Zoe Kazan

Kazan in 2012, image via Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Zoe Swicord Kazan

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: September 9, 1983

Ethnicity: Greek (paternal grandfather), English, German

Zoe Kazan is an American actress, screenwriter, and playwright. Her roles include Me & Orson Welles, It’s Complicated, Happythankyoumoreplease, Meek’s Cutoff, Ruby Sparks, Olive Kitteridge, In Your Eyes, The Big Sick, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Plot Against America, Clickbait, and She Said.

She is the daughter of screenwriters/filmmakers Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord (Robin Stender Swicord). Zoe’s grandfather was director Elia Kazan. Her sister is actress Maya Kazan. Her paternal grandfather was of Greek descent, and her other ancestry is English and German.

Zoe has two children with her partner, actor and director Paul Dano.

Zoe’s paternal grandfather was Elia Kazan (originally Kazantzoglou, the son of George Kazantzoglou and Athena Shishmanoglou/Sismanozlon/Sismanoglou). Elia was born in Constantinople, then-Ottoman Empire, of Greek descent. George was born in Kaiseri, the son of Elia Kazantzoglou. Athena was born in Istanbul, the daughter of Isaak Shishmanoglou and Anna Karajosifoglou.

Zoe’s paternal grandmother was Mary Day “Molly” Thacher (the daughter of Alfred Beaumont Thacher and Emma Cecelia Erkenbrecher/Erkenbrecker). Mary was born in South Orange, Essex, New Jersey, and was of English and German descent, with many prominent ancestors. Alfred was born in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, the son of Thomas Anthony Thacher and Elizabeth Day, whose own father, Jeremiah Day, was an academic and Congregationalist minister, who was the 9th President of Yale University. Zoe’s great-grandmother Emma was of German descent, and was the daughter of Cornelius M. Ekrenbrecher/Erchenbrechber and Mary E. Beck. Cornelius’ father, Andrew Erkenbrecher, was born in Baden, Germany, and founded the Cincinnati Zoo.

Zoe’s maternal grandfather was Henry/Hiram Grady Swicord, Jr. (the son of Henry Grady Swicord and Julia Rebecca Worn). Zoe’s grandfather Henry was born in Samoset, Manatee, Florida. Zoe’s great-grandfather Henry was the son of James Spurgen Swicord and Nancy Parker. Julia was the daughter of Oscar Lloyd/Loyd Worn and Florence L. Boyett.

Zoe’s maternal grandmother was Jean Carroll Stender (the daughter of Carl Henry Stender and Esther May Carroll). Jean was born in Summerville, South Carolina. Carl was the son of German parents, Carl Hinrich/Heinrich/Henry Stender, from Rechtenflet, and Meta Sophia Albers. Esther was born in Ithaca, Tompkins, New York, the daughter of Richard Carroll and Hattie/Harriett M. Bower.

Sources: Genealogies of Zoe Kazan – https://www.geni.com
https://famouskin.com

Genealogy of Zoe’s mother (focusing on her own father’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com