Date of Birth: December 16, 1770
Place of Birth: Bonn, Electorate of Cologne (present-day Germany)
Date of Death: March 26, 1827
Place of Death: Vienna, Austria
Ethnicity:
*75% German
*18.75% Flemish
*6.25% Walloon
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer of the classical and romantic eras. He is one of the most influential composers of all time. Ludwig was the son of Maria Magdalena (Keverich) and Johann van Beethoven, a musician, teacher, and singer. Ludwig came from a very musical family. His grandfather moved from Belgium to Bonn, Germany, to work for the Bonn court orchestra.
Ludwig’s ancestry was 3/4 German, 3/16 Belgian (Flemish), and 1/16 Belgian (Walloon).
Ludwig’s paternal grandparents were Lodewijk “Ludovicus” van Beethoven (the son of Michael van Beethoven and Marie Louise/Lysbeth Stuyckers) and Maria Josepha Poll. Michael and Marie were both born in Mechelen, in the Flemish region of Belgium. Maria was born in Prussia. Ludwig’s paternal second great-grandmother was Magdalena Goffau (the daughter of Martinus Goffau and Francisca Lefevere/Lefevre). She was born in Gosselies, in the Walloon region in Belgium, as was her parents and grandparents.
Ludwig’s maternal grandparents were Johann Heinrich Keverich (the son of Johann Heinrich Keverich and Eva Catharina Alber) and Anna Clara Westorff (the daughter of Jakob Westorff and Maria Magdalena Schetter). Ludwig’s great-grandfather Johann was born in Mehring, Germany. Eva was born in Trier, Germany. Jakob was born in Köln, Germany. Maria was born in Koblenz, Germany.
Sources: Genealogies of Ludwig van Beethoven – http://www.geni.com
https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Ludwig’s father, Johann van Beethoven – http://www.ancestry.com