Profile Text
Lewis in 2008, photo by s_bukley /bigstock.com
Birth Name: Jennifer Diane Lewis
Place of Birth: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 8, 1976
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish (likely one half), English, German, Scottish, Welsh, distant Dutch
Jenny Lewis is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. She was the primary vocalist of indie rock band Rilo Kiley.
Her mother, Linda, was a professional singer. Her father, Eddie Gordon (Edward William Gordon), from Philadelphia, was a harmonica player, who was a member of the Harmonica Gang and the Borrah Minnevitch Harmonica Rascals.
Jenny, possibly exaggerating, has stated that a 23andMe DNA test showed her genetic ancestry to be:
90% Ashkenazi Jewish
90% Ashkenazi Jewish
Jenny’s paternal grandfather was named Sid Gordon. Sid likely was Jewish.
Jenny’s paternal grandmother was Sara Terbush (the daughter of Edward Ellsworth Terbush and Theo Miriam Day). Edward was born in Peekskill, Westchester, New York, the son of Ernest G. Terbush and Josephine Byington, whose mother was Scottish. Jenny’s great-grandmother Theo was born in Middletown, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Hiram H. Day and Rose/Rosa Ellen Andrews/Andrew, whose father was German.
Jenny’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Arlington Lewis (the son of Victor Stanley Lewis and Ethelrita/Ethel Mae Turner). Thomas was born in Los Angeles, California. Victor was born in Streator, LaSalle, Illinois, to Welsh parents, Thomas Lewis, from St Dogwells, Pembrokeshire; and Frances Reynolds. Jenny’s great-grandmother Ethel was born in Michigan, to a Canadian father.
Jenny’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Diane Simmons/Simons (the daughter of Harry/Hyman/Hygman Gabriel Simon/Simons and Lena/Salina Richards). Dorothy was born in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Harry was either born in Russia or in England, to Russian Jewish parents, Jacob Schueffer Simons and Zelda Malka. Jenny’s great-grandmother Lena was born in London, England, to Russian Jewish parents.
Sources: Genealogy of Jenny Lewis – https://www.wikitree.com
Obituary of Jenny’s mother – https://www.legacy.com
Marriage record of Jenny’s maternal grandparents, Thomas Arlington Lewis and Dorothy Diane Simmons/Simons – https://www.familysearch.org
Jenny’s maternal grandfather, Thomas Arlington Lewis, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Jenny’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Diane Simmons/Simons – https://www.familysearch.org
Jenny’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Diane Simmons/Simons, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org