Profile Text
Birth Name: William Denby Hanna
Date of Birth: 14 July, 1910
Place of Birth: Melrose, New Mexico, U.S.
Date of Death: 22 March, 2001
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, English, smaller amounts of Welsh and Scottish, distant German and Dutch
William Hanna, also known as Bill Hanna, was an American animator, director, and producer. He created the animated series and characters Tom & Jerry, and founded the Hanna Barbera animation studios; both with fellow animator Joseph Barbera .
William was the son of Avice Joyce and William John Hanna. He was married to Violet Blanche Wogatzke, until his death, with whom he had two children.
Some websites state state that William, and Joseph Barbera, were of Lebanese and/or Syrian heritage. Although Hanna can sometimes be an Arabic last name, this is not accurate.
William’s paternal grandfather was Peter R. Hanna (the son of William Hanna and Nancy Reed). Peter was born in County Antrim, Ireland, now Northern Ireland, to parents who were also born there. William was the son of William Hanna.
William’s paternal grandmother was Ann Elizabeth Frid (the daughter of William James Frid and Sarah Ann Selina Earle). Ann was born in Sheppey, Kent, England. William’s great-grandfather William was born in Borden, Kent, the son of John Frid and Sarah Tyler. Sarah was born in Frindsbury, Kent, the daughter of William James Earle and Eleanor Daughters.
William’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Bluford Springs Denby (the son of William Denby and Anna Elizabeth Patterson). Thomas was born in Cannon, Tennessee. William was born in Warren, Tennessee, the son of Samuel Denby and Mary Rogers. Anna was born in Warren, the daughter of John E. Patterson, whose parents were from Ireland; and of Ann Jeannie Ferrell.
William’s maternal grandmother was Esther Elizabeth McMaster/McMasters (the daughter of Edwin Kannon McMaster and Eliza Jane Bull). Esther was born in Walnut Grove, Greene, Missouri. Edwin was born in Chatham, North Carolina, the son of Rufus Wiley McMasters, whose paternal grandfather was from County Antrim, Ireland; and of Keziah Wood. William’s great-grandmother Eliza was born in Zenia, Ohio, the daughter of William J. Bull, Jr., whose maternal grandfather was from County Wicklow, Ireland; and of Esther Fowler.
Source: Genealogy of William Hanna – https://www.geni.com