Profile Text
Pierson in 2013, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Catherine Elizabeth Pierson
Place of Birth: Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 27, 1948
Ethnicity: German, Irish, English, Scottish, distant French and Dutch
Kate Pierson is an American singer, lyricist, and musician. She is a vocalist, and founding member, of New Wave rock band The B-52s. Fred Schneider is also a member of the band. She plays guitar and bass, among other musical instruments.
Kate is the daughter of Elizabeth and George Pierson. She was raised inRutherford, New Jersey. She is married to designer Monica Coleman. The two operate several Kate’s Lazy outlets, which are lodges/cabins.
Kate’s paternal grandfather was John Dawson Pierson (the son of John Wesley Pierson and Eunice Ellen Runion). Kate’s grandfather John was born in New Jersey, to parents who were also born there, and had deep roots in the state. Kate’s great-grandfather John was the son of John Alfred Pierson and Mary Irene Newman. Eunice was the daughter of Robert T. Runion and Susan Hendershot.
Kate’s paternal grandmother was Charlotte “Lottie” Puls (the daughter of Johann/John Carl/Charles Friedrich Puls/Pulss/Pulß and Luise/Louise Friederike Besch). Charlotte was born in New York, to German parents, from Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Johann was born in Hagenow, the son of Johann Carl Pulß and Anne Sophie Dorothea Schormacher. Luise was the daughter of Johann Friedrich Franz Besch and Johanna Henriette Augustin.
Kate’s maternal grandfather was John Aloysius McDermott (the son of John McDermott and Mary Davidson). Kate’s grandfather John was born in New York or in England, to a father from Ireland and a mother from Scotland.
Kate’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Agnes Biggs (the daughter of Nicholas Biggs and Mary Sharkey). Elizabeth was born in Newark, New Jersey. Nicholas was born in New Jersey, to German parents, John Biggs and Elizabeth. Mary was Irish.
Sources: Kate’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary record of Kate’s father – https://www.familysearch.org