The Melungeons are a mixed-race group found in the Cumberland Gap region of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Their origins and history are shrouded in myth and confusion, but genetic testing suggests they have Southern European and Native American ancestry. The group is estimated to number at least 1,000 and is known for surnames like Collins and Mullins. The term “Melungeon” likely comes from the French word for “blend.” The group may have moved to Appalachia to avoid discrimination and has developed into a unique “tri-racial isolate” with distinctive physical features.
The Melungeons are a mixed-race group of people found in southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and northeastern Tennessee, in a region called the Cumberland Gap. A number of myths surround the origins and history of the Melungeons, and it can be difficult to find verifiable information about them. The group has been a topic of widespread interest and discussion since the mid-1800s, and in the late 20th century, many genealogists became interested in tracing the genetic and cultural history of the Melungeons.
Different people have different explanations of who exactly the Melungeons are and where they came from. As a general rule, it is agreed that members of the group are of mixed ancestry, probably combining European, Native American, and African genes. The dark complexion, hair, and eyes of many Melungeons suggest that they may have a high percentage of Hispanic or Middle Eastern ancestry. Genetic testing has strongly supported the idea that Melungeons have a large amount of Southern European and Native American blood.
The precise definition of what a Melungeon is varies widely, depending on who one is talking to and what their views are on the group’s origins. It is estimated that at least 1,000 distinct Melungeons probably live in Cumberland Gap, and that there may be more. The surnames Collins, Gibson, Goins, Mullins, Bowling, Bunch, Goodman, Minor, Mise and Wise are all associated with the Melungeons, although many people who do not belong to the group also bear these names.
The origins of the name “Melungeon” are a matter of debate, as are the origins of the people themselves. The term appears to have arisen in the early 1800s and was used as a pejorative well into the 20th century. One of the most likely explanations for the term is that it is a corruption of the French melange, for “blend”, although other theories have borrowed the word from Turkish, Arabic or Italian.
These ethnically diverse individuals are sometimes called the “lost” or “mysterious” people of Appalachia, as their origins are somewhat mysterious, due to general confusion and popular mythology. Genealogists believe that the Melungeons were the natural result of ethnic intermarriage in the early colonies and may have moved to Appalachia to avoid discrimination, a common problem for ethnically mixed individuals in the Americas. As a result of their self-imposed isolation, the Melungeons have developed into a somewhat distinct and unique group, which some people refer to as a “tri-racial isolate,” in reference to their mixed ancestry. Their appearance is quite distinctive, making Melungeons stand out from their neighbors.
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