When you think of the Kardashians, you probably think of Calabasas, private jets, and that very specific "Valley Girl" accent that has launched a thousand TikTok parodies. But if you’ve ever watched an episode of their show where they’re eating "beeshe" (an Armenian fried pancake) or seen Kim lobbying the White House regarding the Armenian Genocide, you know there is a lot more to the story than just being "American."
So, what is the nationality of the Kardashians? Basically, they are American. That is their nationality. They were born in the United States, they hold U.S. passports, and they’ve lived their entire lives in the glare of the Hollywood spotlight. But honestly, when people ask about their "nationality," what they’re usually curious about is their ethnicity.
The Kardashian sisters—Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé—along with their brother Rob, are a mix of Armenian and Western European heritage. It is a family tree that stretches from the mountains of the Caucasus to the rainy hills of Scotland.
Breaking Down the Kardashian Nationality and Family Tree
To understand why this is such a frequent Google search, you have to look at the two people who started it all: Robert Kardashian Sr. and Kris Jenner.
The Armenian Connection: Robert Kardashian Sr.
Robert Kardashian Sr., the famed attorney who defended O.J. Simpson, was a third-generation Armenian-American. His family’s story is actually quite intense. His great-grandparents were ethnic Armenians who lived in what was then the Russian Empire (specifically the provinces of Kars and Ardahan, which are now part of modern-day Turkey).
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In the early 1900s, urged by a "prophet" in their village who warned of a coming disaster, the family fled to the United States. This move was incredibly lucky; they managed to escape the Armenian Genocide that began in 1915. They settled in Los Angeles, where the family eventually built a successful meat-packing and garbage-hauling business.
Because Robert Sr. was 100% Armenian, his children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob—are 50% Armenian.
The "All-American" Matriarch: Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner, on the other hand, provides the other half of the genetic puzzle. Kris (born Kristen Mary Houghton) has a heritage that is a bit of a European "greatest hits" collection. Her ancestry includes:
- Dutch
- English
- Irish
- German
- Scottish
So, while the Kardashian siblings have that distinct Middle Eastern look often associated with Armenian heritage—dark hair, olive skin, and almond-shaped eyes—they are also very much tied to Western Europe through their mother.
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Are the Jenners Different?
It's a common mistake to lump Kendall and Kylie Jenner into the same bucket. While they share the same mother (Kris), their father is Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner).
Caitlyn’s ancestry is primarily English, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch. This means Kendall and Kylie have zero Armenian heritage. They are essentially a mix of various Western European ethnicities. If you've ever wondered why Kendall and Kylie look a bit different from their older sisters, that’s the primary reason—the Armenian genes just aren't there.
Why Their Heritage Matters So Much Today
In 2026, the Kardashians' identity is more than just a trivia fact; it’s a massive part of their brand and their activism.
Kim Kardashian, in particular, has become a fierce advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. She’s traveled to Armenia multiple times, most notably in 2015 (the 100th anniversary of the genocide) and again in 2019 to baptize her children at Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which is considered the oldest cathedral in the world.
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There’s also been a lot of discourse—especially on platforms like Reddit—about where the Kardashians "fit" in the American racial landscape. Because they are half-Armenian, they occupy a unique space. Armenia is in the Caucasus region (where the word "Caucasian" literally comes from), but the Kardashians have often been criticized for "cultural appropriation" or "blackfishing," with some arguing they use their ambiguous, "tan" look to profit from aesthetics that aren't entirely their own.
Facts You Might Not Know
- Religious Roots: The family’s Armenian ancestors were "Spiritual Christians," a group that broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church.
- Name Change: The family name was originally Kardaschoff, a Russianized version of Kardashian, but it was shortened and changed when they arrived in America.
- DNA Testing: Kim once took a DNA test on a talk show that suggested she was roughly 94% "Middle Eastern" (representing her Armenian side) and a small percentage of other things, though these commercial tests are often more about entertainment than deep science.
- Cultural Food: They grew up eating traditional dishes like dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and beuregs (cheese-filled pastries), which they still post about on Instagram to this day.
How to Explore Your Own Heritage
If seeing the Kardashians dive into their roots has made you curious about your own, there are a few practical steps you can take.
First, talk to your oldest living relatives. Seriously. Before you spend $99 on a spit-in-a-tube kit, record the stories your grandparents tell. Names of villages and maiden names are gold for genealogists. Second, if you do use a DNA service like Ancestry or 23andMe, take the "ethnicity estimates" with a grain of salt. They are great for finding cousins, but the percentages change as the databases grow.
To get a real sense of the Armenian culture the Kardashians are so proud of, you don't have to fly to Yerevan. You can visit the Armenian Genocide Research Program online or find a local Armenian bakery. Understanding the history of the Armenian diaspora gives a lot of context to why this family—despite their billion-dollar empires and chaotic reality TV lives—clings so tightly to their last name.