"On the other hand, my mind is completely blown."

The family history of a family used to be difficult to find. But thanks to DNA testing and online databases for ancestry information, it is now easier than ever to access genealogical information. Although it is possible to put together a complete family tree with some effort, it is sometimes best to hire professionals -- which is what many celebrities have done. After working with genealogists on shows such as "Finding Your Roots," and "Who Do You Think You are?" Some celebs have made some pretty amazing discoveries about their families.

Continue reading to learn more about these celebrities' family history.

1. Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts revealed that her whole life she has been living under the wrong name during a appearance on "Finding Your Roots." Genealogy research revealed that she is not actually a descendant of who was believed to be her great-great-grandfather, Willis Roberts. Instead, it was uncovered that Willis had been deceased more than ten years before her great-grandfather, John, was born to her great-great-grandmother, Rhoda Suttle Roberts. Her DNA indicated that Henry McDonald Mitchell Jr. was her biological great-grandfather.

"On the other hand, my mind is blown." Julia stated that it was fascinating. "On the other hand, I can wrap my arms around it when I'm calmer. Roberts is my preferred name.

2. Bernie Sanders

It turns out that Bernie Sanders doesn't just appear to be Larry David on Saturday Night Live -- they are actually related! Both men were able to discover that their DNA was distantly related when they appeared together in "Finding Your Roots."

"You're kidding! Oh my God! It is amazing," Bernie stated during the episode. He later added, "People tell me they talk about Larry David. I reply that he does a better Bernie Sanders job than I do."

3. Edward Norton

Edward Norton's family believed they were related to Pocahontas, but it wasn’t until the actor appeared in "Finding Your Roots” that this was proven to be true. He learned about his family's history and discovered that his 12th great-grandmother is a Powhatan woman from 17th century.

"This is as far back as you can get, unless your a Viking." Edward stated that it makes you realize how small a part of the human story you are."

4. RuPaul

RuPaul learned that Cory Booker was his relative during an episode of "Finding Your Roots". The "Drag Race” host was delighted to discover that they were genetic cousins.

He looks just like me. He has a sweetness that I love and an undisputed intellect. RuPaul stated during the episode that he always thinks of Yula, his cousin.

5. Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei discovered that she is related to Julianne Moore, one of her former co stars. Marisa learned that Julianne and she are genetic cousins while appearing on "Finding Your Roots." Julianne was shocked to hear the news and took to Instagram to share it.

"I KNEW WE WERE ALIKE! @marisatomei is MY COUSIN! Julianne wrote: OMG! I'm so excited. Thank you @henrylouisgates, we now know that we have identical DNA segments."

6. Scott Foley

"Who Do You Think You are?" Scott Foley discovered that Samuel Wardwell, his eighth great-grandfather was a victim of the Salem Witch Trials. Scott discovered that Samuel Wardwell was being tried by Salem Witch Trials after a girl claimed he had "afflicted" her with witchcraft acts. Another man claimed Samuel could see the future. He was eventually sentenced to death.

7. George Clooney

George Clooney discovered that Abraham Lincoln was his relative in 2012. Ancestry.com says Clooney is the half first cousin of Abraham Lincoln five times. The genealogy site revealed that their ancestors were both half-siblings, while breaking down the connection. Specifically, Lincoln's mother Nancy Hanks is the half-sister to George's fourth great grandmother Mary Ann Sparrow.

Michelle Ercanbrack, the website's administrator, told People that she noticed similarities in the names and locations of Abraham Lincoln's and George Clooney’s trees. "They both have deep roots from Kentucky so once we focused in on that we were in a position to see if there was a connection between them."

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Title: 7 ​​Celebrities Who Discovered Wild Things About Their Family History
Sourced From: toofab.com/2023/02/19/7-celebrities-who-discovered-wild-things-about-their-family-history/
Published Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2023 14:00:34 +0000

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