Tommy Hilfiger

Hilfiger in 2010, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Thomas Jacob Hilfiger

Place of Birth: Elmira, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 24, 1951

Ethnicity: German, Irish, English, some Swiss-German

Tommy Hilfiger is an American fashion designer. He founded the lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger Corporation in 1985.

Tommy is the son of Virginia F. (Gerrity) and Richard C. Hilfiger. Tommy has four children with his former wife Susan Cirona; and a son with his wife, fashion designer and entrepreneur Dee Ocleppo.

Tommy has evidently said that he is a descendant of Scottish poet Robert Burns. It is not clear if this is accurate.

Tommy’s paternal grandfather was William Henry Hilfiger (the son of Jacob C. Hilfiger and Frances/Francine Graham). William was born in Pennsylvania. Jacob was the son of Rudolph Hilfiger, who was born in Safenwill, Switzerland, and of Catherine Cassel.

Tommy’s paternal grandmother was Dorothy K. Sauerbrey (the daughter of Jacob Sauerbrey and Lena Wolfe/Wolf/Woolf). Dorothy was born in New York, to German parents, her father from Neunkirchen, Ansbach, Bavaria, and her mother from Zweibrucken, Rhineland-Palatinate.

Tommy’s maternal grandfather was Thomas F. Gerrity (the son of James F. Gerrity and Agnes E. Burns). Tommy’s grandfather Thomas was born in Pennsylvania. James was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Irish parents, James Gerrity, from Westport, and Mary Gorman. Agnes was born in New Jersey, the daughter of James Burns, who was Irish, and of Margaret Kerrigan, who was born in Gibraltar, to Irish parents, from Longford.

Tommy’s maternal grandmother was Mary/Marie Margaret Kromer (the daughter of Clinton Marian/Marion Kromer and Marie/Mary E. Cahill). Tommy’s grandmother Mary Margaret was born in New York. Clinton was born in New York, to English parents. Tommy’s great-grandmother Marie/Mary E. was born in New York, to Irish parents.

Sources: Obituaries of Tommy’s parents –

Marriage record of Tommy’s paternal grandparents, William Henry Hilfiger and Dorothy K. Sauerbrey –

Tommy’s paternal grandmother, Dorothy K. Sauerbrey, on the 1920 U.S. Census –

Genealogy of Tommy’s mother (focusing on her father’s side) –

Obituary of Tommy’s mother –

Tommy’s maternal grandmother, Mary/Marie Margaret Kromer, on the 1910 U.S. Census –