Birth Name: Maria Viktoria Mena
Place of Birth: Oslo, Norway
Date of Birth: 19 February, 1986
Ethnicity:
*father – Nicaraguan [African, Indigenous]
*mother – Norwegian
Maria Mena is a Norwegian pop artist. Her father, Charles Mena, is a drummer, who was born in Nicaragua, and moved to New York City at a young age, with his own mother; he is of African and Indigenous Nicaraguan descent. Her mother, Anne Orstad, is Norwegian. Maria and her brother Tony are named after characters from West Side Story.
Maria’s paternal great-grandmother was named Elaine, and was the daughter of baseball player Timothy Mena Hodgson.
Maria’s maternal grandfather was Kalle Orstad (the son of Karl Linderoth Hansen Orstad and Serina Marceliusdatter Øksnevad). Kalle was born in Stavanger, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway. Karl was the son of Hans Reiersen Orstad and Christine Andreasdatter Bjelland. Serina was the daughter of Sven Marcelius Martinsen Skjæveland and Ane Bertine Olsdatter Øvre Østraadt.
Maria’s maternal grandmother was Berit Bratland (the daughter of Trygve Olav Hansen, later Bratland, and Emma Kaspara Sofie Horgen). Berit was born in Oppegard, Oppegård, Akershus, Norway. Trygve was the son of Olaus Hansen Eriksrud and Mathea Børresdatter Klumsten. Emma was the daughter of Aksel Julius Horgen and Karen Elise Faale.
Sources:
Genealogy of Maria Mena (focusing on her mother’s side) –
Confirmation record of Maria’s maternal great-grandfather, Karl Linderoth Hansen Orstad –
Confirmation record of Maria’s maternal great-grandmother, Serina Marceliusdatter Øksnevad –
