Profile Text
Birth Name: James Donald Bowman
Place of Birth: Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 2, 1984
Ethnicity: English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Irish, German, distant Dutch, Frisian, French, Welsh, Belgian Flemish, and Swiss-German, remote Cornish
JD Vance, full name James David Vance, is an American politician, commentator, venture capitalist, author, and attorney. A Republican, he has been Vice President of the United States , since January 20, 2025. He was elected to the position in 2024 . He has also been Finance Chair of the Republican National Committee, since March 18, 2025; and, previously, a U.S. Senator from Ohio, from January 3, 2023 to January 10, 2025. He wrote the memoir Hillbilly Elegy , later adapted into a film.
Vice President Vance is the son of Beverly Carol “Bev” (Vance) and Donald Ray Bowman. He went under the name James David Hamel for a time, the surname of his adoptive stepfather, Bob Hamel. He later took on his mother’s family name, becoming James Hamel Vance, and later James David Vance. Vice President Vance was largely raised by his maternal grandparents, referred to as “Mamaw and Papaw.” His family is from an Appalachian background. Many of his recent ancestors were from Kentucky, where he has deep roots, and he spent summers in Jackson, KY. Vice President Vance served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007, and participated in the Iraq War; where he was a combat correspondent/military journalist in the Public Affairs section of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Vice President Vance is a cousin of U.S. Marine veteran Nate Vance, who has fought in the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Vice President Vance is married to attorney Usha Vance (née Chilukuri), with whom he has three children. Usha was born and raised in San Diego, and is the daughter of Indian immigrants, who spoke Telugu. Raised an evangelical Christian, JD converted to Catholicism in 2019. He chose Augustine of Hippo as his confirmation saint. His wife is Hindu. A picture of JD and Usha with their family can be seen here .
While Vice President Vance has referred to his Scots-Irish ancestry, genealogists in Northern Ireland have stated that they could find no genealogical claim between Vice President Vance and Northern Ireland.
Vice President Vance’s patrilineal line can be traced to Joris Jacobson Bowman, who was born, c. 1626, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and to his wife, Tryntje Claesen van Schouwen.
Vice President Vance’s paternal grandfather was Don/Donald Campbell Bowman (the son of Robert Sturgus Bowman and Hazel Creech). Don was born in Owsley County, Kentucky, to parents who were also born there. Robert was the son of Jacob “Jake” Bowman and Emily A. McGuire. Hazel was the daughter of Tilford Creech and Cynthia Ellen Gabbard.
Vice President Vance’s paternal grandmother was Melva/Melba/Malva/Melvina Baker (the daughter of Noah Testamen/Testaman Baker and Cynthia Jones). Noah was born in Liberty, Kentucky, the son of Thurman Testerman Baker and Iva Ora Bell. Cynthia was the daughter of George Jones and Mary Hensley.
Vice President Vance’s maternal grandfather was James Lee “Jim” Vance (the son of Wilburn/Wilbur Carl Lee Vance and Goldie/Golda Mae Bellamy). James was born in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Wilburn was the son of Meekin/Meek Vance and Laura Bell Francis. Goldie was the daughter of Christopher Columbus “Lum” Bellamy and Mary Elizabeth Rudd.
Vice President Vance’s maternal grandmother was Bonnie Lois/Eloise Blanton (the daughter of Blaine Blanton and Hattie Belle/May Hounshell/Houndshell). Bonnie was born in Breathitt County, Kentucky, to parents who were also born there. Blaine was the son of Samuel Tilden/Tildon Blanton and Docia/Doica Howard. Hattie was the daughter of Samuel Thomas Hounshell and Alice Katherine Lovely.
Through his Hounshell line, Vice President Vance is a fourth cousin, once removed, of entertainer Dax Shepard .
Sources: Genealogy of Vice President JD Vance – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Vice President Vance’s father (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Vice President Vance’s father – https://www.browndawsonflick.com
Genealogy of Vice President Vance’s paternal grandfather, Don/Donald Campbell Bowman – https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Vice President Vance’s paternal great-grandmother, Hazel Creech (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://freepages.rootsweb.com
Genealogies and obituaries of Vice President Vance’s maternal grandparents, James Lee “Jim” Vance and Bonnie Lois/Eloise (Blanton) Vance – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Vice President Vance’s maternal grandfather, James Lee “Jim” Vance – https://www.newspapers.com