Profile Text
Birth Name: Damian Sinclair McKenzie
Place of Birth: Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 20 April, 1995
Ethnicity: Scottish, Welsh, English, Māori (almost one quarter), some Irish
Damian McKenzie is a New Zealand rugby union player. A fullback and first five-eighth, he plays for Waikato and Chiefs, and the New Zealand national team. He was previously with Tokyo Sungoliath, and Māori All Blacks.
Damian is the son of Moana and Brent McKenzie. His brother, Marty McKenzie, also plays professional rugby. Damian’s mother is of part Māori ancestry, from Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Tahinga iwi. Thus, Damian and his brother Marty have represented the Māori All Blacks team.
Damian’s paternal grandfather was the son of Eric McKenzie and Maud Violet Teresa Maguire. Eric was born in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand, the son of John McKenzie and Naomi Elizabeth Duckett, who were from Urray, Scotland and Hellidon, Northamptonshire, England, respectively. Damian’s great-grandmother Maud was born in Masterton, Wellington, the daughter of Robert Maguire/McGuire, who was from Lanarkshire, Scotland; and of Mary Jane O’Neill, who likely had Irish ancestry.
Damian’s paternal grandmother was Phyllis Jean Rowlands (the daughter of William Rowlands and Emma Bowen Phillips). Phyllis’ family was Welsh. Emma was born in Hay, Breconshire, the daughter of Hugh Phillips and Emma Maria Bowen.
Damian’s maternal grandfather is named Robert “Bob” Blair (who likely was the son of Leslie Blair and Annie Isabella Williams). Leslie was the son of Charles Robert Blair and Mary Elizabeth Watson Brown, who were of Scottish parentage. Annie was the daughter of Alexander Reginald Williams, whose father was from Tasmania, Australia and whose mother was from Kent, England; and of Annie McKenzie, whose parents were from Argyll and Lanarksire, Scotland, respectively.
Damian’s maternal grandmother was Priscilla Pirihira Thompson (the daughter of Martin Thompson and Ngahua Myra/Mara “Ginny” Chase). Ngahua was the daughter of Henare Chase, who was of Māori, of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, and one quarter European [Colonial American and English] descent; and of Miriama Te Pirihi Kaihote, who was of Māori and one quarter English ancestry, with roots in Cumberland. Damian’s third great-grandfather, James Alvin Shaw Chase, was a California-born whaler with Colonial American [English] roots going back to the early 1600s.
Sources: Genealogy of Damian McKenzie (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Genealogies of Damian’s paternal grandparents – https://www.familysearch.org