Yves Saint-Laurent

Birth Name: Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent

Date of Birth: 1 August, 1938

Place of Birth: Oran, French Algeria (now Algeria)

Date of Death: 1 June, 2008

Place of Death: Paris, France

Ethnicity: French, along with Belgian [Flemish, Walloon], Alsatian German, Spanish, and Indigenous Mexican

Yves Saint-Laurent was a French fashion designer. Recognized as one of the most famous designers of the 20th century, he founded his same-name brand Yves Saint Laurent, specializing in haute couture, in 1961.

Yves was born in Oran, Algeria, then a French colony, the son of Lucienne Andrée (Wilbaux) and Jules Charles Mathieu-Saint-Laurent. His parents were also born in Oran. His ancestry was French, along with Belgian [Flemish, Walloon] and Alsatian German, and smaller amounts of Spanish and Mexican/Indigenous. He was raised in a villa by the Mediterranean Sea, eventually moving to Paris as the colonial regime in Algeria receded. Yves was married to his brand’s co-founder and long-time business partner Pierre Bergé, until his death.

Yves’ patrilineal line can be traced to Jehan/Jean Mathieu, who was born, c. 1593, and who died in Metz, Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Yves’ paternal grandfather was Henri Jules/Jule Marie Mathieu Saint Laurent (the son of Charles Jules Henri Mathieu Saint Laurent and Placide Émilie Leblond/Le Blond). Yves’ grandfather Henri was born in Colmar, Alsace, France. Charles was the son of Laurent Donat Mathias Mathieu de Heidolsheim and Catherine Victoire Constance Véron-Reville. Yves’ great-grandmother Placide was born in the port city Veracruz, Mexico, the daughter of Joseph le Blond, who was born in Colmar, and of Antonia Martinez Juarez, who was born in Mexico, and was said to have had Indigenous ancestry. Placide was a model for sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, to embody Oceania for his work of the fountain of Admiral Bruat.

Yves’ paternal grandmother was Joséphine Louise Charrin (the daughter of Joseph Charrin and Marie Louise Augustine Émélie Billuart). Josephine was born in Mascara, Algeria. Joseph was born in Montmerle-sur-Saône, Ain, France, the son of Jacques Charrin and Philiberte Martin. Yves’ great-grandmother Marie Louise was born in Oran, Algeria, the daughter of Hubert Auguste Alexandre Napoléon Billuart and Émélie Adélaïde Blangarnon.

Yves’ maternal grandfather was Édmond Auguste Charles Joseph Wilbaux (the son of Alphonse Wilbaux and Marie Julie Vandergothe/Vanderghote). Edmond was born in Doornik, Wallonia, Belgium. Alphonse was the son of Alphonse Hubert Wilbaux and Louise Aimée Joséphine Dupré/Bonnet, and his family was Walloon, from Tournai. Marie was the daughter of Auguste Désiré Vandergothe/Vanderghote and Adèle Séraphine Vandergothe/Vanderghote, and her family was Flemish, from Vlamerting and Geluwe.

Yves’ maternal grandmother was Marianne Émilie Muller (the daughter of André Muller and Clara Roca). Marianne was born in Sidi Bel Abbes, Sidi-Bel-Abbes, Algeria. André was born in Merxheim, Alsace, the son of Sébastien Muller and Thérèse Leiby. Clara was born in Lliber, Alicante, Spain, the daughter of Mariano Roca and Maria Avella.

Sources: Genealogies of Yves Saint-Laurent – https://www.geni.com
https://gw.geneanet.org
http://genealogies-celebres.fr
https://www.familysearch.org