Birth Name: William Connolly
Place of Birth: Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland
Date of Birth: November 24, 1942
Ethnicity: Irish, 1/4 Scottish, 1/32 Indian
Billy Connolly is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter, and actor. He is the son of Mary (McLean) and William Connolly.
Billy’s paternal grandparents were Jack Connolly (the son of John Connolly and Mary) and Jane McClusky. Jack and Jane came from an Irish background.
Billy’s maternal grandparents were Neil McLean (the son of Neil McLean and Catherine) and Florence McGowan (the daughter of Patrick McGowan and Mary Doyle). Billy’s great-grandparents Neil and Catherine were from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, and moved to Glasgow. Billy’s great-grandfather Patrick was born in Glasgow, and had Irish ancestry. Billy’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Bangalore, India, to an Irish father and a mother of Irish and Indian descent.
In an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Billy found out that his great-great-grandfather, Daniel Doyle, served in the British Army in India, and was in trouble with the military due to his drinking. He married Billy’s great-great-grandmother Margaret O’Brien in 1869. They lived in India for a while and later moved to Ireland, and finally Glasgow. Margaret was the daughter of John O’Brien, a soldier serving in the British Army in India, and Matilda Allan, a local Indian girl. This makes Billy of 1/32 Indian ancestry.
Sources: Genealogies of Billy Connolly – http://www.geni.com
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk
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