Profile Text
Place of Birth: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Date of Birth: July 26, 1977
Ethnicity: English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Irish, Scottish, Cherokee Native American, remote Swiss-German, Belgian, Welsh, Danish, Norwegian, and Cornish
Markwayne Mullin is an American businessperson and politician. A Republican, he has been U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, since March 24, 2026. He was previously a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma, from January 3, 2013 to January 3, 2023, and a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, from January 3, 2023 to March 23, 2026.
He is the son of Gayle and Jim Mullin. His name is a combination of two paternal uncles’, Mark and Wayne. He was raised in Westville, OK. Markwayne is an enrolled citizen in the Cherokee Nation, through his maternal great-grandfather, Bert Morris, who was of part Cherokee descent. He also has distant/remote Native American ancestry elsewhere on his family tree. He is the first enrolled Cherokee to serve in congress since 1925. Markwayne is married to Christie Renee Rowan, with whom he has six children.
Markwayne’s paternal grandfather was Gwen Franklin Mullin (the son of Jim/James Martin Mullin and Jena/Jennie Mae Shephard). Gwen was born in Westville, Adair, Oklahoma. Jim was born in Shell Knob, Barry, Missouri, the son of William Franklin “Bill” Mullin and Zaida Louise Ione Luvinelle Lenora Baldwin. Jena was born in Cassville, Barry, the daughter of Mark Lorenzo Shephard, whose mother was born in Ireland; and of Clista Jane Buckmaster.
Markwayne’s paternal grandmother was Marjorie Pearl Hamblin (the daughter of Dallas Dillard Hamblin and Martha S. Ash). Marjorie was born in Kanopolis, Ellsworth, Kansas. Dallas was born in Benton, Arkansas, the son of Freeman L. Hamblin and Tennessee Jane Gunnels. Martha was born in Seligman, Barry, Missouri, the daughter of Luke Ash and Dovie/Doris Ann Tate/Smith.
Markwayne’s maternal grandfather was Kenneth Morris (the son of Bert Morris and Kate/Katherine Frances Woods). Kenneth was born in Westville, Adair, Oklahoma. Bert was born in Adair County Going Snake District, Cherokee Nation, where he was raised, the son of John Benjamin Morris and Susan Fannie Cleveland. Susan’s maternal grandfather, well-known Cherokee healer Richard Bark Foreman, was known as “The Cherokee Physician.” Markwayne’s great-grandmother Kate was born in Adair, the daughter of Thomas Calvin Woods and Sarah Jane Thurman.
Markwayne’s maternal grandmother was Frances Evelyn Whelchel (the daughter of Francis Earl Whelchel and Phronia Mabel Case). Frances was born in Washburn, Barry, Missouri. Francis was born in Oklahona, the son of James Henry Whelchel and Mary Elizabeth Witt. Phronia was born in Gravette, Benton, Arkansas, the daughter of James Monroe Case and Sarah Malinda Seay.
Sources: https://indianz.com http://www.pollysgranddaughter.com
Genealogy of Markwayne Mullin (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy and obituary of Markwayne’s maternal grandfather, Kenneth Morris – https://www.findagrave.com