Profile Text
Sweeney in 2019, photo by DFree /bigstock.com
Birth Name: Alison J. Sweeney
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: September 19, 1976
Ethnicity: Irish, English, German, distant Scottish and Jersey Channel Islander
Alison Sweeney is an American actress, reality show host, director, producer, and author. She stars as Hannah Swensen in the Murder, She Baked / A Hannah Swensen Mystery series of Hallmark movies. She has also starred on Days of Our Lives and hosted The Biggest Loser .
She is married to David Sanov, with whom she has two children.
Alison’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Stender Sweeney (the son of Joseph Patrick Sweeney and Mary Stender). Alison’s grandfather Joseph was born in Sisterville, West Virginia. Alison’s great-grandfather Joseph was the son of Irish parents, Bernard Sweeney and Jane McCauley. Mary was the daughter of John Stender and Mary Elizabeth Estep, who were the children of German parents.
Alison’s paternal grandmother was Josephine Laverne Branham (the daughter of Durward Roscoe Branham and Josephine Genevieve Benham). Alison’s grandmother Josephine was born in Oklahoma, and had deep roots in the U.S. Durward was the son of George Horace Branham and Isophene W. Edwards. Alison’s great-grandmother Josephine was the daughter of Charles A. Benham and Caroline Crouse.
Alison’s maternal grandfather was William Franklin Gleason (the son of Andrew Chace Gleason and Edith Hill). William was born in New York. Andrew’s parents were Irish. Edith was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio, the daughter of Franklin Hill and Theresa Byington.
Alison’s maternal grandmother was Hope Briggs Dodge (the daughter of Edwin Parker Dodge and Hope Briggs). Edwin was born in Kentucky. Hope was born in Rhode Island, the daughter of David Albert Briggs and Ann Eliza Congdon.
Sources: Genealogy of Alison Sweeney – https://www.familysearch.org
Blog about Alison’s mother – https://www.harleyschool.org