Profile Text
Birth Name: Linda Marie Edwards
Place of Birth: New Bern, North Carolina, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 4, 1948
Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, Welsh, remote Dutch
Linda McMahon is an American professional wrestling and business executive, performer, and promoter, government executive, and politician. In 1980, she co-founded Titan Sports, Inc. with her husband, Vince McMahon ; they bought Capitol Wrestling Corporation in 1982, from Vince’s father, later renamed WWF, which then became WWE. Linda was WWE’s CEO from 1997 to 2009; Vince later served as CEO and chairman as well. A Republican, Linda has been U.S. Secretary of Education, since March 3, 2025. She was previously a Member of the Connecticut State Board of Education, from February 28, 2009 to April 1, 2010, and Administrator of the Small Business Administration, from February 14, 2017 to April 12, 2019.
Linda is the daughter of Evelyn and Henry Edwards, who were born in North Carolina. Her parents worked at the military base Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Her parents descended from Colonial American ancestors, and were of English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, and Welsh descent. Her father also had remote Dutch ancestry.
Linda and Vince’s children are businesspeople and professional wrestlers Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon , who have worked as performers, and behind-the-scenes, at WWE. Stephanie was also chief brand officer, interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and chairwoman of WWE. She is married to professional wrestler, business executive, and actor Triple H .
Linda’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her sixth great-grandparents, John Edwards and Jane, who emigrated to North Carolina from Wales.
Linda’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Edwards (the son of Edwin Edwards and Matilda Bass). Joseph was born in North Carolina, and had English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, Irish, and remote Dutch, ancestry. Matilda was the daughter of Bedredon Bass and Nancy.
Linda’s paternal grandmother was Annie Jackson (the daughter of Sampson Jackson and Lucinda Bass). Annie was born in North Carolina, and had English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. Lucinda was the daughter of Bright Bass and Sallie. Linda’s great-great-grandfathers Bedredon and Bright were brothers, making her great-grandparents first cousins.
Linda’s maternal grandfather was named Lester Strickland (the son of Andrew Strickland and Ida). Lester was born in North Carolina, and had English, Welsh, Scottish, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry.
Linda’s maternal grandmother was named Pearl Ammons (the daughter of Joseph Ammons and Effie). Pearl was born in North Carolina, and had English, Welsh, Irish, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish ancestry.
Linda’s paternal ninth great-grandmother, Hester Van Vorst, was the daughter of Dutch immigrants, Jacobus Van Vorst and Saertje Fonda, through whom Linda is very distantly related to the Fonda family of actors. Linda’s maternal ancestry can be traced back to her tenth great-grandfather, Edmund Strickland, who emigrated to Connecticut from England in the 1600s.
Many family trees list one of Linda’s paternal tenth great-grandmothers as Ka Okee Pettus, who they state to be the daughter of Pocahontas and an English settler, Thomas Pettus. The existence of Ka Okee is usually regarded as a myth.
Source: Blog discussing the existence of Ka Okee – https://www.indianreservations.net