Max von Sydow

von Sydow in 2007, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Carl Adolf von Sydow

Date of Birth: 10 April, 1929

Place of Birth: Lund, Skåne län, Sweden

Date of Death: 8 March, 2020

Place of Death: Seillans, Département du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

Ethnicity: Swedish, smaller/distant amounts of German, Finland-Swedish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Estonian, Latvian, Russian, Danish, Norwegian, English

Max von Sydow was a Swedish actor.

He was the son of Baroness Maria Margaretha/Margareta “Greta” (Rappe), a schoolteacher, and Karl/Carl Vilhelm/Wilhelm von Sydow, an ethnologist and professor of Irish, Scandinavian, and comparative folklore. His father was born in Ryssby, Ljungby kommun, Kronobergs län. His mother was born in Dädesjö, Växjö kommun, Kronobergs län. Aside from his Swedish background, he had some German, Finland-Swedish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Estonian, Latvian, Russian, Danish, Norwegian, and English, roots, dating back to the 1600s. Most of his recent ancestors were Swedish-born.

Max was married to French documentarian Catherine Brelet, until his death. He had two children with his former wife, actress Christina Inga Britta Olin; and two children with Catherine. He took on French citizenship in 2002, at which point he had to relinquish his Swedish citizenship.

Max took on his first name, Max, from a performer at a flea circus.

He was the only Swedish-born male to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting.

Max’s patrilineal ancestry traces to his great-great-great-grandfather, Christian Fredrik von Sydow, who was born, c. 1714, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. That line’s origin is in Pomerania, formerly part of Prussia, much of which was under Swedish rule from 1630 to 1815.

Max’s paternal grandfather was Otto Ludwig/Ludvig von Sydow (the son of Daniel Peter von Sydow and Anna Charlotta Butsch/Butch). Otto was born in Halmstad, Halland. Daniel was born in Mariannelund, Hessleby, Jönköping, the son of Nils Ludvig von Sydow and Engel/Engela Benedikta/Benedicka Heller. Max’s great-grandmother Anna was born in Borås, the daughter of Ambrosius Butsch and Urika/Ulrika Brink/Brinck.

Max’s paternal grandmother was Göthilda/Götilda Rappe (the daughter of Gustaf Vilhelm/Wilhelm Rappe and Matilda/Mathilda Catharina/Katarina Schmiterlöw/Schmitterlöf). Göthilda was born in Tagel, Kronoberg. Gustaf was born in Mistelås, Kronoberg, the son of Gustaf Johan Rappe, whose paternal grandmother was born in London, England, to a Swedish father, and to an English mother; and of Hedvig Hammarskjöld. Max’s great-grandmother Catharina was born in Askeryd, Jönköping, the daughter of Henning Christian Schmiterlöw, whose paternal grandfather was born on Rügen, a German island; and of Anna Matilda Palbitzki. Anna’s Palbitzki line traced back to Stolp, Pomerania; while her paternal grandmother was born in Mey, Caithness, Scotland.

Max’s maternal grandfather was Adolf Fredrik Rappe (the son of Adolf Fredrik Rappe and Hedvig Helfrid Hermelin). Max’s grandfather Adolf was born in Ålem, Kalmar. Max’s great-grandfather Adolf was born in Ålem, the son of Gustaf Johan Rappe and Hedvig Hammarskjöld. Max’s great-grandmother Hedvig was born in Säby, Jönköping, the daughter of August Söderling Hermelin and Ebba Sofia Persdotter Ribbing, whose own paternal grandmother was born in Solikamsk, Siberia, to Swedish parents.

Max’s maternal grandmother was Anna Sofia Margareta Hermelin (the daughter of Baron Carl Maximilian Hermelin and Carolina/Karolina Christina/Kristina Elisabet Mörner, af Morlanda). Anna was born in Jönköping. Carl was born in Säby, Jönköping, the son of August Söderling Hermelin and Ebba Sofia Persdotter Ribbing. Max’s great-grandmother Carolina was born in Wallsnäs gård, Nykil, Ostergotland, the daughter of Knut Stellan Mörner, af Morlanda, and Ulrika Christina Margareta Montgomery. Ulrika had distant Scottish ancestry from her surname, Montgomery.

Max’s matrilineal line can be traced to his five times great-grandmother, Anna Margareta/Margaretha Holm, who was born c. 1721.

Max’s parents were second cousins. Max’s maternal grandparents were first cousins.

Max was a fourth cousin, once removed, of politician Olof Palme, who was Prime Minister of Sweden, from 14 October, 1969 to 8 October, 1976, and from 8 October, 1982 to 28 February, 1986. Max’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents, Christian Fredrik von Sydow and Christina Wahlsten, were also Olof’s paternal great-great-great-great-grandparents.

Sources: Genealogies of Max von Sydow – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.findagrave.com