Cyndi Lauper Traces Her Rebel Spirit Back to Her Great-Grandfather | Finding Your Roots

Entertainment
17 April 2023
by Ancestry® Team

Ancestry® is proud to support Finding Your Roots on PBS.

Musician and activist Cyndi Lauper learns her 7th great-grandfather organized a historic rebel movement in 15th-century Switzerland on PBS’s Finding Your Roots.

“Pop star Cyndi Lauper has deep roots in Switzerland where her father’s ancestors farmed the land for generations. But one of these ancestors did more than farm. Cyndi’s seventh great-grandfather, Christen Lauper, was involved in a seminal event in his nation’s history. In the early 1650s, Switzerland suffered a severe economic downturn and instead of helping the peasant farmers, the government devalued its currency, cutting the peasant savings in half.

“In response, the peasants began to organize a revolt. Cyndi, who’s devoted herself to an array of social causes, wondered how her ancestor responded. In the Swiss state archives we found Christen listed among the rebels….”

Watch the video to learn more.

Watch all new episodes of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Tuesdays at 8/7c on PBS. Learn more or check your local PBS listings.