Édith Piaf

graffiti portrait of Piaf in Sète, France, in 2014, photo by Photoprofi30/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Édith Giovanna Gassion

Date of Birth: 19 December, 1915

Place of Birth: Belleville, Paris, France

Date of Death: 10 October, 1963

Place of Death: Plascassier, Grasse, France

Ethnicity:
*75% French
*12.5% Moroccan [evidently Berber]
*12.5% Italian

Édith Piaf was a French cabaret singer, songwriter, and actress.

Édith was the daughter of Annetta/Annette Giovanna Margherita (Maillard), a café singer, performer, and equestrian, and Louis Alphonse Gassion, an acrobat, contortionist, and circus performer. Her mother’s stage name was Line Marsa. Her father was from Falaise, Normandy, France, and was of French descent. Her mother was born in Livorno, Tuscany, Italy, and was of one half French, one quarter Moroccan, usually described as Berber; and one quarter Italian, ancestry. Édith is sometimes described as having had Algerian Kabyle roots from her Moroccan line. It is not clear if this is accurate.

Édith had a daughter. Édith was married to Greek hairdresser, singer, and actor Théo Sarapo, until her death.

Édith’s paternal grandfather was Victor Alphonse Gassion (the son of Pierre François Gassion and Augustine Duval). Victor was born in Falaise, Calvados, Lower Normandy, France, and was a horseman in the circus.

Édith’s patenral grandmother was Louise Léontine Deschamps/Descamps (the daughter of Louis François Descamps and Elisabeth Lucier). Édith’s grandmother Louise was born in Carvin, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. Édith’s great-grandfather Louis was the son of Auguste Hyppolite Descamps and Jeanne Campagne.

Édith’s maternal grandfather was Auguste Eugène Maillard (the son of Stanislas Maillard and Marie Victorine Crétois). Auguste was from Loire, France.

Édith’s maternal grandmother was Emma “Aicha” Saïd ben Mohamed (the daughter of Saïd ben Mohamed and Margarita/Margherita Bracco). Edith’s grandmother Emma was born in Soissons, Aisne, Picardy, France. Édith’s great-grandfather Saïd ben Mohamed was born in Mogador, Essaouira, Marrakesh-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco, the son of Mohamed ben Mohamed and Ajah ben Ali. Édith’s great-grandmother Margarita was born in Murazzano, Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy, the daughter of Giuseppe Bracco and Catherine/Caterina Chiappella/Chapelle.

Sources: Genealogies of Édith Piaf – http://www.geni.com
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