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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, as well as Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, 1/16th Maltese, small amounts of Irish, French, and Welsh, remote Italian and Swiss
Britney Spears is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Her songs include “…Baby One More Time,” “Sometimes,” “(You Drive Me) Crazy,” “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart,” “Oops!… I Did It Again,” “Lucky,” “Stronger,” “I’m a Slave 4 U,” “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman;” “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Boys,” “Me Against the Music,” “Toxic,” “Everytime,” “My Prerogative,” “Do Somethin’,” “Gimme More,” “Piece of Me,” “Break the Ice,” “Womanizer,” “Circus,” “If U Seek Amy,” “3,” “Hold It Against Me,” “Till the World Ends,” “I Wanna Go,” and “Hold Me Closer.” Her acting roles include the films Longshot (2001), Crossroads (2002), and Austin Powers in Goldmember , and the show How I Met Your Mother . She appeared on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club . She has been known as the “Princess of Pop.”
Britney is the daughter of Lynne Irene (Bridges) and James Parnell “Jamie” Spears. She is the sister of film and television producer Bryan Spears and actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears . Britney was partly raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, and was baptized a Southern Baptist. 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, and remote Italian and Swiss. Some of Britney’s distant English ancestors lived in Barbados and Liberia.
Britney’s patrilineal line can be traced to Robert Spears, who was born, c. 1705, in St. Peters, New Kent, Virginia.
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 born in Pike Co., Mississippi, the son of Pascal Greene Spears and Mary Pauline Bridges. Britney’s great-grandmother Nova was born in Independence, Tangipahoa, the daughter of James Monroe Gill and Effie Strahan. Britney’s grandfather June’s great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Pendarvis, was of part Piedmontese Italian and Swiss descent.
Britney’s paternal grandmother was Emma Jean Forbes (the daughter of William Nelson Forbes and Lexie/Lexis May Thompson). Emma was born in Pike Co., Mississippi. William was born in Mississippi, the son of William Nelson Forbes and Kiturah/Katuriah Leona Ball. Britney’s great-grandmother Lexie was born in McComb Co., Mississippi, 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 Saint Helena, Louisiana. Joel was born in Louisiana, the son of James Jack Bridges and Mary Josephine Phillips. Britney’s great-grandmother Addie was born in Mississippi, 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 born in Portsea Island, Portsmouth, the son of Edward Richard Portelli, who was from Malta, and of Alice Taylor. Britney’s great-grandmother Lilian was born in Wellington Row, Bethnal Green, the daughter of James Lewis and Esther Moss. Britney’s Maltese great-great-grandfather Edward was the son of Antonio Portelli; it is likely that Edward was of Italian ancestry, like many people on Malta.
Britney’s matrilineal line can be traced to Sarah Martin, who was born, c. 1808 in Barnes, Surrey, England.
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