Profile Text
Birth Name: Andrew Wells VanWyngarden
Place of Birth: Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 1, 1983
Ethnicity: English, as well as Cajun French, Dutch, German, Swiss-German, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh
Andrew VanWyngarden is an American musician. He is the vocalist, guitar player, and songwriter of pop and rock band MGMT, whose members also include Benjamin Goldwasser . He is also known as Gentle Dom.
Andrew is the son of Frances and Bruce VanWyngarden, a journalist and editor of the alternative newspaper Memphis Flyer. He was raised partly in Memphis, Tennessee.
In an interview, Andrew stated that he does not know much about his heritage, but that he thought his great-grandfather was Dutch. Andrew’s paternal great-grandfather, Rudolph W. Van Wyngarden, was of Dutch descent.
Andrew’s paternal grandfather was William Wells VanWyngarden (the son of Rudolph W. Van Wyngarden and Velma L. Wells). Andrew’s grandfather William was born in Missouri, or in Mexico, to American parents. Rudolph was born in Newton, Iowa, to Dutch parents, William Marion Van Wingerden and Jacoba Leukeeka J. Van Leeuwen. Velma was the daughter of William R. Wells and Laura R. Stephens.
Andrew’s paternal grandmother was Montelle Moore (the daughter of Dennis Talmage Moore and Vona Maude Vance). Montelle was born in Missouri. Dennis was the son of William Coleman Moore and Fannie Belle Mallory. Vona was the daughter of Willis Franklin Vance and Maude E. Wright.
Andrew’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Audry Henderson (the son of William Ware Henderson and Emeline Duhon). Joseph was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and had deep roots in the U.S. William was the son of Tignal Jones Henderson and Lillian Eugenia Ware. Emeline was of Cajun French descent, the daughter of Oswald Germain Duhon and Marie Elodie Aymé.
Andrew’s maternal grandmother was Mary Moss Madison (the daughter of George Thomas Madison and Frances Epps Davenport). Mary was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, and had deep American roots. George was the son of Henry Flood Madison and George Lucy Fulks. Frances was the daughter of Joseph Andrews Davenport and Mary Moss Williams.
Sources: http://memphismagazine.com
Genealogies of Andrew’s paternal grandparents, William Wells VanWyngarden – http://www.findagrave.com
Andrew’s paternal grandfather, William Wells VanWyngarden, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Andrew’s paternal grandfather, William Wells VanWyngarden – https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net
Andrew’s great-grandfather, Rudolph W. Van Wyngarden, on the 1915 Iowa Census – https://familysearch.org
Andrew’s paternal grandmother, Montelle Moore, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Montelle Moore on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogies of Andrew’s paternal great-grandparents, Dennis Talmage Moore and Vona Maude (Vance) Moore – http://www.findagrave.com