Zola Jesus
Jesus in 2015, photo by kathclick/www.bigstockphoto.com
Birth Name: Nicole Rose Hummel
Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 11, 1989
Ethnicity:
*father – German
*mother – Slovenian, possibly Russian
Zola Jesus, also known as Nika Roza Danilova, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her work includes electronic, industrial, classical, goth, and later a prominent pop-influenced sound.
Zola was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and was raised partly in Merrill, northern Wisconsin. Her ancestors were ethnic Germans from the Odessa area in Ukraine. She is a cousin of politician Amy Klobuchar. Zola has said that she uses her Slavic name, “Nika Roza Danilova.”
Zola’s paternal grandfather likely was Daniel M. Hummel (the son of Heinrich/Henry Hummel and Olga Becker). Daniel was born in North Dakota. Heinrich was the son of Peter Hummel and Katherine/Katherina Litz, who were ethnic Germans from Odessa, then in the Russian Empire. Olga was the daughter of John Becker and Magdalene/Magdalena Rempfer.
Zola’s paternal grandmother likely was Gladys D. Bertsch (the daughter of Ted Bertsch and Hilda Klein). Gladys’ family were ethnic Germans from Russia. Ted was the son of Johann “John” Bertsch and Christina Fuchs. Hilda was the daughter of Heinrich Klein and Katherina Pfaff.
Zola’s maternal grandfather’s mother was named Frančiška. Frančiška was Slovenian.
Sources: Zola mentions her ancestry – http://www.elle.com
http://pitchfork.com
http://www.talkhouse.com
https://www.timeout.com
Obituary record of likely Zola’s paternal great-grandmother, Olga (Becker) Hummel – https://www.familysearch.org
Likely her parents, paternal grandfather and his parents (if not grandfather still pretty sure one of her paternal relatives). Maybe somebody can help.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVSS-5XY likely parents
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM9X-TWL gradnfather
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/about/L18X-MWQ great-gradfather
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKWC-9GVH great-grandmother
She’s also stated what one of her great-grandmother was named Frančiška (mother of her grandfather) and she was Slovenian.
Yes, I think those are all correct. So his grandfather would then be Daniel M. Hummel (the son of Henry Hummel and Olga Becker). Henry was the son of Peter Hummel and Katherina Litz. Olga was the daughter of John Becker and Magdalena Rempfer.
I also think Gladys D. Bertsch was her paternal grandmother. She was the daughter of Ted Bertsch and Hilda Klein. Ted was the son of Johann “John” Bertsch and Christina Fuchs. Hilda was the daughter of Heinrich Klein and Katherina Pfaff.
If this is all correct, her paternal side would be entirely German, from Russia and/or Ukraine.
Thank you! Also interesting stuff about her maternal side. Since we know what her mother’s maiden name is likely “Hill” and through her side she connected to Amy Klobuchar, i went through Amy’s tree to find something and i did.
Amy’s paternal grandfather Michael Klobuchar had a lot of siblings and one of therm, his sister Agnes Joan Klobuchar was married to Foster LeRoy Hill and they had likely one son Gary Hill, who was likely Zola’s grandfather, BUT, in Gary’s obituary no connection to Hummel family and even no daughter named Christine and granddaughter Nicole.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/about/GQ3B-PM8
https://roseberrys.com/obituary/gary-f-hill/
Then I checked sister of Agnes named Frances/Francine (Frančiška?) Klobucher. She was marride to Paul J Eichstadt and had son named Roger H Eichstadt, BUT I find one recorde where she listed as “Francine Ann Klobuchar HILL”.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FM1-BFWT
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQF-JXT9
So here I stuck. Looks like Francine is Zola’s great-grandmother, it fits with name Frančiška, relate to Amy Klobuchar, and name Hill in one source, but looks like Paul wasnt Zola’s great-grandfather. Maybe Frances was married before/after Paul and had another son, Zola’s grandfather, but i didnt find evidences so far.
Ok, Frances was also married to Rex Jay Hill (the brother of Foster LeRoy, who was married her sister Agnes), and they had son named Roger Bruce Hill, so i think he was Zola’s maternal grandfather.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7VH-FMM
Rex’s geneology https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/GDX5-6LZ
https://nl.findagrave.com/memorial/128032313/rex-jay-hill
https://nl.findagrave.com/memorial/96717822/roger-b-hill
Zola’s maternal grandmother is named Judith R.