Profile Text
Birth Name: William Jan Berry
Date of Birth: April 3, 1941
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Death: March 26, 2006
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – English, some Scottish, one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish * mother – Norwegian, as well as distant Danish
Jan Berry was an American singer and musician. He was part of rock duo Jan and Dean, with Dean Torrence . They were pioneers of the California Sound and vocal surf.
Jan was the son of Clara Lorentze and William Ladew Berry, an aeronautical engineer; who was the project manager on Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, and flew on its only flight with Howard. His mother was a Norwegian emigrant, from Bergen. He was raised in Bel Air, California. He was married to Gertie Filip.
Jan’s paternal grandfather was Hiram Hyatt Berry, Jr. (the son of Hiram Hyatt Berry and Annie C. Platts). Jan’s grandfather Hiram was born in New York. Jan’s great-grandfather Hiram was born in Morristown, New Jersey, the son of Aaron D. Berry and Emily C. Hyatt. Annie was born in New York City, New York, to English parents, Samuel Platts and Mary.
Jan’s paternal grandmother was Mabel/Maebell Elder (the daughter of John Elder and Bertha Arndt). Mabel was born in New York City, New York. John was Scottish, from Aberdeen, the son John Henry Elder and Fannie/Euphemia Penney/Pennington. Bertha was Jewish, born in Prussia, Germany, the daughter of Solomon Arndt and Minna Lachman.
Jan’s maternal grandfather was Ole Stein Kristiansen Mustad (the son of Christian Maurits/Mauritz Olsen Mustad and Maren Marie Stengrimsdotter Haugsrud). Ole was born in Torke Nedre, Vardal, Oppland, Norway. Christian was born in Vardal, the son of Ole Haavelsen/Haavelssøn/Håvelsen Mustad and Anne Marie/Maria Hansdatter Skikkelstad. Jan’s great-grandmother Maren was born in Aurdal, Nord-Aurdal, Oppland, the daughter of Steingrim/Steengrim Eriksen Haugsrud and Hanna Lovise Helgesdotter Skougstad.
Jan’s maternal grandmother was Klara/Clara Lærum (the daughter of Ole Didrik Zacharias Severin Ottesen Lærum and Aurora Olava/Olave Mathilde Olsen Hovind). Klara was born in Gjøvik, Oppland, Norway. Ole was born in Drammen, Buskerud, the son of John Lærum and Birgitte Christiane Lorck Laerum Schive, whose mother was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Jan’s great-grandmother Aurora was born in Sokn, Rogaland, the daughter of Ole Larsen Hovind and Berthe/Berte Cathrine/Katrine Sørensdatter Loftstuequern/Loftstuekverna.
Sources: Genealogy of Jan Berry – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Jan Berry (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com