Trevor Noah was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is of Xhosa ancestry, and his father, Robert, is of Swiss German descent. During his childhood, his mother converted to Judaism. Noah spent his early youth in the private school of Maryvale College, a Catholic school in Johannesburg. His parents' relationship was illegal at the time of his birth under apartheid. His mother was jailed and fined by the South African white minority government, and his father later moved back to Switzerland. Noah was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, Nomalizo Frances Noah. During his childhood, he attended Roman Catholic church every Sunday. Noah's mixed-race ancestry, his experiences growing up in Soweto, and his observations about race and ethnicity are leading themes in his comedy.