Ferrell in 2008, Entertainment Press / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: John William Ferrell
Place of Birth: Irvine, Orange, California, United States
Date of Birth: July 16, 1967
Ethnicity: English (mostly), with some Irish, distant German and Welsh
Will Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He has starred in Old School, Elf, the Anchorman films, Kicking & Screaming, Stranger than Fiction, and The Campaign, among many other works.
Will is the son of Betty Kay (Overman), a teacher, and Roy Lee Ferrell, Jr., a musician with The Righteous Brothers. His parents were both from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Will is married to Swedish actress and auctioneer Viveca Paulin, with whom he has three children.
Will’s recent ancestors were all born in the U.S., and most of his traceable foreign-born ancestors were English. His patrilineal Ferrell line appears to originate in Ireland. One of Will’s maternal seven times great-grandfathers, Jacob Overman, was a German immigrant, who was born, c. 1652, in Saxony, Germany.
Will’s paternal grandfather was Roy Lee Farrell (the son of John William Ferrell and Ruth Taylor). Roy was born in North Carolina. John was the son of James Albert Ferrell and Emily Jane Murray. Ruth was the daughter of Millard Winfield Taylor and Jeanette Elizabeth Lewis/Taylor.
Will’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Rebecca Trueblood (the daughter of John Gray Trueblood and Anna/Annie May Marks). Ruth was born in North Carolina. John was the son of Samuel Trueblood, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Briggs. Anna was the daughter of William Benjamin Marks and Anna Whitaker.
Will’s maternal grandfather was Henry William Overman (the son of James William Overman and Marcella/Marcelena Pelton Riddick). Henry was born in North Carolina. James was the son of Josiah Trueblood Overman and Esther R. Kee. Marcella was the daughter of James Welcome Riddick and Annie J. Hayes.
Will’s maternal grandmother was Katie/Kate Elizabeth Pierce (the daughter of Charles/Charlie Herbert Pierce and Willie Mary Benton). Katie was born in North Carolina. Charles was the son of Joseph Henry Pierce and Martha Elizabeth Wilkins. Willie was the daughter of David Elbert Benton and Julia Frances Taylor.
Will’s matrilineal line can be traced to Sarah Harrell, who was born c. 1800.
Source: Genealogy of Will Ferrell – https://www.geni.com
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