Profile Text
Birth Name: Christopher Andrew Coons
Place of Birth: Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 9, 1963
Ethnicity: English, German, Irish, distant Scottish and Dutch
Chris Coons is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as a U.S. Senator from Delaware, since November 15, 2010; as well as, Vice Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, since January 3, 2025, and, previously, from January 3, 2017 to February 3, 2021. He was previously President of the New Castle County Council, from January 2, 2001 to January 4, 2005, New Castle County Executive, from January 4, 2005 to November 15, 2010, and Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, from February 3, 2021 to January 3, 2025.
Chris is the son of Sarah Louise “Sally” (Ives) and Kenelm Winslow “Ken” Coons. His stepfather is engineer and scientist Robert W. Gore. He was raised in Hockessin, Delaware. Chris is married to Annie Lingenfelter, with whom he has three children.
Chris’ paternal grandfather was Quentin Leroy Coons (the son of The Rev. Leroy Wilson Coons, D.D. and Eliza Loraine/Lorraine Thomas). Quentin was born in Maine. The Rev. Leroy was a Universalist Church minister, and was the son of Philip Coons and Almira Fouts. Loraine was the daughter of Winslow M. Thomas and Eliza Tuller.
Chris’ paternal grandmother was Persis Madeline Wallace (the daughter of William Forester/Forrester Wallace and Lillian Hinchcliffe). Persis was born in Massachusetts. William was born in Kingsbury, Québec, Canada, the son of John Wallace, from New Brunswick, and of Frances/Francis A. Taylor, whose father was born in England and whose mother was born in Ireland. Lillian was the daughter of English parents, George Hinchcliffe/Hinchliff, from Brighouse, Yorkshire, and Sophia Hirst.
Chris’ maternal grandfather was Andrew McCormack Ives (the son of Fitch Howard Ives and Sarah/Sara Leon McCormack/McCormick). Andrew as born in Illinois. Fitch was the son of William Windsor Ives and Vesta Jane Brittin. Sarah was the daughter of Irish parents, Andrew McCormack, from Co. Tyrone, and Elizabeth McCormack, from Beragh.
Chris’ maternal grandmother was Carolyn Countryman (the daughter of Ralph Alonzo Countryman and Margaret O./Seymour Hubbard). Carolyn was born in Illinois. Ralph was the son of James Alonzo Countryman, whose surname originates with Germans named Gonterman/Guntermann; and of Caroline Klinkhart, who was of German origin. Margaret was the daughter of Clark Seymour Hubbard and Margaret Amelia Dunkleburg/Dunkelburg/Dunkelberger.
Sources: Genealogies of Chris Coons – https://web.archive.org https://www.geni.com
Information about Chris’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Winslow M. Thomas – https://www.slcha.org