The Royal Roots of Betty White

Betty Marion White was born on January 17th, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois to Horace Logan White and Christine Cachikis. Betty's career in acting began on the radio in the 1940's. Her first jobs were small parts and reading radio commercials on the air. After appearing on several radio programs, Betty got her own show called, The Betty White Show which she hosted for a time until she began co-hosting Hollywood on Television with Al Jarvis. From there, Betty's career has taken off. She has won eight Emmy Awards, has appeared and starred in numerous television shows, including the Golden Girls, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Hot in Cleveland, and has been in films including, The Proposal, The Lorax, and recently, Toy Story 4.

Betty White's royal roots can be found on the family line of her paternal grandmother, Etta K Lundy. Etta Lundy was born on June 13th, 1863 in Aurora, Canada to Horace Dean Lundy and Catherine A Harris. According to the 1891 Canadian Census, the parents of Horace Lundy, Enos Lundy and Margaret Bostwick, were both born in the United States. Enos died August, 10th, 1886 at age 91. According to his memorial on findagrave.com, his parents were Enos Lundy and Rachel Carpenter.

Enos Lundy Senior was born on January 31st, 1748 in New Jersey to Joseph Lundy and Susanna Hutton. Enos's father Richard was the child of Richard Lundy and Jane Lyon. Richard was born May 20th, 1692 in Pennsylvania but would later move with his family to New Jersey. According to records, it appears that the Lundy family were Quakers because the death of Richard on February 22nd, 1772, appears in the the Quaker meeting minutes from the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

Betty White's 6x Great-Grandfather, Richard Lundy, was born in 1654 in Aminster, England. He was the only child of Sylvester Lundy and Mary Lindon and is the one who brought the Lundy family to the United States about 100 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Richard would later go on to be a settler in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and would also eventually become an Elder in the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers.

Not much is known about Sylvester Lundy. He was born October 8th, 1622 in Devon, England to Richard Lyndye and Rebecca Mallocke. Sylvester would go on to marry Mary Lindon and have and would raise their son Richard. Sylvester died on November 10th, 1697 in Devon, England. The grandfather of Sylvester Lundy, Betty White's 9x Great-Grandfather, was Sir Nathaniel Lyndye III of Dunstable, England. He is buried at De La Lynde Cemetery in Dunstable, England after dying at age 30. This is the first of many ancestors with titles to come in Betty White's family tree but for that, we would have to look back another 200 years.

Sir Nathaniel Lyndye III's grandmother was Frances Cotton. Frances Cotton was born in 1500 to Clement Cotton and Constance Leventhorpe. Clement Cotton was born in 1475 in Cambridgeshire, England to Clement Montrevil Cotton and an unknown mother. His father Clement Montrevil Cotton was born in 1448 in London to Walter Cotton and Blanche Fraunceys. Clement would later marry Magdalena Mudwin Doggett in 1460, but it is unknown if she is the mother of Clement Cotton.

Clement's grandfather, Walter Cotton, along with most of the Cotton family from the 15th and 18th Centuries are buried at St. Nicholas Church Landwade. The church is still around to this day and appears to still be functioning.

Walter's grandmother, Betty White's 17x Great-Grandmother, Alice de Hastings, is where we start to find more prominent figures. Her father, John de Hastings II, served as the 2nd Baron of Hastings. John de Hastings also served under King Edward II in the First War of Scottish Independence. John de Hastings died on January 20th, 1325 in England and is buried at the Priory Church of St. Mary Abergavenny in Wales.

Sir John de Hastings I was born May 6th, 1262 in Allesley, England to Si Henry de Hastings and Joan de Cantelowe. Sir John de Hastings I served as the First Baron of Hastings and would receive the title of Baron Bergavenny on June 23rd, 1295. When he was given this title, Sir John de Hastings I also inherited Abergavenny Castle.

Sir John de Hastings I attempted to lay claim to the Scottish throne but was unsuccessful. Sir John de Hastings I died February 28th, 1313, age 50, in Wales.

Betty White's 20x Great-Grandfather Sir Henry de Hastings II was born in 1235 in Norfolk, England to Sir Henry de Hastings I and Ada Huntingdon and was a knight of Lidgate. In 1260, Sir Henry de Hastings II was summoned to Shrewsbury by King Henry III to fight against the Welsh. However, Sir Henry de Hastings II became of the most prominent barons to rise against King Henry III. For this, Sir Henry de Hastings II was excommunicated from the church by Boniface, the Archbishop of Canterbury. On August 4th, 1265, Sir Henry de Hastings II fought at the Battle of Evesham under Simon de Montfort against Edward I. Sir Henry de Hastings II was wounded during this battle and taken prisoner. Sir Henry de Hastings would be fully pardoned by the King on July 27th, 1267 and died two years later on March 4th, 1269 at age 34.

