Profile Text
Brokaw in 2009, photo by s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Thomas John Brokaw
Place of Birth: Webster, South Dakota, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 6, 1940
Ethnicity: German, English, Irish, Dutch, Swiss-German, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, distant French Huguenot
Tom Brokaw is an American television journalist and author. He was the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004.
Tom is the son of Eugenia Baker “Jean” and Anthony Orville “Red” Brokaw. He is married to author Meredith Lynn Auld, with whom he has three children.
Tom’s ancestor, John Brokaw/Broucard, was born, c. 1680, in New York, the son of Bourgon Brokaw/Broucard and Marie du May, who had French Huguenot ancestry. John’s wife, Sarah Teunis Van Middlesward, was born in New Jersey, to Dutch parents.
Tom’s paternal grandfather was William Loren Brokaw (the son of Richard Patterson Brokaw and Anna M. Hyde). William was born in a covered wagon, near Burbank, Clay, South Dakota. Richard was born in Lodi, Seneca, New York, the son of Joseph Brokaw and Sarah Patterson. Anna was the daughter of Elias Hyde and Lucy Richards.
Tom’s paternal grandmother was named Elizabeth “Lizzie” Meuer/Meier (the daughter of Anton Meuer and Mary). Elizabeth was born in Wisconsin. Anton’s father was born “at sea,” likely of German descent. Mary was born in Duchy of Nassau, now Germany.
Tom’s maternal grandfather was James Henry Conley (the son of Thomas Conley and Mathilda/Matilda/Tilley Moser). James was born in Manitoba, Canada. Thomas was born in Wisconsin, to Irish parents, Michael Conley and Mary. Matilda was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Henry J. P. Moser, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and of Anna Schacher, who was Swiss.
Tom’s maternal grandmother was Lalla Ethel Baker (the daughter of Eugene Baker and Addie Bradford Sperry). Lalla was born in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Eugene was the son of Nathan Morton Baker, whose grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, and of Elmina Perry. Addie was the daughter of Charles B. Sperry and Mary Elizabeth Rihm.
Sources: http://www.signature-reads.com http://tombrokaw.com (official website)
Genealogies of Tom Brokaw – https://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com https://famouskin.com
Tom’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Tom’s maternal grandfather, James Henry Conley, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org