Birth Name: Matthew Abram Groening
Place of Birth: Portland, Oregon, United States
Date of Birth: February 15, 1954
Ethnicity:
*German (including Volga German), possibly some Dutch (father)
*Norweigan (mother)
Family Background: Matt Groening is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, animator and voice actor. He is the creator of the televiosion series The Simpsons and Futurama.
Matt’s parents were Homer Philip Groening and Margaret Ruth Groening (Born Wiggum). He borrowed both of their first names for characters in The Simpsons, together with his siblings names; Lisa, Margaret (Maggie) and Patricia (Patty) Groening, as well as Homer’s father’s name; Abram (Abraham or in The Simpsons). Margaret’s maiden name became the surname of the police cheif, Clancy Wiggum.
Matt’s paternal grandparents were Abram Groening (the son of Abraham Groening and Aganetha Klaassen) and Elizabeth Nickel. Abram was born in Hillsboro, Kansas. Abraham was born in Russia, likely of Volga German descent. Klaassen is often a Dutch name.
Matt’s maternal grandparents were Matt Wiggum and Ingeborg Wiggum. They were both Norwegian immigrants who met on a boat on the way to America. Wiggum is likely an anglicised version of the Norwegian surname Wigum.
Source: Genealogy of Matt Groening (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com/people/Matt-Groening/6000000014975101896
History of Matt’s mother’s ancestry – http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?n=margaret-ruth-groening&pid=164683737
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