Josh Dun

2015 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals

Dun in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Joshua William Dun

Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 18, 1988

Ethnicity: Irish, English, one eighth Danish, French, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, as well as distant Belgian [Flemish] and Swedish

Josh Dun is an American musician. He is the drummer of musical duo Twenty One Pilots, in which he works with Tyler Joseph.

He is the son of Laura and William Dun. He is married to actress and singer Debby Ryan, with whom he has one child.

Josh’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his tenth great-grandfather, Richard Dunn.

Josh’s paternal grandfather was Earl Owen Dun (the son of William Sells Dun and Bonnie A. Smith). Earl was born in Ohio. William was the son of William Earl Dun and Julia Crites. Bonnie was the daughter of Lewis Randolph Smith and Melda Ethel Reno.

Josh’s paternal grandmother was Eleanor Jean “Ellie” McCarthy (the daughter of Daniel Joseph McCarthy and Helen Emellia Sorenson). Eleanor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Daniel was the son of John Joseph McCarthy and Ellen M. Cardigan, who were born in Boston, Massachusetts, both of them to Irish immigrants. Helen was the daughter of Danish immigrants, Rasmus Arthur J. Sorenson and Olga Nielson.

Josh’s maternal grandfather was Carl Ward McCollum (the son of Charles Ward McCollum and Elsie Florence Whirrett). Carl was born in Van Wert, Ohio, and had deep roots in the U.S. Charles was born in Van Wert, the son of James Mounty McCollum and Elizabeth Jane Mounts. Elsie was born in Marion Township, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob Neeley Whirrett and Aliza/Alice Catherine Patton.

Josh’s maternal grandmother was Bertha Marie Moore (the daughter of Russell Arthur Moore and Lucy May Lee). Bertha was born in Columbus, Ohio, and had deep lines in the U.S. Russell was born in Scioto, Ohio, the son of John McCoy Moore and Catherine Elizabeth Carmichael. Lucy was born in Urbana, Ohio, the daughter of George Franklin Lee and Rachel Ellen Rinehart.

Josh has stated that he is a great-great-great-grandson of Edwin Dun, an American rancher, and Tsuru, his Japanese wife. Edwin advised the Japanese government on modernizing agriculture, and was an o-yatoi gaikokujin in Hokkaidō, a Japanese island, under the Hokkaidō Development Commission (Kaitakushi). However, at least through his patrilineal line, this is not accurate. Josh’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents were William E. Dun and Anna Elizabeth “Betsy” Hayes. Josh is a second cousin, four times removed, of Edwin Dun.

Sources: Genealogy of Josh Dun (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Josh’s paternal grandfather, Earl Owen Dun – http://www.legacy.com

Marriage record of Josh’s paternal great-grandparents, William Sells Dun and Bonnie A. Smith – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Josh’s paternal great-grandfather, William Sells Dun – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Josh’s paternal grandmother, Eleanor Jean “Ellie” (McCarthy) Dun – https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/eleanor-dun-obituary?id=52473292

9 Responses

  1. Erik1714 says:

    His paternal grandmother’s information is wrong:

    https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/eleanor-dun-obituary?id=52473292

    Josh’s paternal grandmother was Eleanor Jean “Ellie” McCarthy (the daughter of Daniel Joseph McCarthy and Helen Emellia Sorenson). Eleanor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Daniel was the son of John Joseph McCarthy and Ellen M. Cardigan, both born in Boston, Massachusetts to Irish immigrants. Helen was the daughter of Danish immigrants, Rasmus Arthur J. Sorenson and Olga Nielson.

    Also, his maternal side: https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/pedigree/landscape/GM7L-Z1D

    Josh’s maternal grandfather was Carl Ward McCollum (the son of Charles Ward McCollum and Elsie Florence Whirrett). Carl was born in Van Wert, Ohio, and had deep lines in America. Charles was the son of James Mounty McCollum and Elizabeth Jane Mounts. Elsie was the daughter of Jacob Neeley Whirrett and Aliza Catherine Patton.

    Josh’s maternal grandmother was Bertha Marie Moore (the daughter of Russell Arthur Moore and Lucy May Lee). Bertha was born in Columbus, Ohio, and had deep lines in America. Russell was the son of John McCoy Moore and Catherine Elizabeth Carmichael. Lucy was the daughter of George Franklin Lee and Rachel Ellen Rinehart.

  2. bablah says:

    I’m confused now. Is the obituary linked not of his grandfather?

  3. Eadun says:

    Both his paternal great grandparents are wrong
    Also he is not a blood relative of Edwin Dun, he was given misinformation by his aunt who later realized the actual relationship.

  4. napalm says:

    He says in this instagram post that his great great great grandmother was japanese
    https://www.instagram.com/p/NcPa0Nocv-/?igshid=vpw6wubzy525

  5. madman says:

    Is his mother only Scottish? If that is the case, I would write something like:
    Irish (paternal grandmother)
    Scottish (mother)

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