answersLogoWhite

0

There are twelve, counting the current president ,Obama, but only two with ancestors that would be likely to wear green on St. Patrick's day. John F. Kennedy was the first President of 100% Catholic Irish heritage, Ronald Reaganwas of Catholic Irish ancestry (originally O'Reagan) but his family converted to Protestantism after moving to America.

There had been several Presidents of "Scotch-Irish", i.e. Protestant Irish ancestry, mostly from Northern Ireland, which is now a separate country from Eire and whose people have quite different ethnic backgrounds and languages.

The first was Andrew Jackson, followed by James K Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, Woodrow Wilson, Harry S Truman ,Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on his mother's side. Both of Jackson's parents were actually born in Ireland, as was Chester Arthur's father.

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

MaxineMaxine
I respect you enough to keep it real.
Chat with Maxine
FranFran
I've made my fair share of mistakes, and if I can help you avoid a few, I'd sure like to try.
Chat with Fran
DevinDevin
I've poured enough drinks to know that people don't always want advice—they just want to talk.
Chat with Devin
More answers

About 20% have at least one Irish ancestor. The vast majority of the Irish ancestors were what were are called Scotch-Irish from northern Ireland .

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
User Avatar

22 have Scot/Irish heritage. Jackson's parents were Irish immigrants.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
User Avatar

two Kennedy and Reagan

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How many US presidents had Irish heritage?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp