Lin-Manuel Miranda

Miranda in 2013, photo by DFree/Bigstock.com

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 16, 1980

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican [Spanish, as well as Taíno and African], along with approximately one quarter Mexican, more distant African-American and English

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American composer, lyricist, actor, singer, rapper, producer, and playwright.

He is the son of Luz Towns-Miranda, a clinical psychologist, and Luis A. Miranda, Jr., a Democratic Party consultant. He is married to Vanessa Nadal, with whom he has two children. His name, Lin-Manuel, comes from a poem, “Nana Roja Para Mi Hijo Lin Manuel,” about the Vietnam War, by Puerto Rican writer José Manuel Torres Santiago.

Three of Lin-Manuel’s grandparents were Puerto Rican. His maternal grandfather, a Texan, was of mostly Mexican descent, with his line also including distant African-American and English heritage. Through this line, Lin-Manuel is a descendant of an interracial couple, David Towns, who was white (the son of David Towns and Hannah Fox), and Sophie, who was African-American. David was of Colonial American descent, including among his ancestors soldier and politician Arthur Allen II (c. 1652-1710).

His cousin is Puerto Rican rapper, writer, and filmmaker Residente. His great-great-uncle was lawyer, journalist, author, and politician Gilberto Concepción de Gracia. He was the brother of Lin-Manuel’s great-grandfather Rafael Concepcion de Gracia.

A DNA test whose results Lin-Manuel displayed on his Twitter page stated that his genetic ancestry is:

*62.9% European
*19.4% East Asian & Native American
*9.7% Sub-Saharan African
*5.4% Unassigned
*2.7% Middle Eastern & North African

Lin-Manuel’s paternal grandfather was Luis Antonio Miranda Vega (the son of Ignacio Miranda Sánchez and Aurea Vega Nevárez). Luis was born in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. Ignacio was the son of Ignacio Miranda Marquez and Fidela Sánchez. Aurea was the daughter of Francisco Vega Sanchez and Cristobalina Nevarez Martinez.

Lin-Manuel’s paternal grandmother was Eva Arminda Concepcion Rosado (the daughter of Rafael Concepcion de Gracia and Justina Rosado Melendez). Eva was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Rafael was the son of Ceferino Concepción Alvarez and Martina Carmen de Gracia Toro.

Lin-Manuel’s maternal grandfather was Pedro Pascual Towns, Jr. (the son of Pedro Pascual Towns and Maria De La Luz Pineda). Lin-Manuel’s grandfather Pedro was born in Texas, of mostly Mexican descent. Lin-Manuel’s great-grandfather Pedro was the son of Guillermo/William Towns and Maria Genoveva/Genovera Salazar. Lin-Manuel’s great-grandmother Luz was born in Santa Rosalía, Chihuahua, México.

Lin-Manuel’s maternal grandmother was named Rafaela Felita Rosado. Rafaela was born in Corozal, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico.

Sources: Information about Lin-Manuel’s Texan family history, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – http://www.megansmolenyak.com
https://medium.com

Genealogy of Lin-Manuel’s maternal grandfather, Pedro Pascual Towns, Jr. (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com

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