Profile Text
Cornell in 2007, MIMMO FERRARO / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Christopher John Boyle
Date of Birth: July 20, 1964
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Date of Death: May 18, 2017
Place of Death: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Ethnicity: Norwegian, Irish, English, Scottish, Northern Irish, Welsh, German, French/French Huguenot, remote Manx and Swiss-German
Chris Cornell was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Other members of Soundgarden include or have included Matt Cameron , Jason Everman , Ben Shepherd , Scott Sundquist , Kim Thayil , and Hiro Yamamoto . The other members of Audioslave were Tim Commerford , Tom Morello , and Brad Wilk .
Chris’s father, Edward Francis “Ed” Boyle, was a pharmacist, from Everett, Washington. Chris’s mother, Karen Ruth Cornell, was an accountant, from Seattle, Washington. His ancestry was Norwegian, Irish, English, Scottish, Northern Irish, Welsh, German, French/French Huguenot, and remote Manx and Swiss-German. His parents were married by a Catholic priest in 1957.
Chris was married to publicist Vicky Karayiannis , until his death. He had a daughter with his former wife, manager Susan Silver; and two children, including musician, singer, and songwriter Toni Cornell , with Vicky. Chris and Vicky created the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, aiding the homeless, the poor, and abused or neglected children.
Chris converted to the Greek Orthodox religion of his wife Vicky.
In an interview on Howard Stern’s show, c. 2007, Chris appeared to state that his mother is Jewish. This is not accurate.
Chris’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his third great-grandfather, Denis Boyle.
Chris’s paternal grandfather was Edward John Boyle (the son of Dennis Peter Boyle and Anna Louisa “Louise” Zahler). Edward was born in Washington. Dennis was born in Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and died in the line of duty as a firefighter, in Everett, Washington, in 1923. His parents were Irish emigrants, Terrence/Terrance Boyle, of County Sligo; and Mary McVey. Chris’s great-grandmother Louisa was born in Waconia, Carver County, Minnesota, the daughter of German emigrants, Michael Zahler, of Trier, Rhine, now Rhineland-Palatinate; and Ann Katarina/Catherine Stenger, of Ingstetten, Alb-Donau-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg.
Chris’s paternal grandmother was Anona Ruth Olson/Olsen (the daughter of Eivin/Ivan Olaus Olsen, later Olsen, and of Carrie Lorena Jones/McGuire). Anona was born in California. Eivin was a Norwegian emigrant, from Stavanger, Rogaland, the son of Ole Olsen Blaasenberg, later Vaaland; and of Andrine Tønnesdatter Bjuland. Chris’s great-grandmother Lorena was born in Advance, Stoddard County, Missouri.
Chris’s maternal grandfather was Ralph Trivett Cornell (the son of Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson). Ralph was born in Amherst, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Julian was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, the son of Robert/Ralph Filmore Trivett Cornell, whose parents were Irish; and of Anne/Annie Eudora Maxon/Maxim. Chris’s great-grandmother Emily was the daughter of Henry Robert Emmerson, whose father was a Baptist minister; and of Emily Charlotte Record, whose father was from Hebron, Oxford County, Maine, and had founded the Moncton Foundry. Chris’s great-great-grandfather Henry was a lawyer, businessperson, politician, and philanthropist, who as a member of the Liberal Party, was Premier of New Brunswick, from October 29, 1897 to August 31, 1900, among other duties.
Chris’s maternal grandmother was Marion/Marian Margaret MacNutt (the daughter of James Frederick “Fred” MacNutt and Clarabell/Claribel Josephine Hubbell). Marion was born in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington. James was a Canadian emigrant, from Darnley, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, and had Irish, Scottish, and Colonial American (English) ancestry. He was the son of George Beairsto MacNutt, whose maternal grandmother was Irish; and of Annie McGougan Rodd, whose maternal grandparents were Scottish. Chris’s great-grandmother Clarabell was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Fred Keaton Hubbell and Annetta Alta Remer.
Chris’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced to his fourth great-grandmother, Elisabeth Hoffmann, who was born, c. 1821, in Hesse, Germany.
Cornell with wife Vicki Karayiannis in 2007, photo by s_bukley /www.bigstockphoto.com
Sources: Genealogies of Chris Cornell – https://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage record of Chris’s parents – https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov
Chris’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Chris’s paternal grandfather, Edward John Boyle, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s paternal great-grandfather, Dennis Peter Boyle – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s paternal great-grandmother, Anna Louise Zahler – https://familysearch.org
Chris’s paternal grandmother, Anona Ruth Olson/Olsen, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Baptismal record of Chris’s paternal great-grandfather, Eivin Olaus Olsen – https://media.digitalarkivet.no
Marriage record of Chris’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Ole Olsen Vaaland and Andrine Tønnesdatter – https://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no
Baptismal record of Chris’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Ole Olsen Vaaland – https://media.digitalarkivet.no
Chris’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Chris’s maternal great-grandparents, Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Chris’s maternal great-grandmother, Emily Keillor Emmerson – http://brentglad.com
Chris’s maternal grandmother, Marion/Marian Margaret MacNutt, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Chris’s maternal great-grandmother, Clarabell/Claribel Josephine Hubbell – https://familysearch.org