A MELUNGEON DEFINITION:
People are constantly looking for a short definition of Melungeon. In truth, if we take a view of only looking at the people considered “Historic Melungeons”, those that actually had the name applied to them, then we are talking about a very small group of people. People with ties to an area called Newman’s Ridge in Tennessee, and other small areas of Tennessee and southwest Virginia as well. Then the matter is fairly concluded and stops right there.
If on the other hand we are speaking of people with mixed ethnic ancestry that also consists of unidentified groups and individuals and families across Appalachia, then we are taking a broader approach consistent with the beliefs of many researchers. I offer the following definition for that wider group; it is neither all encompassing, nor overly restrictive.
The “Core” area of Melungeon ancestry should probably be considered Appalachia. There is a further “Core” area of southwest Virginia, northwest North Carolina, northeast Tennessee, and southeast Kentucky. I would not exclude areas both farther north in Appalachia, and farther south, it does appear that many unidentified, ethnically mixed ancestors were tied to this core area.
So we have the general area, what about the ethnic mixture? It appears that many of today’s Melungeon descendants are primarily white, or can at least pass for white, but others show American Indian, Black, or even a dark Mediterranean look.
Often these people were told by older family members that they were of American Indian extraction, and seldom was any tribe mentioned, though occasionally one might hear: Cherokee. Others heard rumors of Black, or Colored. Some were given no clue, or told Black Dutch, or Black Irish. But what stands out is that there was indeed some type of dark, ethnically mixed ancestry.
Though there is no simple answer as to what the exact ethnic makeup of Melungeons may be, they have long been considered Tri-Racial, or as I prefer: Tri-Ethnic, White, Black, Indian. Usually considered to be mixed with two or more of those color groups, but not excluding the possibility of other, more exotic groups that may have had an early presence in Appalachia.
The door should never be closed on the subject of ethnic ancestry for Melungeons. We may learn more about this over time, or particular aspects may be forever hidden in the mists of the past. I do think we can focus on Appalachia as the Core area of Melungeon origin geographically. And I think we can reasonably conclude there is a Tri-Ethnic mixture of varying degrees, and possibly an entry of Mediterranean and other ancestry to a more or less degree.
There is no simple or exact answer to the question of Melungeons, we can, at best, work with very basic definitions and build upon these as new information comes to light.
PS--Recent DNA testing of Melungeons has indeed shown a Tri-Racial Mix: White, Black, and American Indian, but also an exotic entry of Syrian, Turkish, and northern India, the exotic DNA is consistent with Roma/Gypsy ancestry. Melungeons certainly have Multi-Ethnic ancestry.
A person of mixed Appalachian ancestry that includes a dark ethnic origin, often hidden due to prejudice, racism, or scorn from the surrounding communities.
