David Beckham
Beckham in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Place of Birth: Waltham Forest, Essex, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 2 May, 1975
Ethnicity:
*75% English
*25% Ashkenazi Jewish
David Beckham is a British professional footballer. A midfielder, he played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, and the England national team. He is the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, and a co-owner of Salford City.
He is the son of Sandra Georgina (West) and David Edward Alan Beckham. David is married to businessperson and singer Victoria Beckham. The couple has four children, including photographer, chef, model, and media personality Brooklyn Beckham and model and professional footballer Romeo Beckham.
David’s father, and maternal grandmother, are of English descent. David’s maternal grandfather was Jewish, and David has described himself as “half Jewish,” and has said, “I’ve probably had more contact with Judaism than with any other religion.” During his childhood, David’s family also went to a church, so David could play football for their team.
David was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2015. David was the second English-born man to have been given this title by the magazine (Jude Law, in 2004, was the first, and Idris Elba, in 2018, was the third). David is one of four men of Jewish heritage to have thus far been given the title (Harrison Ford, in 1998, is the first; Adam Levine, in 2013, and Paul Rudd, in 2021, are the others).
David’s paternal grandfather is Aubrey Edward Jack Beckham (the son of Edward Charles Beckham and Queenie Violet Eldridge). Aubrey was born in Lambeth, London. David’s great-grandfather Edward was born in Walworth, Surrey, and was a chief petty officer and seaman. He was the son of William John Beckham and Harriet Fletcher. Queenie was born in Strand, London, the daughter of John Eldridge and Rose Caroline D. Alderman.
David’s paternal grandmother was Doris May Hamilton (the daughter of Charles Theodore Hamilton and Emily Beatrice Bartlett). Doris was born in West Ham, Essex. Charles was the son of Charles William Hamilton and Laura Croot. Emily was the daughter of William Henry Charles Bartlett and Charlotte Elizabeth Parkes.
David’s maternal grandfather was Joseph West (the son of James Walter West and Hannah Llewellyn). Joseph was born in London City, London, and was raised in a Jewish household.
David’s maternal grandmother was Margaret Jean Wiggins (the daughter of Ernest Albert Wiggins and Rose Aldrich). Margaret was born in Islington, London. Ernest was the son of Joseph Wiggins and Mary Ann Elizabeth Matkin. Rose was the daughter of Charles Aldrich and Elizabeth Jelliman.
Sources: https://www.ynetnews.com
Genealogies of David Beckham – http://www.wargs.com
http://www.geni.com
http://familypedia.wikia.com
David’s paternal great-grandfather, Edward Charles Beckham, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
David’s paternal great-great-grandparents, William John Beckham and Harriet Fletcher, on the 1901 England and Wales Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of David’s maternal grandfather, Joseph West – https://www.thejc.com
genealogy of David Beckham: http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/David_Robert_Joseph_Beckham_(1975)
delete these: http://www.wargs.com/other/beckham.html
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/nameindex/start_tree.php?&&tree_id=2475&from=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegenealogist.co.uk%2Ftreeview%2Ftree_view.php%3F%26%26tree_id%3D2475
Are “West” and “Llewellyn” common Jewish surnames?
There are several obituaries of Hannah West in the Jewish Chronicle, of the U.K. She had a Jewish funeral.
It’s possible that she was a convert, but I think these are more British name changes, along the lines of Andrew Garfield’s great-uncle, Kelly Savage, Paul Rudd’s Rudd and Granville lines, or Robert Kazinsky’s mother, a Redfern.
Llewellyn is a typical Welsh surname though. It could have been originally Levy, Levine or something. Btw Joseph West was def. Jewish: https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jewish-funeral-for-beckham-s-grandfather-1.12959
Also I think David could have some Scottish ancestry on his “Hamilton” line. It’s a typical Scottish surname.
William John Beckham and Harriet Fletcher were born in St Saviour, Jersey.
What makes you say that? Just about every family tree on ancestry.com has them born in England, usually in London or Surrey. Their own parents were English-born, too. Their surnames are not French.
Geni.com and wargs.com made me say that. However, they were probably of English descent wherever they were born.
Oh yes, sorry. Well, the census is probably right that they were born in London.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9HZ-Z9Q