Profile Text
Atkinson in 2011, image via magicinfoto /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Rowan Sebastian Atkinson
Place of Birth: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 6 January, 1955
Ethnicity: English, as well as more distant Irish
Rowan Atkinson is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for his Mr. Bean character. He has also been featured in Not the Nine O’Clock News , Blackadder , Four Weddings and a Funeral , The Lion King , Johnny English , and Love Actually , among many other works.
He is the son of Ella May (Bainbridge) and Eric Atkinson, who was a farmer and company director. His brother, Rodney Atkinson, is a eurosceptic conservative academic, economist, and political commentator. Rowan has two children with his former wife Sunetra Sastry; and one child with his partner, comedian and actress Louise Ford.
Rowan’s paternal grandfather was Edward Atkinson (the son of William John Atkinson and Mary Ann Brannon/Brannan). Edward was born in Spennymoor, Durham. William was born in Staindrop, Durham, the son of George Atkinson and Esther Ann Salmond. He was a coal miner. Rowan’s great-grandmother Mary Ann was born in Toft Hill, Durham, the daughter of Barnard Brannan and Ann Bulman.
Rowan’s paternal grandmother was Edith Browell (the daughter of William Browell and Elizabeth Shield). Edith was born in Lanchester, Durham, England. William was born in Crookhall, Durham, the son of Charles John Browell and Hannah Milburn. Rowan’s great-grandmother Elizabeth was born in Leadgate, Durham, the daughter of John Shield and Ann Noble.
Rowan’s maternal grandfather was Frank Bainbridge (the son of Charles Bainbridge and Mary Gamble). Frank was born in Coatham, Yorkshire, England. Charles was born in Coatham, the son of Matthew Bainbridge and Jane Hardy. Mary was born in Hardwick, Durham, the daughter of William Gamble and Elizabeth Sayers.
Rowan’s maternal grandmother was Ella Schofield (the daughter of George William Schofield and Ada Hopkinson). Ella was born in Grosmont, Yorkshire. George was born in Grosmont, the son of George Schofield and Emma Roe/Raw. Ada was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, the daughter of Joseph Hopkinson and Sarah Gregory.
Sources: Family history of Rowan Atkinson – http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Genealogy of Rowan Atkinson – https://www.geni.com
Rowan’s paternal grandfather, Edward Atkinson, on the 1891 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org