Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. While he certainly considered himself a Southerner, both by raising and nature, Elvis' family roots have long been the subject of interest from fans, writers and researchers.
On his paternal side, Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, was of Irish, German, Scottish and English ancestry. Vernon Presley was a descendant of the Harrison family of Virginia through his mother, Minnie Mae Presley, née Hood.
Presley's mother, Gladys Love Smith, was Scots-Irish with some French Norman and Italian ancestry. There has been some research — but no official documentation — suggesting that Gladys may have had some Cherokee lineage as well, tracing back to her great-great-grandmother.
In 2026, 49 years after his death, the King still has fans around the world including thousands who will descend upon Graceland and Memphis for the annual Elvis Week commemoration, which runs Aug. 8-16 and marks the anniversary of his passing.
Bob Mehr is the music writer at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at bob.mehr@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What ethnicity was Elvis Presley? The King's family roots explained
