Clues for Researching Your Melungeon Ancestors
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The term “Melungeon” is used to describe a group of people from the Southern United States who have a diverse ancestry that is difficult to trace. The true ancestry of Melungeons has been the subject of debate and controversy, but they are believed to have a complex heritage that includes European, African, and Native American roots.
If your ancestors lived in east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, or the northwest North Carolina region of the Appalachian Mountains, you may have Melungeons in your family tree!
What is a Melungeon?
Sometimes called the “Lost Tribe of Appalachia,”1Churchill, Jennifer. “Melungeons: Are You Part of “The Lost Tribe Of Appalachia”? Family Tree Magazine, December 2003. Melungeons have been the subjects of many myths and theories. Rumored to be descendants of shipwrecked Portuguese sailors or gypsies, Melungeons have even been linked to the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
According to the Melungeon Heritage Association, the term “Melungeon” is thought to come from the French word mélange, meaning “mixture.” It first appeared in print in 19th-century Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and it was used to describe people who were thought to have “a mixture of European, Native American, and African ancestry.”
Other theories for the origin of the term include the Afro-Portuguese melungo (supposedly meaning “shipmate”), the Greek melan (meaning “black”), the Turkish phrase melun can, (meaning “cursed soul”), the Italian melongena ( meaning “eggplant”), or the old English term “malengin” (meaning guile or deceit).2“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
While it is obvious that the term did not originate as a complimentary description, many of today’s Melungeon descendants proudly acknowledge their unique and diverse heritage.
Geographic Locations
Did your ancestors live in or near known Melungeon communities? Locating your ancestor’s specific geographic residence may be a clue to their heritage.
The most well-known Melungeon community is in Hancock County, Tennessee.3“Hancock County, Home of the Melungeons.” Hancock Co. Historical & Genealogical Society And Welcome Center. Other communities have been found in Hawkins County, Tennessee,4See Melungeon Historical Society as well as in Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties in Virginia.5See “Melungeons in Virginia.”
From these areas, many Melungeons and their descendants migrated to other parts of Tennessee, as well as southeastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and as far north as Ohio.6“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
Physical Traits
Typical Melungeon physical traits are said to include dark hair and skin with light-colored eyes. There may also be “Native American features,” as well as “a particular type of bump or ridge at the back of the head (usually just above the neck) known as the Melungeon bump.”7Churchill, Jennifer. “The Mystery of the Melungeons.” Family Tree Magazine, 1 December 2003.
Kathy Lyday, a professor at Elon University in North Carolina, has said that in older photos the physical appearance of Melungeons looks almost “Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”8“Melungeons explore mysterious mixed-race origins.” USA Today, 24 June 2015.
A Spanish influence is also possible. According to Professor Lyday, Spanish explorers traveled as far west as modern-day Morganton. “They likely brought African slaves with them. They probably intermarried, and when the Spanish retreated, they left behind remnants.”9Ibid.
Melungeon Surnames
If you have not found a connection to a documented Melungeon family, it may be difficult to determine if you have this ancestry. Melungeons did not self-identify as such until the 1960s, and there were no tribal rolls or other records identifying a specific group of people as “Melungeons.”10“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
However, your ancestor’s surname may provide a clue. The Melungeon Heritage Association notes that the first recorded Melungeon surnames include:
- Bunch
- Bowlin
- Collins
- Denham
- Gibson
- Goins
- Mullins
Other possible Melungeon surnames include:11See FamilySearch Wiki: Melungeons.
- Bowling
- Chavis/Chavez
- Epps
- Evans
- Fields
- Francisco
- Gill
- Goodman
- Minor
- Mise
- Moore
- Osborn(e)
- Phipps
- Reeves/Rives/Rieves/Reeves/ Reaves
- Ridley/Riddle
- Rodrigues
- Stowers
- Vanover
- Williams
- Wise
Of course, you should not assume that every family using these surnames was Melungeon. However, if these surnames appear in your family tree and belonged to ancestors who lived in or near known Melungeon communities, there may be a Melungeon connection. Further research would be necessary.
Genetic Genealogy (DNA) Research
It is important to note that there is no specific “Melungeon gene.”12“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association. However, Melungeon ancestry has been the subject of several genetic genealogy research studies.
A 2011 study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy determined that families who have historically considered themselves to be Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European origin.13Estes, Roberta J., Goins, Jack H., Ferguson, Penny, and Crain, Janet Lewis. “Melungeons, A Multi-Ethnic Population.” Published in Journal of Genetic Genealogy, Fall 2011. See also Loller, Travis, “DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia’s Melungeons,” Associated Press, 24 May 2012.
Though some have debated the results of this study, the paper received the Paul Green Multimedia Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians at an awards ceremony in 2012.
Resources for Further Research
The following resources may be useful in researching your Melungeon ancestors:
- The Melungeon Heritage Association
- The Melungeon Core DNA Project – Y-DNA Project at Family Tree DNA
- Melungeon Historical Society – East Tennessee Melungeons (last updated 2019)
- Melungeon Genealogy – FamilySearch Wiki
- Jack Goins’ Melungeon and Appalachian Research
- “Examining Melungeon History and Genealogy” by Jack Goins
- Slideshow: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Appalachia
- Various articles by Roberta Estes on her blog DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
- “Melungeon Roots” on WikiTree
- “What are the Common Melungeon and Melungeon-Related Surnames?”
