Jimmy Wales

Wales in 2006, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Jimmy Donal Wales

Place of Birth: Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 7, 1966

Ethnicity: English, German, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish

Jimmy Wales is an American Internet entrepreneur, webmaster, and financial trader. He is a co-founder of online non-profit encyclopedia Wikipedia, and for-profit web hosting company Wikia. He is also known as “Jimbo.”

Jimmy is the son of Doris Ann (Dudley), who ran the small private school House of Learning with her own mother; and Jimmy Wales, a grocery store manager. He is married to English public relations executive Kate Garvey. He has a daughter with his former wife Christine Rohan; and two children with Kate. He has become a U.K. citizen.

Jimmy’s paternal grandfather was Hubert L. Wales (the son of Cord Erskin Wales and Inez C. Brock). Cord was the son of Thomas Jefferson Wales, Jr. and Mary Ann Clern.

Jimmy’s paternal grandmother was Nellie Gravitt (the daughter of Clarence Wesley Graviet/Gravitt and Bessie Lola Turner).

Jimmy’s maternal grandfather was John Earl Dudley (the son of John Eson Dudley and Mary Louise Lewenicht). Jimmy’s grandfather John was born in New York. Jimmy’s great-grandfather John’s parents were English immigrants, with his own father’s name being John E. Dudley. Mary Louise’s parents were German immigrants, with her own father’s name being Frederick Lewenicht.

Jimmy’s maternal grandmother was Erma/Enna L. Coleman (the daughter of John Dodson Coleman and Zulu M. Garrigus). Erma was born in Tennessee. John’s father was an Irish immigrant.

Sources: Genealogy of Jimmy Wales –

Marriage record of Jimmy’s maternal grandparents, John Earl Dudley and Erma/Enna L. Coleman –

Jimmy’s maternal grandparents, John Earl Dudley and Erma/Enna L. Coleman, on the 1940 U.S. Census –

Jimmy’s maternal grandfather, John Earl Dudley, on the 1920 U.S. Census –

Death record of Jimmy’s maternal grandfather, John Earl Dudley –

Marriage record of Jimmy’s maternal great-grandparents, John Eson Dudley and Mary Louise Lewenicht –

Jimmy’s maternal grandmother, Erma/Enna L. Coleman, on the 1910 U.S. Census –

Marriage record of Jimmy’s maternal great-grandparents, John Dodson Coleman and Zulu M. Garrigus –