Profile Text
Birth Name: Leonard Austin Williams
Place of Birth: Bakersfield, Kern, California, United States
Date of Birth: June 20, 1994
Ethnicity: * father – African-American, possibly Japanese * mother – 56.25% Ashkenazi Jewish, 25% British Isles [English/Irish], 18.75% Mexican
Leonard Williams is an American professional football player. A defensive tackle, he plays for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously with the New York Jets and the New York Giants. He is 6′5″.
Leonard is the son of Aviva, a nurse, and Clenon Williams, a machinist who programmed computers. His father is African-American. Leonard’s maternal grandfather is of about three eighths Mexican, one eighth Ashkenazi Jewish, and one half British Isles [English/Irish], descent. Leonard’s maternal grandmother was Ashkenazi Jewish. A photo of Leonard and his father can be seen here .
Leonard has been described as having a father who is of half African-American and half Japanese descent, and a mother who has Mexican and African-American ancestry. It is not clear if his father’s Japanese, or his mother’s African-American, ancestry has been verified/documented. Leonard was raised in Sacramento, California, as well as Arizona, Michigan, and finally Daytona Beach, Florida.
Leonard is married to Hailey Louise. Hailey is the daughter of professional football player Ronnie Lott.
Leonard’s maternal grandfather was David George Russek (the son of Simon Edward Russek and Melva Elizabeth Seeds). David was born in California. Leonard’s great-grandfather Simon was born in Sonora, Mexico, and was a Nazarene Christian, who pastored three churches. He was the son of Simon Russek, whose father was Polish Jewish, and whose mother likely was Mexican; and of Rose Marie/Maria Gavvivay/Garibay/Garriby. Leonard’s great-grandmother Melva was born in California, the daughter of Henry Norton Seeds and Ana/Anna J. McEvoy, whose own parents were Irish.
Leonard’s maternal grandmother was Heidi Robin Wisotsky (the daughter of Max Wisotsky and Helyn Bernice Levine). Heidi was born in California. Max was the son of Jack Wisotsky and Rissel/Rae Schwartz, who were Ukrainian Jews. Helyn was the daughter of Belarusian Jewish parents, Philip/Phillip Levine and Mollie Epstein.
Sources: Genealogy of Leonard’s maternal grandfather, David George Russek (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of Leonard’s maternal great-grandfather, Simon Edward Russek – https://obituaries.desertsun.com
Leonard’s maternal great-grandmother, Melva Elizabeth Seeds, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Leonard’s maternal great-grandmother, Melva Elizabeth (Seeds) Russek – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Leonard’s maternal great-grandmother, Helyn Bernice (Levine) Wisotsky – https://www.dignitymemorial.com