Paul Walker

Walker in 2009, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Paul William Walker IV

Date of Birth: September 12, 1973

Place of Birth: Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Death: November 30, 2013

Place of Death: Valencia, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, some German, distant Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, and Welsh

Paul Walker was an American actor. He was known for starring as Brian O’Conner in The Fast and the Furious franchise. His roles also included the films Monster in the Closet, Tammy and the T-Rex, Meet the Deedles, Pleasantville, Varsity Blues, She’s All That, Brokedown Palace, The Skulls, Joy Ride (2001), Timeline (2003), Noel (2004), Into the Blue, Eight Below, Running Scared, Flags of Our Fathers (2006), The Death and Life of Bobby Z, Stories USA, The Lazarus Project, Takers (2010), Vehicle 19, Pawn Shop Chronicles, Hours (2013), and Brick Mansions; the series CBS Schoolbreak Special, Highway to Heaven, Throb, and The Young and the Restless; and the music videos for “Act a Fool,” “We Own It,” “Ride Out,” and “See You Again,” the latter of which was a song commissioned as a tribute to him. He was also billed as Paul W. Walker.

Paul was the son of Cheryl Ann (Crabtree), a model, and Paul W. Walker III, a contractor and boxer who was a Golden Gloves champion. Among his siblings is actor Cody Walker. Paul was of mostly English ancestry, with a smaller amount of German roots, along with distant Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, and Welsh. His family tree included (relatively) recent emigrants from England and Germany, as well as English roots from ancestors who had long lived in New England, and elsewhere in the U.S.

Paul had a daughter, actress and model Meadow Walker, with his former partner Rebecca Soteros.

Paul’s paternal grandfather was Paul William Walker II (the son of Paul William Walker and Harriett/Harriet June Willey). Paul’s grandfather Paul was born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. He was a boxer, known as “Irish” Billie Walker, but it is not clear if he had any Irish ancestry. Paul’s great-grandfather Paul was born in Monroe, Green, Wisconsin, the son of English-born parents, George Walker and Anna/Anne/Ann Augusta Tilley, who was born in Clerkenwell, London. Paul’s great-grandmother Harriett was born in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, the daughter of Charles Leon Willey, whose family had deep roots in Massachusetts, and of Ella Pearl Clark. Ella’s mother’s maiden name was also Walker.

Paul’s paternal grandmother was June Vivian Oefinger (the daughter of Elmer John Oefinger and Betsey/Betsy Idell Spooner). June was born in Meriden, New Haven, Connecticut. Elmer was born in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, the son of Johannes “John” Oefinger, a German emigrant, from Trossingen, Württemberg, and of Louisa/Louise Ann/C. Stark, who was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, to German immigrants, Ludwig Frederick “Lewis” Stark and Mary/Marie Rechert/Richert. Paul’s great-grandmother Betsey was born in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, the daughter of William H. Spooner and Annie Woodruff Smith, who were from families long-resident in the United States, and of English descent.

Paul’s maternal grandfather was George Milton Crabtree (the son of Louis Franklin Crabtree and Nina Letha Price). George was born in St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri. Louis was born in Stillwater, Payne, Oklahoma, the son of George Ransom Crabtree and Dorcia/Dorothy/Doscia Griswald. Paul’s great-grandmother Nina was born in St. Joseph, the daughter of Clyde Delmar Price and Daisy Jane McGrew.

Paul’s maternal grandmother was Viola Annalee Smith (the daughter of Lester Orville Smith and Hazel Clarinda Mitchell). Viola was born in St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri. Lester was born in Elwood, Doniphan, Kansas, the son of George Wesley Smith and Frances Ellen Newman. Paul’s great-grandmother Hazel was born in Sopris, Garfield, Colorado, the daughter of Henry Sewell Mitchell, whose father was from Maine; and of Hattie Bell/Belle Hazelwood.

Sources: Genealogies of Paul Walker – https://www.geni.com
https://sites.google.com
https://famouskin.com

Paul’s paternal grandfather, Paul William Walker II, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Paul’s paternal grandfather, Paul William Walker II – http://theworldlink.com

Birth record of Paul’s paternal great-grandfather, Paul William Walker – https://familysearch.org

Paul’s paternal great-grandmother, Harriett/Harriet June Willey, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Harriett/Harriet June Willey on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Paul’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Charles Leon Willey, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Charles Leon Willey on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Paul’s paternal grandmother, June Vivian (Oefinger) Walker – http://theworldlink.com

Paul’s paternal great-grandmother, Betsey/Betsy Idell Spooner, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Paul’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Annie Woodruff (Smith) Spooner – https://www.familysearch.org

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

319 Responses

  1. rob.777 says:

    His maternal great grandmother Nina Price’s side leads back to Wales , Price is a Welsh surname he has lot of Welsh on his mother’s side lot of Welsh surnames Price, Davis Pugh etc

  2. I Love Hungary says:

    He was an Latter-Day-Saint, but has no ancestors from Utah or Eastern Idaho? Are his parents converts to Mormonism?

  3. andrew says:

    At familysearch.org, there’s this tree of his maternal grandfather:

  4. bucksadoo says:

    Yeah, he looks more German than British.

    • Nathan M says:

      Clearly he doesn’t because he is mostly English… I am blonde blue eyed and English you’ll be telling me I’m German next.. you must be German and jealous of him maybe

  5. ses101 says:

    I assumed he had Scots lineage with his surname but maybe not.

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