Yauch in 2009, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Adam Nathaniel Yauch

Date of Birth: August 5, 1964

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

Date of Death: May 4, 2012

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

Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, as well as German and French
*mother – Ashkenazi Jewish

Adam Yauch was an American rapper, bass player, filmmaker, and human rights activist. He was a member of hip hop/rap rock group Beastie Boys. Other members included Ad-Rock and Mike D. Adam co-founded Beastie Boys, playing the bass and vocals. He later developed his lyrical skills as the trio moved towards a more hip hop sound. He was also known as MC Adam, MCA, Nathanial Hörnblowér, Bloach, and Abednego.

His father was an architect and his mother was a social worker. Adam’s father is of five eighths Irish, one quarter German, and one eighth French, descent, and was raised Catholic. Adam’s mother is Jewish, of Austrian Jewish, Hungarian Jewish, and Polish Jewish descent.

Adam converted to Tibetan Buddhism and started the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization seeking an independent Tibet. He was survived by his wife Dechen Wangdu, a Tibetan-American, and by their daughter, Losel.

Adam’s paternal grandfather was Wilbert Christ Yauch (the son of Christopher/Christ Yauch and Anna “Annie” Louden). Wilbert was born in Michigan. Adam’s great-grandfather Christopher was born in Michigan, to German parents, Christopher/Christian “Christ” Jauch/Yauch, from Württemberg, and Catherine/Katherine “Kate” Kaulp/Kaupp. Anna was born in Scotland, to Irish parents, Andrew Louden and Jane.

Adam’s paternal grandmother was Anna Virginia Power (the daughter of Edward Daniel Power and Anna M. Rooney Pinaud). Adam’s grandmother Anna was born in Kansas. Edward was born in Missouri, the son of Irish parents, Edward Power and Agnes McAlister, from County Antrim. Adam’s great-grandmother Anna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Eugene Pinaud, who was French, from Aude, and Annie Therese Sweeney, who was Irish, from Dublin.

Adam’s maternal grandfather was Nathan Goldberg (the son of Ephraim “Frank” Goldberg and Elka “Alice” Schlanger/Schlenger). Nathan was an Austrian Jew. Ephraim was the son of Theodore Goldberg and Jeanette Fliss. Elka was born in Sokołów, Pruszków County, Poland, the daughter of Kalman Schlanger and Martha Lieberman.

Adam’s maternal grandmother was Jennie Grossman (the daughter of Aaron Grossman and Pearl Etta Weinberger/Weinberg). Jennie was born in New York, to Hungarian Jewish parents.

Sources: Genealogies of Adam Yauch –

Adam’s paternal grandmother, Anna Virginia Power, on the 1910 U.S. Census –
Anna Virginia Power on the 1920 U.S. Census –

Marriage records of Adam’s maternal grandparents, Nathan Goldberg and Jennie Grossman –

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