Profile Text
Pekarek in 2017, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Neyla M. Pekarek
Place of Birth: Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 4, 1986
Ethnicity: Slovak (paternal grandfather), Irish, English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Neyla Pekarek is an American cellist, vocalist, and pianist. She was the cellist and co-vocalist of folk rock band The Lumineers. Other members of the band are Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz .
Neyla’s paternal grandfather was Andrew George Pekarek (the son of Paul Pekarek and Anna Leshko/Leschka). Andrew was born in Pennsylvania, to Slovak parents.
Neyla’s paternal grandmother was Verna/Vernia/Vernie Alma Newton (the daughter of John Kelly/Kelley Newton/Neuton and Fannie Foney Hunter). Verna was born in North Carolina. John was of English and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish descent, and the son of William Abraham Newton/Neuton and Nancy Elizabeth Crotts. Fannie was the daughter of John Hunter.
Neyla’s maternal grandfather was Daniel John Collins (the son of Bernard Michael Collins and Elizabeth Anna Murphy). Daniel was born in Massachusetts. Bernard was the son of John Collins, whose parents were Irish, and of Mary McNeice, who was Irish. Elizabeth was the daughter of Daniel Murphy, who was likely of Irish descent, and of Hannah Gorman Dwyer, whose parents were Irish.
Neyla’s maternal grandmother was named Neyla J. Harris.
Sources: Neyla’s paternal grandfather, Andrew Pekarek, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Andrew Pekarek on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth record of Neyla’s paternal grandmother, Verna/Vernia/Vernie Alma Newton – https://www.familysearch.org
Neyla’s paternal grandmother, Verna/Vernia/Vernie Alma Newton, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Verna/Vernia/Vernie Alma Newton on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Verna/Vernia/Vernie Alma Newton on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Neyla’s paternal great-grandfather, John Kelly/Kelley Newton/Neuton (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Neyla’s paternal great-grandfather, John Kelly/Kelley Newton/Neuton, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Neyla’s paternal great-grandfather, John Kelly/Kelley Newton/Neuton – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Neyla’s paternal great-grandmother, Fannie Foney (Hunter) Newton – https://www.familysearch.org
Neyla’s maternal grandfather, Daniel John Collins, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Daniel John Collins on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Daniel John Collins on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Neyla’s maternal great-grandparents, Bernard Michael Collins and Elizabeth Anna Murphy – https://www.familysearch.org
Neyla’s maternal great-grandfather, Bernard Michael Collins, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Bernard Michael Collins on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Neyla’s maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth Anna Murphy, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org