Birth Name: Brett Michael Kavanaugh
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of Birth: February 12, 1965
Ethnicity: Irish, as well as small amounts of English and German
Brett Kavanaugh has served as Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, since May 30, 2006. He was previously White House Staff Secretary, from June 6, 2003 to May 30, 2006. He has been nominated to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Brett is the son of Martha Gamble (Murphy) and Everett Edward Kavanaugh, Jr. His father is a trade association executive. His mother was a Maryland state Circuit Court Judge, from 1995 to 2001. Brett is married to Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, who was Personal Secretary to the President, from 2001 to 2004. The couple has two children.
Brett is a Roman Catholic.
Brett’s paternal grandfather was Everett Edward Kavanaugh (the son of Patrick C. Kavanaugh and Mary R. Sanford). Everett was born in Connecticut. Patrick was born in Roscommon, Ireland, the son of Michael Kavanaugh. Mary was born in Connecticut, to Irish parents.
Brett’s paternal grandmother was Marion Elizabeth Gallagher (the daughter of Lawrence J. Gallagher and Margaret A. Donlon). Marion was born in Connecticut. Lawrence was born in Connecticut, to Irish parents. Margaret was the daughter of Edward Donlon.
Brett’s maternal grandfather was Thomas William Murphy, Jr. (the son of Thomas William Murphy). Brett’s grandfather Thomas was born in New Jersey. Brett’s great-grandfather Thomas was born in New Jersey, to Irish parents.
Brett’s maternal grandmother was Rosemarie Joan Ward (the daughter of James Joseph Ward and Lilian/Lillian Francis Dickenson). Rosemarie was born in Illinois. James was the son of John Ward and Nona Murphy. Lilian was the daughter of Alfredus Edwinus Dickenson, who was English; and of Margaret Lennertz, whose own father, John Lennertz, was from Frieberg, Germany, and whose own mother, Clara Marie Fellinger, was Bavarian.
Sources: Brett’s paternal grandfather, Everett Edward Kavanaugh, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Brett’s paternal grandmother, Marion Elizabeth Gallagher, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Brett’s maternal grandfather, Thomas William Murphy, Jr. – https://www.washingtonpost.com
Brett’s maternal grandmother, Rosemarie Joan Ward, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org