Sir Henry de Hastings' maternal grandfather, Betty White's 22x Great-Grandfather, was David Huntingdon, also know as David of Scotland. David was born in 1144 in Huntingdon, England to Henry de Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne. David was the youngest surviving son of his parents and served as Earl of Huntingdon, a title he was given after his brother William became King of Scotland. David would marry Maud de Chester and the two would have seven children together, Margaret, Isobel, John, Robert, Henry, Matilda, and Ada. David died on June 17th, 1219 at age 74 and is now buried in Sawtry Abbey in England.

Henry de Huntingdon was born in 1114 in Dunfermline, Scotland to David I, King of Scotland and Maud, the 2nd Countess of Huntingdon. Henry de Huntingdon would later be known as Henry of Scotland. Henry was a Scottish Prince and served as Earl of Northumberland and Earl of the Honor of Huntingdon and Northampton. Henry died suddenly on June 12th, 1152 at age 37 due to being in poor health most of his life. Henry was described as being compassionate to the poor and pursued justice for his people. He is now buried at Kelso Abbey in Kelso, Scotland.

David I, King of Scots was born in 1080 in Scotland to King Malcom III and Saint Margaret of Scotland. David I became King of Scotland in 1124 after his brother Alexander. David I is credited with introducing the Roman Catholic Church into Scotland, a process begun by his mother. He is also credited with bringing the orders of the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller to Scotland. David I and his wife Matilda had four children together, however, all four of them predeceased him. When David I died on May 24th, 1153, the thrown was given to his grandson, William I, also known as "the Lion".

Betty White's 25x Great-Grandfather, Malcom Ceann-Mor, later known as King Malcom III, was born March 26th, 1031 to King Duncan I and Elfaed. Malcom III, became King on April 25th, 1058 after the death of his father. In 1093, Malcom III and some of his sons were fighting in Northumbria, while Malcom III was trying to lay claim to Northumbria, Malcom and his sons Edward and Aethelred were killed in an ambush on November 13th, 1093. It is believed that his wife Saint Margaret, died just three days later. He was succeeded by his son Edgar.

White's 26x Great-Grandfather, King Duncan I, was born in 1001 in Scotland to Bethoc and King Malcom II, Earl of Atholl. Duncan I became King in 1034 after the death of his grandfather. Duncan only ruled for six years before he was killed on August 15th, 1040 while he was in battle against MacBeth. King Duncan I is the historical basis for the character of King Duncan in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

King Malcom II was born in 954 in Scotland and is the son King Kenneth II. King Malcom II became King in 1005. King Malcom II is credited with obtaining the land that makes up modern-day Scotland. King Malcom II reigned for 29 years before his death on November 25th, 1034.

Betty White's 29x Great-Grandfather, King Kenneth II, was born in 932 and was the son of King Malcom I. Kenneth II became King in 971 after the death of King Cuilen. Kenneth II died in the 995 at age 65 after he was killed by his own subjects in Fettercain, Scotland.

King Malcom I, Betty White's 30x Great-Grandfather, was born in 897 and is the son of King Donald II. Malcom I became king in 943 after his cousin, Constantine II abdicated the throne to become a monk. During his reign, he was able to annex to areas of Moray and Cumbria. King Malcom I's reign ended in 954 when he was killed in battle with Vikings, he was 56 years old.

King Donald II was born in 862 and is the son of King Constantine I. King Donald II's reign began in 889 after the death of King Giric. King Donald II died in 900 while in battle against the Danes at Dunnottar, Scotland.

King Constantine I was born in 836 and is the son of King Kenneth MacAlpin. King Constantine I became King in 863 after the death of King Donald I. King Constantine I reigned for 14 years, until 877, when he was beheaded during a battle with the Danes at York.

Betty White's furthest ancestor is King Kenneth MacAplin, also known as King Kenneth I. He is Betty White's 33x Great-Grandfather and was the first King of Scotland. Kenneth became King in 841 and during his rule united the two kingdoms in Scotland and moved the capital from Dunndald to Scone. King Kenneth died February 6th, 859 at age 48 and was succeeded by his brother Donald.