RIP: Wayde Douglas Bowles AKA Rocky Johnson (Father of The Rock). What can you contribute to his profile?

Question

The father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,  WWE Athlete has died today.  Can we get his line put on WikiTree?

Comments

Great opporunity for someone with Hawaiian / Samoan expertise.

---

The Rocks line is a fun one.  

1. Need to know how and when they used Professional Names and Birth Names.

2. Need to understand Hawaiian and Samoan naming traditions.

3. Need to look for adoptions and use of biological and adoptive names.

This is a very blended family to track.

---

I believe the Hawaiian/Samoan ancestry is on The Rock's mother's side. However, I recall hearing that his father Rocky Johnson has French-Canadian roots.

---

Thanks for clarifying, James.  French Canadian genealogy presents its own challenges!

Answer 1

Michael, are you familiar with Tom Laporte's excellent website? He is an excellent resource for all things Bowles, especially in Canada. And the Rock descended from a free black man named James Bowles who arrived in Nova Scotia as a Loyalist in 1783.

See the relevant page from Tom's site here http://bowlesfamilyhistory.ca/BlackBowlesFamiliesofCumberland.htm

There is also a tree which connects Wayde to James Bowles here http://bowlesfamilyhistory.ca/jamesbowlesamherstfamilytree.html

Comments

Excellent Dave! Thanks for sharing.

Answer 2

I updated him with the Notables sticker and tagged him with the Wrestling category.

Answer 3

I have been a pro wrestler for 49 years so far and knew Rocky Johnson. He is Canadian and legally changed his name early in his career. He's not Samoan, his ex wife is Samoan and the daughter of wrestler and promoter Chief Peter Maiva (spelled different ways during his wrestling career. Also, it's not his real name.) I'll be glad to answer any questions I can and help in any way possible.

Comments

Sandra, wonderful of you to find us and offer to help.  Thank you.