Profile Text
Birth Name: Elvis Aron Presley
Date of Birth: January 8, 1935
Place of Birth: Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
Date of Death: August 16, 1977
Place of Death: Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, Welsh, German, French, remote Dutch and Danish, possibly other
Elvis Presley was an American singer, musician, and actor. He was known as the “King of Rock and Roll.”
Elvis was the son of Gladys Love (Smith) and Vernon Elvis Presley. With his former wife, actress and businessperson Priscilla Presley , he was the father of singer and songwriter Lisa Marie Presley , and the grandfather of model/actress Riley Keough . Born with the middle name Aron, he later began using the spelling Aaron.
Much of Elvis’s ancestry was English. He also had Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, Welsh, German, and French, as well as remote Dutch and Danish, roots, the latter two from ancestors born in the 1500s. Genealogical research usually indicates that Elvis was descended from a man named Andreas “Andrew” Preslar (later Presley), who was born, c. 1701, in Germany, the son of Valentine Preslar and Anna Christian Framse. Various reports that Elvis’s Presley line originates in Ireland and/or Scotland appear to be incorrect (see here and here ).
Elvis’s paternal grandfather was named Jesse/Jessie Dunnan/Dunning McClowell “Dee” Presley (the son of an unknown father, possibly John Wallace, and of Martha Rosella “Rosie” Presley). Jessie was born in Fulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi. John was born in Mississippi, the son of Hugh B. Wallace and Lydia Gideon. Elvis’s great-grandmother Rosella was born in Fulton, the daughter of Dunnan/Dunnin/Dunning John Presley, Jr. and Martha Jane Wesson.
Elvis’s paternal grandmother was Minnie Mae Hood (the daughter of William Harrison “Buck” Hood and Mary Louisa “Dutchess” Warren). Minnie was born in Fulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi. William was born in Alabama, the son of Joshua Harrison “JH” Hood and Margaret Johnson. Elvis’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Fulton, the daughter of William David Warren and Minerva J. Davis.
Elvis’s maternal grandfather was Robert Lee “Bob” Smith (the son of Mileage/Miledge/Milege Obediah “Obe” Smith and Ann/Anna Lillian “Annie” Mansell/Mansel). Robert was born in Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi. Mileage was born in South Carolina. Elvis’s great-grandmother Ann was born in Mississippi, the daughter of William Mansell and Lourany Cinderella Cobb.
Elvis’s maternal grandmother was Octavia Lavenia/Luvenia “Dollie”/Doll Mansell (the daughter of Albert White “Abel” Mansell and Martha Sue Tackett). Octavia was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi. Albert was born in Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama, the son of John Bailey Mansell and Elizabeth “Betsy”/Betsey Gilmore. Elvis’s great-grandmother Martha was born in Itawamba County, the daughter of Abner Tackett.
Elvis’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, the mother of John Bailey Mansell, was said to have been a Native American woman named Morning Dove White, usually referred to as Cherokee. The story of Morning’s marriage to a caucasian man, William A. Mansell, Elvis’s great-great-great-grandfather, is known among family researchers. However, it is not clear if any documentary evidence has been produced that Morning Dove White had existed, or that she was of Native American ancestry. At least one census entry for Morning Dove White’s would-be son, John Mansell, describes him as “White.” Several other census listings of Morning’s other children list them as “White” as well. More background information on this can be found here .
There is a claim that Elvis’s matrilineal great-great-grandmother, said to have been named Nancy J. Burdine, was Jewish. It is possible that Elvis and his family believed this, as well. However, research has shown this claim of Jewish ancestry to be highly unlikely, and that Elvis’s matrilineal great-great-grandmother was almost certainly a different woman, Celia Anne/Ann Butler. It is not clear if Nancy Burdine actually existed, much less was Jewish and/or an ancestor of Elvis. Elvis’s great-great-grandfather, Abner Tackett, was not Jewish. Some background information on this can be found here (see “24. Blue Christmas”) and here (from Jim W. Tackitt, of the Tackett Family Association).
Some have also stated that Elvis had Romani ancestry. It is not clear if this claim has ever been verified/documented, either.
Elvis was a seventh cousin, once removed, of actress Britt Robertson . Elvis’s paternal six times great-grandparents, Andreas “Andrew” Preslar and Antje “Ann” Wells, were also the seven times great-grandparents of Britt Robertson. He was also a fourth cousin, twice removed, of professional football player Brock Purdy . Elvis’s paternal great-great-great-grandparents, Dunning “Dunnan” John Presley and Elizabeth, were also Brock’s paternal five times great-grandparents.
Sources: Genealogies of Elvis Presley – http://www.geni.com http://famouskin.com http://www.wikitree.com http://www.findagrave.com
Discussion of Elvis’s possible Native American ancestry – https://www.wikitree.com
Elvis’s maternal great-great-grandfather, John Bailey Mansell, on the 1850 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Elvis’s maternal great-grandparents, Albert White “Abel” Mansell and Martha Sue Tackett – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Elvis’s maternal great-grandmother, Martha Sue Tackett – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
Death record of Elvis’s maternal great-great-uncle (great-grandmother’s brother), Sidney Tackett – https://www.findagrave.com Death record of Elvis’s maternal great-great-uncle (great-grandmother’s brother), Jerome L. Tackett – https://www.findagrave.com
Elvis’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Abner Tackett, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org