From Tupelo to Graceland: Exploring the Elvis Presley Family Tree

Elvis Aaron Presley’s cultural impact has transcended generations. The King’s journey is deeply rooted in his family history, which began in Tupelo, Mississippi, and followed him right through to the famous Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee where he’d reside later.

In this article, we will examine the family tree of Elvis Presley, tracing his lineage from Tupelo to Graceland and uncovering fascinating facts about The King’s ancestry.

Meet the expert

Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak has years of experience in genetics and genetic genealogy, from private work and tutoring to professional lecturing at University College Cork and the University of Limerick.

The roots begin in Tupelo

Born on January 8, 1935, in a two-room shotgun house in Tupelo, Elvis was the son of Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith.

His parents’ humble beginnings in a predominantly Black town significantly influenced Elvis’s music and spirituality. Raised in a Christian home, he was exposed to Gospel music from a young age, which would later shape his sound and style.

Elvis Presley’s family tree

Elvis Presley family tree

Elvis’s father, Vernon, was born in Fulton, Mississippi, in 1916 to Jesse Dunning McClowell Presley and Minnie Mae Hood. He met his future wife Gladys (born 1912 in Tupelo) when he was just 17 years old.

They were ecstatic when they learned that they were going to become parents. Tragically, their first child, Jessie Garon, was stillborn. To everyone’s surprise, however, there was a second baby on the way: Elvis Aron Presley.

Elvis’s parents played an important role throughout his life and career, with Vernon managing his business affairs and accompanying him on tours.

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Keeping the legacy alive: descendants of Elvis Presley

Lisa Marie Presley (1968-2023)

Lisa Marie, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, preserved her father’s legacy with a singer-songwriter career until her passing in 2023. She actively promoted her connection to Graceland by participating in events like Elvis Weeks. Lisa Marie often spoke about her father’s authentic character, noting that he was “that or more offstage.”

Riley Keough (born 1989)

After the loss of her mother and younger brother Benjamin, Riley Keough, Elvis’s granddaughter, inherited the Graceland estate. During the first Elvis Week following her mother’s death, people paid tributes to Elvis and Lisa Marie.

In 2015, Riley Keough married Australian stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen, with whom she has a daughter (born in 2022). Riley continues to uphold the family’s connection to Graceland and their commitment to honoring Elvis’s legacy.

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Lesser-known relatives in Elvis’s family tree

Rosella Elizabeth Presley

Elvis’s surname came from his great-grandmother, Rosella E. Presley. Her son Jessie was born out of wedlock, which means The King could have had a completely different surname if not for her. Rosella has been described as a strict but loving mother.

Johannes Valentin Pressler

Interestingly, the origins of Elvis’s surname date back to his 4th great-grandfather, Johannes Valentin Pressler, who arrived in New York from Palatinate, Germany in 1710. Before anglicization to “Presley,” the name went through numerous spelling variations like “Bressler” and “Preslar.”

» Explore more on intergenerational relationships

Leveraging key resources to uncover the Presley story

Despite hurdles in prominent family research, time-tested tools offer a rigorous path forward. Vital sources like census data, birth/marriage certificates, and death records provide primary source foundations.

Local newspapers offer announcements and insights into a family’s community ties. Letters and diaries, when available, provide firsthand perspectives.

Presley’s genealogy can be reconstructed by assembling a mosaic of historical records and evidence from these varied resources while respecting the famed and forgotten. No single source may be fully trusted, but collectively, they can reveal a compelling ancestry.