- Tennessee Encyclopedia: Melungeons
Wrap Up
Melungeon ancestry has been the subject of debate and controversy. The group has historically faced discrimination and marginalization, and records of their ancestry are often incomplete or difficult to interpret.
If you find Melungeon ethnic groups in your DNA admixture, and your ancestors lived in or near known Melungeon communities, you may have Melungeon ancestry. However, keep in mind that DNA alone is never enough. As always, you need to combine your genetic genealogy evidence with traditional documentary research.
Have you found a Melungeon in your family tree? Please share your findings in the comments!
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Footnotes
- 1Churchill, Jennifer. “Melungeons: Are You Part of “The Lost Tribe Of Appalachia”? Family Tree Magazine, December 2003.
- 2“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
- 3“Hancock County, Home of the Melungeons.” Hancock Co. Historical & Genealogical Society And Welcome Center.
- 4
- 5
- 6“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
- 7Churchill, Jennifer. “The Mystery of the Melungeons.” Family Tree Magazine, 1 December 2003.
- 8“Melungeons explore mysterious mixed-race origins.” USA Today, 24 June 2015.
- 9Ibid.
- 10“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
- 11
- 12“Frequently Asked Questions.” Melungeon Heritage Association.
- 13Estes, Roberta J., Goins, Jack H., Ferguson, Penny, and Crain, Janet Lewis. “Melungeons, A Multi-Ethnic Population.” Published in Journal of Genetic Genealogy, Fall 2011. See also Loller, Travis, “DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia’s Melungeons,” Associated Press, 24 May 2012.
Very interesting! I’d never heard of this group of people.
I first heard about Melungeons many years ago but didn’t have a chance to look into them more in depth until recently. I was actually inspired by an assignment for a Toastmaster’s speech; I had to research a subject that I either didn’t know about or that I wanted to know more about, so… Melungeons! I decided to turn the speech into a blog post after presenting the speech since I had already done the research. 🙂
Discovered my melungeon heritage through 23&Me. My original African ancestor was Joao Gonwelao of the former country of Ndongo, who was transported to Jamestowne Colony in 1619. I also have twice as much Portugese ancestry as African and believe the two cultures intermarried. The Kimbuntu word for shipmate is melangú which is the language group of Ndongo. Joao became John and Gonwelao became Goings. He was of mixed race ancestry before he arrived. He worked as an indentured servant and after his indenture became the first free black man in America.
Amazing history. My grandmother always spoke of our Melungeon heritage, and was an avid genealogist, but didn’t have the resources we have today. I have barely begun my research, and would love pointers on how to find those hard-to-locate records. My GGGG grandfather, Enoch Gibson and his father, Martin Gibson are listed as “Melungeon” in family history. Could you give me pointers on where to start researching where their Melungeon lines come from? Martin was the first one born here in America; his father, Thomas Gibson, was born in British America. My dad’s DNA testing showed 3% Congan ancestry. I appreciate any direction you are able to offer.
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
My fathers mothers surname is Bolin or Bowlin who was from Cumberland Gap area. I have always been told we have Melungeon blood line. Only recently has this interest me. If anyone has more information or books that may be of interest please reply to me.
Thank you.
Paula
It’s great how you learn so much from the research others do by reading family history blogs.
I’m glad you found it helpful, Fran!
I’m blown away by seeing this I have researched my family for sometime now dark hot hair dark skin high cheekbones majority of the families got dark eyes I come out with blue eyes cannot find where my grandmother great grandfather has said that we’ve had Indian in us black foot and Cherokee but my ancestry DNA come back there was no Indian that did not show up any Indian anywhere so maybe this answers you know why I don’t show up Indian because not actual full-blooded Indian anywhere thank you for sharing this and where can I find more about this and read about it because my family come over from northern Europe and landed Georgia Tennessee Kentucky North Carolina
Ancestry didn’t show any Native American in my DNA either. My sister took their DNA test for the mother’s side only (that was a big mess), when we called them for an explanation they told her that it was full of native american ancestry. I ask them why mine wouldn’t be there as well. She told me that a lot showed up in mine also. So, why isn’t it in the chart?????
Bottom line, I’m sure they just guess at the Native American because they probably don’t have anything to compare it to.
I have 3 different blood lines that listed on their military paperwork that they were – natural born(US) of Ethiopian descent. Ethiopia does not show up in my DNA either, I’m sure for the same reason, nothing to compare it to.
I started my family research a couple years ago and I found numerous connections to the Melungeon community on Newmans Ridge, Hancock Tennessee. I have traced my lineage back to Vardy Collins, John Old Buck Shepherd and the infamous Mahala Mullins. My great grandmother was a Gibson-Collins. Her grandfather was William Gibson Collins, his biological father was Tazewell Gibson but was raised by Elbe Collins and mother Katie Gibson. He took on the name Collins in honor of his stepfather who raised him.
This is incredibly interesting. As a Gibson this could explain a lot of unknown family history. Thanks for the info so I can research further.