Duncan Sheik – 62nd Annual Tony Awards – Arrivals – Radio City Music Hall – New York City, NY, USA, 2008 – Photo Credit: Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos
Place of Birth: Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 18, 1969
Ethnicity: Irish, one quarter Lithuanian, as well as German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, remote French
Duncan Sheik is an American singer, songwriter, and composer.
He is the son of Suzanne and John Matthews Sheik. His younger half-sister is Broadway actress Kacie Sheik.
Duncan’s paternal grandfather was William Adrian Sheik (the son of Henry Sherlock “Harry” Sheik and Loretta Grace Matthews). William was born in Newark, New Jersey. Harry was the son of Henry “Harry” Sheik, whose parents were German, and of Catherine Sherlock Riordan, whose father, and maternal grandparents, were Irish. Loretta was of Irish descent, and was the daughter of James J. Matthews and Jane D. Taggart.
Duncan’s paternal grandmother was Anastasia “Rita” Seraphim (the daughter of Jonas Stanislovas Serapinas, later John Stanley Seraphim, and of Ona Marija Deivikaitė, later Anna Marie Davick). Rita was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Lithuanian emigrants, from Kaunas and Klaipėda, respectively. John was the son of Jonas Serapinas (or John Seraphim in English) and Marija Ieva Lignugarytė (or Mary Eva Lignagaris in English). Anna was the daughter of Juozapas Deivikas (or Joseph Davick in English) and Ona Ciparaitė (or Anna Ciparis in English).
Duncan’s maternal grandfather was William Edward “Bill” Tracy (the son of Joseph Murray Tracy and Katharine May McDermott). William was born in Massachusetts. Joseph was the son of Irish emigrants, Bernard “Barney” Tracy and Margaret Flynn, who were of part Scottish descent. Margaret’s mother’s maiden surname, Fleury, is of French origin. Katharine was a Canadian emigrant, and was the daughter of David McDermott, whose own parents, Peter McDermott and Hannah Sisk, were Scottish and Irish emigrants, respectively; and of an Irish emigrant, Katharine O’Brien, who was of part Scottish descent.
Duncan’s maternal grandmother was Joan Heuchan Barr (the daughter of Duncan Murray Barr and Joan Heuchan Young). Duncan’s grandmother Joan was born in Renfrew, Scotland. Duncan’s great-grandfather Duncan was the son of Robert Barr and Annie Robertson. Duncan’s great-grandmother Joan was the daughter of John Robinson Young and Jane Heuchan.
Duncan’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced to his third great-grandmother, Jane Coupland (c. 1826, Dumfriesshire – after 1881).
Sources:
Marriage record of Duncan’s paternal grandparents, William Adrian Sheik and Annastalia Seraphin –
Duncan’s paternal grandfather, William Adrian Sheik, on the 1910 U.S. Census –
Marriage record of Duncan’s paternal great-grandparents, Harry Sherlock Sheik and Loretta Grace Matthews –
Baptismal record of Duncan’s paternal great-grandfather, Henry Sherlock Sheik –
Baptismal record of Duncan’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Henry Sheik –
Marriage record of Duncan’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Henry Sheik and Catherine Sherlock Riordan –
Death record of Duncan’s paternal great-grandmother, Loretta Grace (Matthews) Sheik –
Baptismal record of Duncan’s paternal great-great-grandfather, James J. Matthews –
Duncan’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Jane D. Taggart, on the 1850 U.S. Census –
Obituary of Duncan’s paternal grandmother, Anastasia “Rita” (Seraphim) Sheik –
Naturalization record of Duncan’s paternal great-grandfather, John Stanley Seraphim –
Obituary of Duncan’s maternal grandfather, William Edward “Bill” Tracy –
Marriage record of Duncan’s maternal great-grandparents, Joseph Murray Tracy and Katharine May McDermott –
Marriage record of Duncan’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Bernard Tracy and Margaret Flynn –
Death record of Duncan’s maternal great-great-grandfather, David McDermott –
Death record of Duncan’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Katharine (O’Brien) McDermott –
