Don Bradman

Birth Name: Donald George Bradman

Date of Birth: 27 August, 1908

Place of Birth: Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia

Date of Death: 25 February, 2001

Place of Death: Kensington Park, South Australia, Australia

Ethnicity: English, as well as one eighth Italian

Sir Don Bradman was an Australian international cricketer. He is regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. He was nicknamed “The Don,” “The Boy from Bowral,” “Braddles,” and “The White Headley.”

Don was the youngest of six children of Emily Lillian (Whatman) and George Bradman. He was raised mostly in the town of Bowral, New South Wales. His maternal great-grandfather was one of the first Italians to immigrate to Australia. He was married to Lady Jessie Martha (Menzies), until his death, with whom he had three children, including academic John Bradman. His grandchildren include operatic soprano Greta Bradman.

Don’s paternal grandfather was Charles Andrew Bradman (the son of John Bradnam/Bradman and Lucy Rawlinson). Charles was born in Withersfield, Suffolk, England, and emigrated to Australia as a teenager in 1852. John was born in Withersfield, the son of John Bradnam/Bradman and Ann/Anne Highner/Hiner/Hyner. Lucy was born in Withersfield, the daughter of John Rawlinson and Mary Mead.

Don’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Biffin/Biffen (the daughter of Thomas William Biffin and Grace Goodfellow). Elizabeth was born in Mittagong, Wingecarribee Shire Council, New South Wales, Australia, to parents from Wiltshire, England, her father from West Lavington and her mother from Fovant. Thomas was the son of John or William Beaven/Bevan/Biffin and Susannah Yates/Pritchard. Grace was the daughter of Francis Goodfellow and Hannah/Diana/Dinah Lawrence.

Don’s maternal grandfather was William George Whatman (the son of Henry Whatman and Mary Jessie Frances Eldridge). William was born in Bong Bong, New South Wales, to English parents, from Brede, Sussex, who had moved to New South Wales in 1839. Henry was the son of William Whatman/Watman and Mercy/Marcia Furner. Mary was the daughter of Jesse Eldridge and Frances Ann Simmons.

Don’s maternal grandmother was Sophia Jane Neich/Neach (the daughter of Emanuel Sebastiano Danero/Neich and Mary Cupitt). Sophia was born in Mittagong, New South Wales. Emanuel was born in Genova, Liguria, Italy, and moved to Australia in 1826. He was the son of Pietro Antonio Danero and Angela Gardella. Don’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Windsor, New South Wales, the daughter of William Augustus Cupitt, a farmer, whose parents were English, with roots in Derbyshire; and of Rebecca Gettis Charlton, whose family was also English, with roots in Wiltshire and Shropshire.

Sources: Genealogies of Don Bradman – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com
https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.findagrave.com