    he alwais talked about his Norwegian side

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