Christian Bale
Bale in 2009, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Christian Charles Philip Bale
Place of Birth: Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Date of Birth: 30 January, 1974
Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of Cornish, Welsh, Irish, and Guernsey Channel Islander
Christian Bale is an English actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter (2010). He is also known for his roles in the films Empire of the Sun, Newsies (1992), American Psycho, The Machinist, the Batman trilogy, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises; The New World, The Prestige, Terminator Salvation, Public Enemies, Out of the Furnace, American Hustle, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Big Short, Vice, Ford v Ferrari, Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Pale Blue Eye.
Christian was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and was raised in England, in Surrey and Dorset, and Portugal, among other places. He is now also a U.S. citizen.
His father, David Charles Howard Bale, an entrepreneur, was born in Witbank, Transvaal, South Africa, to English parents. His mother, Jennifer “Jenny” (James), is from Buckinghamshire, England. Among Christian’s siblings is director and actress Louise Bale.
Christian is married to model, actress, and make-up artist Sibi Blazic, with whom he has two children, including actress Luka Bale. Christian’s father was married to American activist Gloria Steinem, until his death.
Christian’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced to his great-great-grandfather, John Bale, who was born, c. 1811, in Stoke, Devonshire, England.
Christian’s paternal grandfather was Phillip/Philip William Bale (the son of Alfred Bale and Florence Elizabeth Williams). Phillip was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Alfred was born in London, Middlesex, the son of William Henry Bale and Emily Sarah Bunce. Christian’s great-grandmother Florence was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, the daughter of Philip Henry Williams, whose father was from Llanengan, Caernarfonshire, Wales; and of Emily Lawrence.
Christian’s paternal grandmother was Doreen Beswick Fuzzey (the daughter of Leonard Charles Fuzzey and Louie Beswick). Leonard was born on St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, the son of Frederick George Fuzzey, who had partial roots in Cornwall; and of Emily Rosa Higgins, who was born in Alverstoke, Hampshire. Christian’s great-grandmother Louie was born in Langtoft, Yorkshire, England, the daughter of Thomas Beswick and Eliza Murgatroyd.
Christian’s maternal grandfather was Henry George James (the son of Albert James and Martha Elizabeth Ross). Henry was born in London. Albert was born in Walworth, Surrey, the son of Henry Isaac James and Elizabeth Jane Stevens, whose paternal grandmother was from Armagh, Ireland, and whose maternal grandfather was from Edinburgh, Scotland. Christian’s great-grandmother Martha was born in Newington, Southwark, London, the daughter of Thomas Ross, whose maternal grandfather was from County Limerick, Ireland; and of Sarah Jane King.
Christian’s maternal grandmother was Violet Edna Neno (the daughter of William Henry Lucroft Neno and Daisy Lilly Beatrice Siddall. Edna was born in West Ham, Essex. William was born in Plymouth, Devon, the son of Thomas Daniel Neno and Ann Blatchford. The name Neno goes back in England many generations. Christian’s great-randmother Daisy was born in Essex, the daughter of Albert Edward Siddall and Ellen Mary Godbolt, who had Cornish ancestry.
Sources: Christian says that he is English rather than Welsh – http://www.youtube.com
Genealogy of Christian Bale – http://gw.geneanet.org
Genealogies of Christian Bale (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com
Christian’s paternal great-grandfather, Leonard Charles Fuzzey, on the 1901 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
You should mention that his daughter, Luka, is a model and actress. I just created a profile for her!
Always thought Bale was an unmistakably Welsh last name.
It’s English. Among his recent ancestors, WIlliams is a very Welsh surname. James is also often found in Wales. There’s also a Jenkins (another very Welsh surname) in his “Bale” line. His family is from Devon (and Cornwall) that have cultural ties with Wales.
So it would be prudent to add possibly Welsh
Williams is a very common surname in Wales, yes, but it’s an English name that that is also common in England.
It’s not accurate to say that Williams is a “Welsh” name. And you certainly couldn’t accurately guess who is or isn’t Welsh from that name.
It’s also common among African-Americans
Greatest actor
Does he at least have SOME Welsh?