Birth name: Anthony Lee Ervin
Place of Birth: Valencia, California
Date of Birth: May 26, 1981
Ethnicity:
*African-American, some English, remote Dutch (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Anthony Ervin is an American Olympic gold medalist in the sport of swimming. He won the Olympic gold medal in 2000 and 2016 in the 50 meter freestyle event.
Anthony’s father is African-American, and also has English, and remote Dutch, ancestry. Some sources state that Anthony’s father also has Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this Native American ancestry has been verified/documented.
Anthony’s mother is Ashkenazi Jewish.
Anthony is the first American swimmer of African-American descent to make the U.S. Olympic team. He is a practicing Zen Buddhist.
Anthony’s paternal grandfather was Ed Sawyer Ervin (the son of Eddie Ervin and Mamie Pettway). Eddie was the son of John Ervin and Sarah Grantsberry.
Anthony’s paternal grandmother was Willie Lee Diggs (the daughter of Daniel Harris Diggs and Willie Henry Slaughter). Daniel was the son of Benjamin Franklin Digges and Molly Harris Turner. Willie was the daughter of William Henry Slaughter and Sarah Caroline Cole.
Sources: New York Times article – http://www.nytimes.com
Genealogy of Anthony Ervin (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com