Emmelie’s Enterprising Ancestors
Emmelie de Forest was only 20 years old when she brought Eurovision home to Denmark with “Only Teardrops” in 2013.
It was particularly fitting that Emmelie got to represent Denmark in Malmö. She was born in Denmark to a Danish mother, but her father is Swedish. She spent much of her childhood in Sweden.
Emmelie took a MyHeritage DNA test, and MyHeritage researchers combed the archives to uncover some fascinating information about Emmelie’s family history.
It was particularly fitting that Emmelie got to represent Denmark in Malmö. She was born in Denmark to a Danish mother, but her father is Swedish. She spent much of her childhood in Sweden.
Emmelie took a MyHeritage DNA test, and MyHeritage researchers combed the archives to uncover some fascinating information about Emmelie’s family history.
Frans Henry Engström, Emmelie’s paternal great-grandfather, was a successful Swedish-born photographer and filmmaker who worked in a studio called Atlier Apollon in Helsinki, Finland. He directed Finland's first feature film, Salaviinanpolttajat, among others.
Emmelie’s maternal grandfather, Knud Gudnitz (1912-1996), served as an able seaman on the Frederick VIII. His ship carried passengers from Copenhagen to Kristinia (now Oslo) and then to New York.
Knud later wrote a book, En Newfoundlandfarers erindringer, about his experiences as a sailor during the 1930s.
12 years before Knud began working as a sailor, his older half-brother Ove Høyer immigrated to the United States. It turns out that Ove arrived in New York on the Frederick VIII — the very ship his younger half-brother would sail 12 years later!
Knud later wrote a book, En Newfoundlandfarers erindringer, about his experiences as a sailor during the 1930s.
12 years before Knud began working as a sailor, his older half-brother Ove Høyer immigrated to the United States. It turns out that Ove arrived in New York on the Frederick VIII — the very ship his younger half-brother would sail 12 years later!
Paula Georgina Söderhjelm
Emmelie’s great-grandmother
Frans’s wife, Paula Georgina Söderhjelm, came from a noble family. The Söderhjelm family is listed in the book Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor by Gustaf Elgenstierna, one of Sweden’s most renowned publishers and genealogists.
As the daughter of a Dane and a Swede, it’s no surprise that Emmelie is 44.4% North and West European and 38.2% Scandinavian, but she is also 12.2% Balkan, and 5.2% Ashkenazi Jewish!
As the daughter of a Dane and a Swede, it’s no surprise that Emmelie is 44.4% North and West European and 38.2% Scandinavian, but she is also 12.2% Balkan, and 5.2% Ashkenazi Jewish!
44.4%
North and West European
38.2%
Scandinavian
12.2%
Balkan
5.2%
Ashkenazi Jewish
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