Matt Berninger – 2013 Tribeca Film Festival Opening Night – “Mistaken For Strangers” – Arrivals – BMCC Tribeca PAC – New York City, NY, USA – Photo Credit: Laurence Agron / PR Photos
Birth Name: Matthew Donald Berninger
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 13, 1971
Ethnicity:
*75% German
*25% Irish
Matt Berninger is an American singer and songwriter. He is known as the lead vocalist for the American rock band The National.
Matt is the son of Nancy Ann (Dwyer) and Paul Robert Berninger. Matt is married to writer Carin Avaunt Besser, with whom he has a daughter.
Matt’s paternal grandfather was Robert Edwin Berninger (the son of Edwin Berninger and Elizabeth Caroline “Lillie” Doll). Matt’s great-grandfather Edwin was the son of a German emigrant, “John” Berninger, and of Mary Barbara Degenhardt, who was of German descent. Elizabeth was of German descent, and was the daughter of Charles Joseph Doll and Anna Rolfing.
Matt’s paternal grandmother was Clara Annetta Rathman (the daughter of John George Rathmann and Amelia Hantz). Matt’s great-grandfather John was the son of a German emigrant, Heinrich “Henry” Rathmann, of Kassel, Hesse, and of Louisa Schäffter, who was of German descent. Amelia was the daughter of German emigrants, “John” Hautz and Sophia Stark.
Matt’s maternal grandfather was Donald Lyons Dwyer (the son of John Francis Dwyer and Margaret Agatha Lyons). Matt’s great-grandfather John was the son of Irish emigrants, Patrick Dwyer and Anna McMahon. Margaret was the daughter of an English emigrant, Dennis F. Lyons, whose own parents were Irish, and of an Irish emigrant, Catherine Welch.
Matt’s maternal grandmother was Emma Catherine Jester (the daughter of George Philip Jester and Emma Dumler). George was the son of German emigrants, Valentinus Alphonse Jester, of Berghausen, Bavaria, and of Elizabeth Schneider. Emma was the daughter of a German emigrant, “John” David Dumler, and of Caroline “Carrie” Schoch, whose own parents Benedickt “Ben” Schoch and Emma Pauline Gehringer, were German emigrants, from Forbach and Waldshut-Tiengen, respectively both in Baden (now part of Baden-Württemberg).
Matt’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his sixth great-grandmother, Maria Anna Böhler.
Sources: Birth record of Matt Berninger – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Birth record of Matt’s father – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Matt’s paternal grandfather, Robert Edwin Berninger, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Matt’s paternal great-grandparents, Edwin Berninger and Elizabeth Caroline Doll – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Matt’s paternal grandmother, Clara Annetta Rathman – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Matt’s paternal great-grandfather, John George Rathmann, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Matt’s paternal great-grandmother, Amelia Hantz, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Matt’s mother – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com
Genealogy of Matt’s maternal grandfather, Donald Lyons Dwyer – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Matt’s maternal grandmother, Emma Catherine Jester – https://www.familysearch.org