Neil deGrasse Tyson

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

Date of Birth: October 5, 1958

Ethnicity: African-Caribbean [including Nevisian], Puerto Rican

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator.

He is the son of Sunchita Maria (Feliciano), a gerontologist, and Cyril deGrasse Tyson, a sociologist. His father was from an African-Caribbean family. His mother was born in New York, to parents from Puerto Rico. Neil is married to Alice Young, with whom he has two children.

Neil’s paternal grandparents were Albert Tyson and Altima deGrasse. Albert and Altima were born in the Caribbean, with Altima having been born in Nevis.

Neil’s maternal grandfather was Pedro Feliciano (the son of Ramon Feliciano and Asuncion Cabrera). Ramon was the son of Antonio Feliciano.

Neil’s maternal grandmother was Juana Olmo (the daughter of Ramon Olmo and Maria Perez). Maria was the daughter of Hilario Perez and Mariana Abraham.

Sources: Genealogy of Neil deGrasse Tyson –

Neil’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census –

photo by prphotos