Welsh Celebrities’ Roots
· Anthony Hopkins – Port Talbot and Neath roots
His maternal grandmother, Sophia Phillips, and his maternal great-grandparents, Thomas and Hannah Phillips, are recorded in the 1911 census as living in Aberavon, Port Talbot. Sophia was working as a dressmaker, while Thomas was a Railway Guard for the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. The family could speak both English and Welsh.
His maternal grandfather, Thomas Frederick Yeates was living as a boarder just around the corner from his future wife, Sophia in Velindre Road. Thomas worked at the Port Talbot steelworks after relocating from Swindon and spoke only English.
Hopkins’ father, Richard Hopkins, is recorded in the census as living in Bermondsey, London, with Anthony’s grandparents Richard and Emma Hopkins in 1911. Richard senior describes his occupation as a “confectioner” in the biscuit making trade. The census return records Richard senior’s place of birth as Neath, Wales, and further records show that Richard junior moved back to Neath in due course, marrying Anthony’s mother there in 1936.
· Charlotte Church – Cardiff and Swansea roots
Charlotte’s maternal great-grandfather Arthur Cooper was recorded in the census as living with his widowed mother, Rachel, in Cardiff. His occupation was recorded as a boot maker. Rachel, Charlotte’s great-great-grandmother, gave birth to a staggering 15 children, of which only seven survived.
Mary O’Grady, Charlotte’s maternal great-grandmother on the other side of the family, was recorded as a one year old living with her parents William and Elizabeth O’Grady (Charlotte’s great-great-grandparents) in Cardiff. William O’Grady was born in Swansea and was employed as a Ship Painter at Cardiff docks.
· Cerys Matthews - Pontypridd roots
Gwenddydd Maddocks, Cerys’ paternal grandmother, was living with her parents, Cerys’ great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth Maddocks at the time of the 1911 census in Abercynon, Pontypridd. John Maddocks was a grocer, owning his own successful business which allowed the family to live in a six-roomed house and employ a domestic servant. All members of the household spoke both English and Welsh.
· Richard Burton – Port Talbot roots
Richard Burton‘s parents Richard and Edith Maud Jenkins were recorded as living in Pontrhydyfen, Port Talbot with their four children at the time of the census. Richard Burton would be the 12th child born to the Jenkins family. Burton’s father is recorded as working as a Collier Hewer.
· Duffy – Pwllheli roots
Duffy’s maternal great-great grandfather Thomas Parry and his eight children, including Duffy’s great-grandfather Moses Parry, are listed on the 1911 census as living in a two-roomed house in Pwllheli. Thomas was working as a general labourer and his wife had sadly died. Moses Parry actually has another entry in the 1911 census. He was also listed as an inmate of the Offerton Certified Industrial School in Cheshire. Such schools had been set up to provide education and training for impoverished children.
· Tom Jones – Pontypridd, Cardiff and English roots
Tom’s father Thomas Woodward was recorded on the 1911 census aged one and living with his parents James and Annie Woodward, Tom’s paternal grandparents, in Pontypridd. James Woodward was employed as an Ironmonger’s Haulier. Tom’s paternal grandparents had both moved to Wales from England; James was born in Gloucestershire while Annie was born in Wiltshire.
Tom’s maternal grandparents Albert and Ada Jones were also living in Pontypridd in 1911. Albert was working as a Coal Miner Hewer and the record states that Albert had been born in Cardiff while Ada was born in Pontypridd.
Ada’s parents, Henry and Jane Osman, Tom’s maternal great-grandparents, were also living in Pontypridd in 1911. Henry recorded himself as a retired labourer. The pair had also moved to Wales from England; Henry was born in Somerset while Jane was born in Wiltshire.
· Kylie Minogue – Bridgend, Maesteg and Ffestiniog roots
Kylie’s maternal great-grandfather George Morgan Riddiford was living with his parents, Kylie’s great-great-grandparents, Morgan and Mary Riddiford in Bridgend at the time of the 1911 census. Morgan was employed as a Mason’s Labourer in a Colliery.
Kylie’s maternal great-grandmother Maggie Hughes was living with her parents, Kylie’s great-great-grandparents, Elias and Margaret Hughes in Maesteg in 1911. Elias was a Colliery Labourer and had been born in North Wales. Margaret and the majority of her children had been born in Merionethshire. This included Maggie who had been born in Ffestiniog. The family could speak both English and Welsh.
