Blake Lively

Lively in 2011, Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Blake Ellender Brown

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 25, 1987

Ethnicity: English, as well as Scottish, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Welsh, remote French-Canadian

Blake Lively is an American actress, model, and homemaking expert. She is known for starring on Gossip Girl, as Serena van der Woodsen, and for her roles in the films The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and its sequel; Accepted, Simon Says, Elvis & Annabelle, New York, I Love You; The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, The Town, Green Lantern, Hick, Savages, The Age of Adaline, The Shallows, Café Society, All I See Is You, A Simple Favor, The Rhythm Section, and It Ends With Us.

Blake is the daughter of actor Ernest Lively (born Ernest Wilson Brown, Jr.) and acting teacher and talent scout Elaine Lively (born Willie Elain McAlpin). Lively is the surname of her mother’s previous husband, Ronnie Lively. She is the sister of actor Eric Lively and the half-sister of actors Lori Lively, Jason Lively (Ronald Jason Lively), and Robyn Lively, from her mother. Blake is married to Canadian actor and entertainer Ryan Reynolds, with whom she has four children.

Blake has English, as well as Scottish, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, and remote French-Canadian, ancestry.

Several L’Oréal commercials featuring Blake describe her ancestry as being partially Cherokee (Native American). It is not clear if this Cherokee Native American ancestry has been verified/documented. No Cherokee Native Americans appear among Blake’s recent and relatively recent ancestors.

Blake’s paternal grandfather was Ernest Wilson Brown, Sr. (the son of Harry Thomas/F. Brown and Tina Blanche Clark). Ernest was born in Covington, Virginia. Harry was born in Alleghany, Virginia, the son of William Henry “Billie” Brown and Zara Ann Mayse. Blake’s great-grandmother Tina was born in Harrison, Clay County, West Virginia, the daughter of Isaac Fletcher Clark and Lydia Blanche Dayton.

Blake’s paternal grandmother was Beatrice Gray/Grey Walton (the daughter of Eric Ivan Walton and Myrtle Ellen Rigsby). Beatrice was born in Falling Spring, Greenbrier, West Virginia. Eric was born in Falling Spring, the son of John Henry Walton and Phoebe/Pheobe Luemma “Emma” Gumm/Gum. Blake’s great-grandmother Myrtle was born in Greenbrier, the daughter of James Rigsby and Mattie Ethel/Ellen Sparks.

Blake’s maternal grandfather was James Olin McAlpin (the son of Robert Alexander McAlpin and Laura/Lara Smith). James was born in Georgia. Robert was the son of Thomas Jefferson McAlpin and Elizabeth Jane/Louisa Brown. Laura was the daughter of William Harvey Smith and Sarah Evelyn Sewell. Robert McAlpin’s great-grandfather, Blake’s great-great-great-great-grandfather Alexander McAlpin, was born in Strathblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

Blake’s maternal grandmother was Willie Inez Thrash (the daughter of Isaac Farmer Thrash and Mattie Lee Smith). Willie was born in Alabama. Isaac was the son of John Allen Thrash and Celia Blake. Mattie was the daughter of Javan Jefferson Smith and Eliza Jane Owens.

Sources: Genealogies of Blake Lively – http://gw.geneanet.org
http://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Blake’s father – https://www.findagrave.com

Blake’s paternal grandfather, Ernest Wilson Brown, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Blake’s paternal grandmother, Beatrice Gray/Grey Walton, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Blake Lively (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://www.familycentral.net

Blake’s maternal grandmother, Willie Inez Thrash, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org