Can you guess what Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, and Avril Lavigne all have in common with each other? Each of them also has the same thing in common with Celine Dion. Ancestry.com has figured out that all of these Canadian celebrities are actually related to each other.
Not too long ago, Justin Bieber said he thought he was “part inuit or something”. While that particular genealogical claim has yet to be verified, Ancestry.com has discovered a few people that he truly is related to. Justin Bieber’s family tree connects with those of Ryan Gosling, Avril Lavigne, and Celine Dion. All of these famous Canadians are related to him.
Ancestry.com has a very detailed family tree on their blog that shows more information about the branches of the family trees that connect the famous Canadians. Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling are 11th cousins. They share a bloodline with Mathurin Roy, and his wife, Marguerite Bire. According to Ancestry.com, both Mathurin Roy and Marguerite Bire were born in France in the early 1600’s. They later immigrated to Quebec. Roy was a mason.
Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne are 12th cousins. Each of them can trace their line back to Mathurin Roy and Maguerite Bire. The link that connects the family tree of Avril Lavigne and the family tree of Justin Bieber started when Mathurin Roy and Maguerite Bire got married to each other.
The familial connection between Justin Bieber and Celine Dion is a bit more complicated. Technically, they are 10th cousins, three times removed. Their two family trees connect through Jacques Vezina and Marie Boisdon. These two ancestors were natives of France who immigrated to Quebec in the 17th century. (Much like Mathurin Roy and Maguerite Bire did in the 16th century).
Mathurin Roy, Magureite Bire, Jacques Vezina, and Marie Boisdon lived, and died, centuries ago. You have probably never heard their names before, unless they just so happen to be part of your family tree as well. Interestingly, the long term result of the connections between those people are what links up to four people whose names are very well known today.
I suppose it could be said that, depending on if you like the musical and/or acting abilities of Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, Avril Lavigne, or Celine Dion, you now know the names of the ancestors to either thank or blame for it. At least a few of the commenters on the Ancestry.com blog indicated that they, too, belong to the same family tree as the four famous Canadians do.
Image by iloveJB123 on Flickr