Zac Efron

Birth Name: Zachary David Alexander Efron

Place of Birth: San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Date of Birth: October 18, 1987

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (paternal grandfather), as well as English, German, Scottish, possibly around 1/16th Irish, and remote Dutch and Belgian/Flemish

Zac Efron is an American actor, singer, and producer. He is known for his roles in the films High School Musical, Hairspray, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile; Dirty Grandpa, The Lucky One, The Paperboy, and Firestarter, among many others.

He is the son of Starla and David Efron.

Zac’s paternal grandfather is Jewish, the son of Jewish emigrants from Poland. The surname Efron, an Ashkenazi Jewish name, is Hebrew, and is taken from the Biblical place name, עפרוניים. Zac has described himself as Jewish ( “I very much am”), in a skit where he was more or less playing himself (see here).

Zac’s three other grandparents were/are not of Jewish heritage. Zac’s paternal grandmother’s ancestry included German, Scottish, and English. Zac’s maternal grandfather was of English and German descent, and Zac’s maternal grandmother had English, possibly around one quarter Irish, and some Dutch and Belgian [Flemish], ancestry. One of Zac’s maternal step-grandfathers, Irving Lipskey, was also Jewish.

Zac is an agnostic, and has never been religious.

A picture of Zac with his father can be seen here, and a picture of Zac with his mother can be seen here. A picture of Zac with his paternal grandfather can be seen here.

No genealogical connection between Zac and writer Nora Ephron has been established, but is possible. Nora’s family’s surname was spelled Efron generations back.

Zac’s paternal grandfather is Harold Efron (the son of Nasko/Nossen Rueben Efron and Dworja/Dvora/Dverka Kleszczelska/Klein/Kleiniskyoff). Harold was born in New York, New York, the son of parents, known as Nathan and Dora in the U.S., who were Jewish emigrants, his father from Boćki, Bielsk or Siemiatycze, both in Poland, and his mother from Boćki. Zac’s great-grandparents Nasko and Dworja married in 1927 in Zabłudów, Białystok, Poland. Nasko was the son of Leibel Efron and Gitel “Gutka” Worona. Dworja was the daughter of Nathan Kleszczelska/Klein/Kleiniskyoff, and, likely, Reizel-Feigah/Feiga Webman.

Zac’s paternal grandmother was Dorothy Rhe Karcher (the daughter of George Lippincott/Lippincot Karcher, Jr. and Mildred Geneva Cooper). Dorothy was born in Idaho, and had German, Scottish, and English ancestry. George was born in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho, the son of George Lippincott/Lippincot Karcher, from Pennsylvania, and of Elizabeth Janet “Libbie” McRobbie, from New York; Elizabeth’s paternal grandparents were Scottish. Zac’s great-grandmother Mildred was born in Nebraska, to Minnesota-born parents, Alonzo Byron Cooper and Mary Ellen Hipsley.

Zac’s maternal grandfather was Robert Harold Baskett (the son of Roswell C. Baskett and Matilda A. “Lillie” Bade). Robert was born in Seattle, King, Washington. Roswell was born in Rockford, Spokane, Washington, to a father from Missouri, Charles Monroe Baskett, and a mother from Tennessee, Martha Isabelle/Isabel Dail/Dale. Roswell had English ancestry. Matilda was born in Northfield, Jackson, Wisconsin; Matilda’s father, Albert Carl/Charles/Karl Bade/Bades, was born in Wisconsin, to German parents, with roots in Claushagen, Uckermark, Brandenburg, while Matilda’s mother, Bertha Emily/Caroline Herrmann/Herman, was a German immigrant.

Zac’s maternal grandmother was June Helene Glidden (the daughter of Joseph Henry Glidden and Helene Durgan). June was born in Everett, Snohomish, Washington. Joseph was born in Paw Paw, Van Buren, Michigan, as were Joseph’s own parents, Elmer Ellsworth/Joy Glidden and Luzelle/Luzell/Luella/Luzella Richmond. Elmer had English, Dutch, and Belgian Flemish, ancestry. Elmer’s patrilineal line traces to John Glidden, who was born, c. 1550, in Pancras, near Bideford, Devon, England. Zac’s great-grandmother Helene Durgan was born in Dungeness, Jefferson, Washington, to a father from New York, Edward/Edmund Durgan, and a mother from Michigan, Angie Estelle/Estell Baker. Zac’s great-great-grandfather Edward/Edmund Durgan’s parents were Canadian, and he was of Irish or part Irish ancestry. The surnames Richmond and Baker are often English.

Zac’s great-grandmother Helene (Durgan) Glidden wrote the 1951 novel The Light on the Island, about her childhood growing up on Patos Island, Washington, where her father (Zac’s great-great-grandfather) was lighthouse keeper between 1905 and 1913.

Sources: Genealogies of Zac Efron – http://famouskin.com
https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Zac Efron (focusing on his father’s side) – http://genealogy.wikia.com

Marriage record of Zac’s paternal grandparents, Harold Efron and Dorothy Rhe Karcher – https://familysearch.org

Family history of Zac’s paternal grandfather, Harold Efron – http://efronfamilyhistory.com

Zac’s paternal grandfather, Harold Efron, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Gravestone of Zac’s paternal great-grandmother, Dworja/Dvora/Dverka (Kleszczelska/Klein/Kleiniskyoff) Efron – https://www.findagrave.com

Zac’s paternal grandmother, Dorothy Rhe Karcher, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Zac Efron (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of Zac’s mother (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Wedding record of Zac’s maternal grandparents, Robert Harold Baskett and June Helene Glidden – https://familysearch.org

Zac’s maternal grandfather, Robert Harold Baskett, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Zac’s maternal great-grandfather, Roswell C. Baskett – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Zac’s maternal great-grandfather, Roswell C. Baskett, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Zac’s maternal great-grandmother, Matilda A. “Lillie” Bade, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Zac’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Albert Carl/Charles/Karl Bade/Bades and Bertha Emily/Caroline Herrmann/Herman – https://www.familysearch.org

Zac’s family in the Glidden genealogy: the fit of the Glidden genes, Volume 2, 2005 – http://books.google.ca

Zac’s maternal grandmother, June Helene Glidden, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Zac’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Elmer Ellsworth/Joy Glidden – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com

The Light on the Island, the 1951 novel by Zac’s maternal great-grandmother, Helene (Durgan) Glidden – https://www.amazon.ca

Picture of Zac’s maternal great-grandmother, Helene (Durgan) Glidden – http://lindadelopez17.files.wordpress.com