Dan Henderson

photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Daniel Jeffery Henderson

Place of Birth: Downey, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 24, 1970

Ethnicity: English, French/Cajun, French-Canadian, Scottish, 3/64ths Walla Walla Native American, 1/64th African-American, some Métis [including Cree and Salteaux First Nations], distant Spanish

Dan Henderson is an American mixed martial artist and Olympic wrestler. He is a decorated amateur wrestler, and represented the U.S. at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. Dan has competed as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is known as Hendo.

Dan is the son of Jodeen (LeJeune/LeJune) and William Henderson. His sister is professional golfer Selanée Henderson. He was raised on a ranch in Apple Valley, California.

In an interview in Fightsport Magazine, Dan stated that he is of English, French, Scottish, and Native American descent.

According to this article:

Henderson’s grandmother, Alice (Bergevin) LeJune, is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and owns land on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. From all accounts, Henderson is 1/16 Walla Walla Native American.

Alice’s ancestry was French-Canadian, 3/16ths Walla Walla Native American, 1/16th African-American, and a small amount of Irish, with some Métis ancestors, who were said to have been of Cree and Salteaux descent.

Dan’s maternal grandfather was Orven Gilton LeJeune/LeJune (the son of Joseph Ira LeJeune and Anna Romaine/Romain). Orven was born in Louisiana, into a French/Cajun family. Joseph was born in Louisiana, the son of Theodore LeJeune and Therese Andrepont. Anna was born in Louisiana, the daughter of Victor Romain and Estelle Comeau.

Dan’s maternal grandmother was Alice Nadine/Nadyne Bergevin (the daughter of Lawrence Edward Bergevin and Domenica Alysia “Minnie” Morissette). Alice was born in Oregon. Lawrence and Minnie were listed as “Indian” on the 1920 U.S. Census. Lawrence was born in Oregon, the son of Joseph Augustus Bergevin and Agnes Gertrude LaFave. Joseph was born in Washington, to French-Canadian parents from Québec, who were listed as “white” on the 1870 U.S. Census. Dan’s great-great-grandmother Agnes was also born in Washington, to parents from Canada, who were listed as “white” on the 1910 U.S. Census. Agnes’ mother, Mary Ann McBean, had some Métis ancestors, who were said to have been of Cree and Salteaux First Nations descent.

Dan’s great-grandmother Minnie Morissette was born in Oregon, the daughter of François “Frank” Toussaint Morissette and Agnes Marie Lavadour. Frank was born in Washington, to a French-Canadian father, Theophile Toussaint Morissette, and a Native American mother from Washington, Adele Waptai/Milketize. Dan’s great-great-grandmother Agnes Marie Lavadour was listed as “Indian” on the 1920 U.S. Census. She was born in Oregon, the daughter of Narcisse/Narsis Lavadour/Lavradore, who was listed as “half-Indian” on his marriage record, and who was the son of a French-Canadian father and a Native American mother from Washington; and of Martha Josephine Carson, who was listed as “half Negro” on her marriage record, and who was the daughter of an Irish father, and of a free African-American mother from Kentucky.

Sources: Marriage record of Dan’s parents – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Dan’s maternal grandparents, Orven Gilton LeJeune/LeJune and Alice Nadine/Nadyne Bergevin – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Dan’s maternal grandfather, Orven Gilton LeJeune/LeJune – https://findagrave.com

Genealogy of Dan’s maternal great-grandparents, Joseph Ira LeJeune and Anna Romaine/Romain – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Dan’s maternal great-grandparents, Lawrence Edward Bergevin and Domenica Alysia “Minnie” Morissette – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Dan’s great-great-great-grandparents, Narcisse/Narsis Lavadour/Lavradore and Martha Josephine Carson – https://www.familysearch.org