You’ve seen the kontroversy, the lip kits, and the endless stream of Instagram thirst traps. But whenever a discussion pops up about the world’s most famous family, it usually circles back to one specific question: what is the Kardashians ethnicity exactly?
Honestly, the answer is a lot more layered than just "Armenian." If you look at the family tree, you're actually looking at a mix of West Asian heritage and a deep, multi-generational Western European lineage. It’s a genetic cocktail that has basically defined the "aesthetic" of the 21st century.
The Armenian Root: Robert Kardashian Sr.
Let’s start with the most famous part of the equation. Robert Kardashian Sr., the high-profile lawyer who became a household name during the O.J. Simpson trial, was a third-generation Armenian-American.
His family’s history is actually pretty intense. All four of his grandparents—Tatos Saghatel Kardashian, Hamas Shakarian, Arthur Kardashian, and Helen Arakelian—were ethnic Armenians who lived in the Russian Empire. They specifically came from towns like Karakale and Erzurum, which are located in modern-day Turkey.
They weren't just moving for fun, either. The family fled to the United States in the early 1900s, luckily escaping just before the horrific Armenian Genocide began in 1915. This heritage is something Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé have leaned into heavily. Kim even took her kids to Armenia in 2019 to get them baptized at Etchmiadzin Cathedral, which is widely considered the oldest cathedral in the world.
When people ask "are they white?" it gets complicated. Geographically, Armenia is in the Caucasus mountains (the literal origin of the word "Caucasian"), but it’s tucked between Europe and Asia. Kim herself once joked on a DNA test segment that she was 94% Armenian, though if we're being mathematically accurate regarding her parents, that’s not quite how the biology shakes out.
The Kris Jenner Factor: A European Melting Pot
While the "Kardashian" name carries the Armenian weight, the sisters are actually only 50% Armenian. The other half comes from the matriarch, Kris Jenner (born Kristen Mary Houghton).
Kris is basically a walking map of Northwestern Europe. Her family tree is a mix of:
- Dutch
- English
- Irish
- Scottish
- German
Unlike Robert’s family, who had a very specific point of origin in the Caucasus, Kris’s ancestors were part of the broader waves of European immigration to the U.S. that happened over centuries. This is why you see the sisters sometimes look very different from one another. Kourtney, for example, often gets told she looks the most "Armenian," while Khloé has historically been the tallest with the lightest hair, reflecting more of that Northern European DNA.
What about Kendall and Kylie?
This is where the math shifts. Kendall and Kylie Jenner share the same mother as the Kardashian sisters, so they have that same Dutch-Irish-Scottish-German mix from Kris.
However, their father is Caitlyn Jenner. Caitlyn’s ancestry is almost entirely European as well—specifically English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, and Welsh.
So, while the Kardashian sisters (Kim, Kourtney, Khloé, and Rob) are half-Armenian, Kendall and Kylie have no Armenian blood at all. They are effectively 100% of European descent. It’s kinda wild how the "Kardashian brand" is so tied to Armenian identity that people often assume the younger Jenner sisters share it, but genetically, they’re on a different branch of the tree.
The "Race" Debate and Cultural Impact
The question of what is the Kardashians ethnicity often leads to heated debates about race. Are they "White"? In a census sense, yes. Armenians are generally classified as white or Caucasian in the U.S.
But culturally, it's more nuanced. The Kardashians have been accused of "culture vulturing" for years—specifically for adopting aesthetics (braids, tan skin, specific body types) that are historically associated with Black women. Because they have that olive-toned Armenian skin, they occupy a space where they can tan deeply and pivot between looking "Eurocentric" and "exotic."
Sociologists have actually studied this. It’s often called "ambiguous ethnicity." By being half-West Asian and half-European, the Kardashian sisters have a look that isn't easily pinned down to one single category, which has allowed them to market themselves to a global audience in a way most stars can’t.
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Concrete Ancestry Breakdown
If you want the "too long; didn't read" version, here’s how the percentages look for the main cast:
Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Jr.:
- 50% Armenian (via Robert Kardashian Sr.)
- 50% Western European (Dutch, English, Irish, Scottish via Kris Jenner)
Kendall and Kylie Jenner:
- ~100% Western European (A mix of English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, Welsh, and German via both Kris and Caitlyn Jenner)
Why This Matters for Your Own Research
Understanding the Kardashian ethnicity isn't just about celebrity gossip. It's a case study in how immigration and the "American melting pot" actually work.
If you're looking into your own heritage or just curious about how these things are tracked, there are a few things you can do to get as much detail as the Kardashians did:
- Look for Port of Entry Records: Like the Kardashians' grandparents fleeing the Russian Empire, your ancestors likely left a paper trail at Ellis Island or similar ports.
- Verify via Geography: Don't just settle for a country name. Finding out the specific village (like Karakale for the Kardashians) can tell you way more about your actual ethnic makeup than a modern-day border ever could.
- DNA is only half the story: Kim might have a high percentage of Armenian markers, but her cultural identity is what she's built her brand on. Ethnicity is as much about the traditions you keep as it is the genes you carry.
Next time you see a headline about the family, you'll know that the "Kardashian look" isn't just one thing—it's a very specific, high-stakes blend of the Caucasus mountains and the British Isles.