Ahmet Zappa

Zappa in 2012, photo by Starfrenzy/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: May 15, 1974

Ethnicity:
*50% Italian [Sicilian, Neapolitan]
*25% Portuguese/Azorean
*25% mix of German, as well as Dutch and Irish

Ahmet Zappa is an American writer, musician, producer, and publisher.

He is the son of businessperson Gail Zappa (born Adelaide Gail Sloatman) and musician, songwriter, and composer Frank Zappa. Ahmet is named after Turkish-born music executive Ahmet Ertegun. He is the brother of rock guitarist and actor Dweezil Zappa, actress, singer, and author Moon Zappa, and artist and actress Diva Zappa. Ahmet is married to designer and writer Shana Muldoon, with whom he has two children. Shana is the sister of actor and musician Patrick Muldoon. Ahmet is a cousin of model and actress Lala Sloatman.

Ahmet’s father was of Italian [Sicilian, Neapolitan] descent. Ahmet’s maternal grandfather was of German, as well as Dutch and Irish, descent, and his maternal grandmother was from a Portuguese family. Ahmet’s father said that he also had French, Greek, and/or Arab ancestry. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented. In the book Zappa, 1993, by Barry Miles, Ahmet’s mother’s ancestry was described as “Danish, Irish, Portuguese, and French.” It is not clear if these lineages have been verified, either. One of Ahmet’s third great-grandfathers, William A. Sloatman, was apparently born in Denmark, but of German descent.

Ahmet’s paternal grandfather was Francis Vincent Zappa (the son of Vincenzo/Vincent Zappa and Rosaria “Rosa” DeLorenzo/Di Lorenzo). Francis was born in Partinico, Sicily.

Ahmet’s paternal grandmother was Rose “Rosie” Marie Colimore (the daughter of Charles Louis “Charlie” Colimore and Theresa Fava). Rose was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Italian parents.

Ahmet’s maternal grandfather was John Klein Sloatman (the son of John Klein Sloatman and Grace Maxwell Herman). Ahmet’s grandfather John was born in New Jersey. Ahmet’s great-grandfather John was the son of William Charles Sloatman and Emily Klein, and was of German descent. Grace was the daughter of Henry Edwin Herman, who was likely of German descent; and of Mary C. Van Hoesen, whose father was of Dutch descent and whose maternal grandparents were Irish.

Ahmet’s maternal grandmother was Laura Freitas (the daughter of Arthur Freitas and Adelaide De Silva). Laura was born in Hawaii. Arthur was born in Hawaii, to Portuguese parents, Antonio Joaquin De Freitas and Maria Violante Pitta, from Calheta, Azores. Adelaide’s parents were also Portuguese.

Sources: Pages from the biography Zappa, 1993 –

Genealogy of Ahmet Zappa –

Genealogy of Ahmet’s father –

Ahmet’s paternal grandfather, Francis Vincent Zappa, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Ahmet’s paternal grandmother, Rose “Rosie” Marie Colimore, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Ahmet’s maternal great-grandfather, John Klein Sloatman, on the 1900 U.S. Census –

Ahmet’s maternal great-great-grandfather, William Charles Sloatman, on the 1880 U.S. Census –

Ahmet’s maternal grandmother, Laura Freitas, on the 1930 U.S. Census –