Rachel Maddow

Birth Name: Rachel Anne Maddow

Place of Birth: Castro Valley, Alameda, California, United States

Date of Birth: April 1, 1973

Ethnicity:
*25% Ashkenazi Jewish
*25% Dutch
*50% mix of Irish and English

Rachel Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. She has hosted The Rachel Maddow Show since 2008.

Rachel’s father is of half Ashkenazi Jewish (from Ukraine and Lithuania) and half Dutch (Protestant) ancestry. Rachel’s father was raised Christian.

Rachel’s mother, who is from St. John’s, Torbay, Newfoundland, Canada, is of Irish and English descent.

Rachel was raised Catholic.

Rachel’s paternal grandfather was Bernard “Bernie” Maddow (the son of Willilam Maddow and Sarah Bernhard/Bernhardt). Bernard was born in Brooklyn, New York. William was a Jewish emigrant from Poltava, Ukraine, the son of Abraham/Benjamin Medwedof/Medwedow/Maddow and Anna. Sarah was also a Jewish emigrant, likely from Lithuania, and was the daughter of Abraham/Avraham A. Bernhardt/Bernhard/Berhardt and Hanna/Annie Leah Matuk, who was born in Shirvent.

Rachel’s paternal grandmother was Geertruide/Geertruida “Gertrude”/”Trudy” Maria Smits (the daughter of John Smits and Grietje Margaret/”Maggie” H. Keijzer/Keyzer/Keyser/Kaiser). Gertrude was born in New Jersey, to Dutch parents. John was born in Leeuwarden, the son of Derik/Dirk or Cornelius Smits and Antonia/Tona A. van der Vliet. Margaret born in Dirksland, Zuid-Holland, was the daughter of Hendrik Jan/Henry John Keijzer/Keyzer and Maria Bakker.

Rachel’s maternal grandfather was Daniel Joseph Gosse (the son of Thomas Joseph/Jo Gosse and Mary Hannah Cole). Daniel was born in Torbay, Newfoundland, Canada, and was a fisherman. Thomas was the son of William Goss and Mary/Maria Codnor/Codner. Rachel’s great-grandmother Mary was the daughter of Uriah Cole and Catherine Manning.

Rachel’s maternal grandmother was Anne/Annie/Ann F. McGrath (the daughter of Thomas J. McGrath and Anne Maria Kelly). Anne was born in Torbay, Newfoundland. Thomas was the son of John McGrath and Mary Hanna Codner. Anna was the daughter of James Kelly and Elizabeth King.

Sources: Family history of Rachel Maddow, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Genealogy of Rachel Maddow – https://1.bp.blogspot.com

Genealogy of Rachel Maddow (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Rachel’s paternal grandmother, Geertruide/Geertruida “Gertrude”/”Trudy” Maria Smits, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Rachel’s maternal grandfather, Daniel Joseph Gosse (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geocities.ws

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