Gene Autry Genealogy
(aka, Orvon Grover Autry)Are You Related?

Born Orvon Grover Autry on September 29, 1907, in Tioga, Texas, Gene Autry was an American actor who came to be known as the "singing cowboy." He grew up working on his father's ranch and got his start playing guitar and singing at local dances. He was later fired from his job as a telegrapher for playing guitar and singing to himself to pass the time, especially during the late shift. In 1928, he moved to New York and signed a deal with Columbia Records a year later. His film debut was in In Old Santa Fe as part of a singing cowboy quartet. He appeared in 93 films over 19 years, as well as his television series, The Gene Autry Show. Autry personified the "white hat," straight-shooting hero and helped to create the genre of country western music. In addition, he sang famous Christmas holiday songs "Here Comes Santa Claus," ÒFrosty the Snowman," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." An avid baseball fan, he was one of the original owners of the Anaheim Angels. Autry is the only person to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for each category (motion pictures, radio, recording, television, and live theater). The town of Berwyn, Oklahoma, was renamed in his honor. He was married twiceÑto Ina May Spivey and Jacqueline Ellam.

Gene Autry's last name, 'Autry,' is a Scottish name from Kirkcudbrightshire in Southwestern Scotland, where the family held a seat. Other spellings include "MacAughtrie" "MacAutry," "Autrey," "Autrie," "Caughtry," and "McOrtie."
The first known Autry relatives to come to America were Ribert and Jane Caughtry in Pennsylvania in 1804.