Birth Name: Vanessa Violet Johnston
Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Date of Birth: October 26, 1991
Ethnicity: Norwegian (5/16ths), English, German, 1/16th Swedish, some French
Vanessa Johnston is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was named Miss Minnesota Teen 2009.
Vanessa is the daughter of Sherry and Mitchell Johnston.
Vanessa’s paternal grandfather was Eddy Gene Johnston (the son of Edwin Floyd Johnston and Violet O. Severson). Eddy was born in Minnesota. Edwin was born in North Dakota, the son of Daniel Johnston, who was Canadian, and of Edith Myrtle Emaline Chester, whose parents were Canadian. Violet was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Edwin Severson/Siverson, whose parents were Norwegian, and of Hannah Sundmark, who was Swedish.
Vanessa’s paternal grandmother was Dixie Lou Wagner (the daughter of Richard Wagner and Myrtle Iverson). Dixie was born in Minnesota. Richard was born in Nebraska, to German parents, Otto P. Wagner and Martha. Myrtle was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Martin Iverson, who was Norwegian, and of Inga, whose parents were Norwegian.
Vanessa’s maternal grandfather was Ray Arvin Johnson (the son of Walter David Johnson and Rosalind “Rosa” Hesser). Ray was born in Minnesota. Walter was born in Iowa, the son of James Matthew Johnson and Ruth Miller, whose father was German. Rosalind was born in Nebraska, the daughter of George Washington Hesser and Mary Frances Billings.
Vanessa’s maternal grandmother was Kay Durbahn (the daughter of Wilbert Juergan/John Durbahn and Frieda Johnson). Kay was born in Minnesota. Wilbert was born in Minnesota, the son of Albert Durbahn, whose parents were German, and of Lena Dohrmann, who was German. Frieda was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Theodore Johnson, who was Norwegian, and of Thea/Tine/Tina Figenschou/Figenskau, whose parents were Norwegian.
Sources: Obituary of Vanessa’s father – http://www.startribune.com
Obituary of Vanessa’s maternal grandfather, Ray Arvin Johnson – http://www.familysearch.org
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