Spears in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Britney Jean Spears
Place of Birth: McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 2, 1981
Ethnicity: English, 1/16th Maltese, small amounts of Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, French, and Welsh
Britney Spears is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. She is the daughter of Lynne Irene (Bridges) and James Parnell “Jamie” Spears. She is the sister of actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears. Britney is married to Iranian-American model and actor Sam Asghari. She has two children with her former husband, dancer, rapper, model, and actor Kevin Federline.
Britney’s maternal grandmother was an English war bride, and one of Britney’s maternal great-great-grandfathers was Maltese. Most of the rest of Britney’s recent ancestors were American-born, with most of her roots being English, along with Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, French, and Welsh, all of them distant or remote to various degrees. Some of Britney’s distant English ancestors lived in Barbados and Liberia.
Britney’s paternal grandfather was June Austin Spears (the son of June Becker/Bacot Spears and Nova Gill). Britney’s grandfather June was born in Amite, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Britney’s great-grandfather June was the son of Pascal Greene Spears and Mary Pauline Bridges. Nova was the daughter of James Monroe Gill and Effie Strahan.
Britney’s paternal grandmother was Emma Jean Forbes (the daughter of William Nelson Forbes and Lexie/Lexis May Thompson). Emma was born in Mississippi. William was the son of William Nelson Forbes and Kiturah/Katuriah Leona Ball. Lexie was the daughter of Ernest Fulton Thompson and Bertha Magee.
Britney’s maternal grandfather was Barnett Oldfield/O’Field “Barney” Bridges (the son of Joel Menton Bridges and Addie/Adeline/Addy Williams). Barnett was born in Louisiana. Joel was the son of James Jack Bridges and Mary Josephine Phillips. Addie was the daughter of Marshall E. Williams and Missouri E. Wall.
Britney’s maternal grandmother was Lilian/Lillian Irene Portell (the daughter of George Anthony Portelli/Portell and Lilian Esther Lewis). Britney’s grandmother Lilian was born in Barkham Road, Tottenham. George was the son of Edward Richard Portelli, who was from Malta, and of Alice Taylor. Britney’s great-grandmother Lilian was the daughter of James Lewis and Esther Moss. Britney’s Maltese great-great-grandfather Edward was the son of Antonio Portelli; it is possible that Edward was of Italian ancestry, like many people on Malta.
Britney’s parents are third cousins. Two of Britney’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents, William Lee Bridges and Pauline Ann Travis, were also two of Britney’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents.
Sources: Genealogies of Britney Spears – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com
http://familypedia.wikia.com
http://famouskin.com
http://freepages.rootsweb.com
Genealogies of Britney’s paternal grandparents, June Austin Spears and Emma Jean Forbes – http://www.findagrave.com
Article about the family of Britney’s maternal grandmother, Lilian/Lillian Irene Portell – http://www.dailymail.co.uk
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