What I know this far is that theres a definite Cherokee lineage with respect to Benjamin Sinnes (daughter, Jemima Sinnes-Goin). CHAVIS CLARK CLOUD COAL COFFEY COLE COLEMAN COLES COLLEY COLLIER She just said, our only concern was surviving. They also have a very specific twang or dialect when speaking. I know very little of my fathers familys origins, except my grandmothers name, Mary Jo Berry, how she died (tragically) and my dad was from Tennessee. My name is Relaeh and this journey has been wild. (LogOut/ Did you find any info on the finger print info?? Now I am trying to gain more information abt my grandfathers father, John Brown Jr, who married Eliza Ann Jenkins Richardson. Learn more. Grew up in eastern tn near church hill and sneedeville home of melungeons. If anyone can help us that would be amazing. Some Melungeons suspect Abe Lincoln, Elvis Presley and Ava Gardner may all have had some Melungeon blood. My grandmother Daviss mothers was kitts and I have that line complete. That is the route I took and it worked quite well. Do you have any information on the Bunch family? I had dark hair and green eyes from 2 blue eyed parents. My last name is Carter from my fathers sur name. My uncle says their daughter, Martha Gilliam Barnett, was 100% Cherokee. Jan. My mammaw was a Smith , heard they Indians in there blood line. Stoney Creek church records show the name "Melungeon" was known in Virginia before it ap- peared in Tennessee. CROSTON CROW CUMBA CUMBO CUMBOW CURRY CUSTALOW, DALTON DARE DAVIS DENHAM DENNIS DIAL DOOLEY Change). Some even claimed to be members of the Saponi tribe in North . This list is subject to expansion. They had a U.S. Havent heard back from George yet, when I do Ill be sure to let you know! Viccars. I am just trying to think of other places to look, other avenues to try. If I can help Id be glad to offer more suggestions once you begin your tree. But their surnames arent on this list. FORUM ARTICLES SEARCH. Bennett. Sincerely Just Another Redbone Looking For Roots! Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Yet my sons 23&me results showed Iberian Peninsula ancestry that is not showing up on mine, nor on my husbands, from ancestry. Her family is from the Cumberland Gap area of Kentucky. During Reconstruction, most southern states passed One drop laws. I was led to this site through research and also as a result of our unexpected DNA results as well which have been a wonderful surprise and way to help me find our family lines and also some small medical answers. Hi, on my fathers side I have Davis, Spillman and Ramey as well as Berry all from south eastern kentucky. With there descendants moving west over the centuries. My great grandfather is Harris Brown, a Melungeon, and also has Portuguese ancestry, however I dont have information past his father John Brown who married Eliza Ann Jenkins Richardson a crcst test prep; crcst free test questions; paid test; crcst exam prep notes; subscribe 3 great grandmother Ramey who wasnt related to my grandmother Davis was also said to be black dutch. A famous bearer of this name is Jelmer Wiersma a Dutch heavy metal guitarist. Are you able to expound a little more on the lineage of Melungeon peoples and the specific areas they inhabited? COLLINS COLLINSWORTH COLYER COOPER CORMAN COUNTS COX COXE CRIEL Smith (40), Williams (27), Johnson (26), Brown (26), Davis (19), Jones (16), Martin (15), Moore (15), Clark (13), Taylor (13), Cox (11), Jackson (10), Hill (10). What can you tell me? The ones that I do not have in my lineage, my husband probably has a large number of the other names plus my son-in-law has a lot more of those other names. She was in her 20s, married to James Elbert Manis Ferrell. In the heart of Appalachia in the southern United States, an isolated, dark skinned people known as the Melungeons, are challenging the accepted version of modern America's earliest history. We are generally from the VA/NC/KY area, with some lines being in SC (our Hicks/Love line). Any help would be greatly appreciated from anyone who may be familiar with these family lines. Hi! All maternal lines tested have been European. A B C D E F G H I J K L M People that have looked at my results say that they are out of the ordinary. I was raised not knowing anything of my fathers family, he died when I was 18 months old. My fathers name was Creed and his mothers name was Emma Jo Hall. Blevins, Gamble, Rucker, Hicks, Kelly, Howard, Thompson, Phipps, and more. Thanks for adding me. Match case Limit results 1 per page melungeon and melung eon-related s urnames (North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky) ADAMS - ADKINS- BARKER - BARNES - BECKLER - BELL - BENNETT - BERRY - BIGGS - BOLEN - BOWLIN - BOWLING - BOWMAN - BRANHAM - BROGAN - BULLION - BURTON - BYRD - CAMPBELL - CARRICO - CARTER - CASTEEL - CAUDILL - CHAVIS - CLARK - COAL - COFFEY - COLE - COLEMAN - COLES . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 1819 in NC) had 5 children with a Native American and gave them her last name. Grandmaw Janie Perkins always told me we came from the Carolinas and the Virginias. Ethnically my immediate family is all some mix of Irish/ North African / Subsaharan African/ Eastern European/ Southern European/ Native American. Hi Pinky Blevins, I read your post interesting. All the matches to me, thousands, had African blood. MARTIN MAYLE MINARD MINER MINOR MIZER MOORE MORLEY MOSELY MOZINGO : /mlndn/ m-lun-jn) is the name of a Southern U.S. ethnic minority once found in the Appalachian Mountains in parts of the states of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. My mothers family was different than the other families around us in Mississippi. I would like to email you about my connection to the Shavers/Chavis/Chavers, Brown, Hall, Kelley and other family names in Alabama and Franklin County Tennesse. Thanks for checking in! Most of us probably think of America as being settled by British, Protestant colonists who fought the Indians, tamed the wilderness, and brought "democracy"-or at least a representative republic-to North America. Smiling, Smith, Stallard, Stanley, Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Strother. sounds like youve done a lot of work already, do you have a family tree established? Have you run across any melungeon Johnsons in your research from that part of VA? Butler. What an interesting article. As time permits my intention is to research as many of these families as I can. My direct line melungeon surnames are I have EVERY characteristic of being of melungeon decent, shovel teeth, ridge at neck, disease, skin color, and the eye fold. Smith, Stevens. My grandfather was known as Brownie because of his color, and had indian looking features but his sisters had blonde hair. My sons dna showed black ancestry circa 1700. But I believe the melungeon is on my grammaws side. We have always been told we are of cherokee and possibly Saponi descent. Found your list of names. Turkish, Jewish, Italian, Syrian, Nigerian, My eldest cousin knows Great Grands maiden name. My Clarks were Portuguese/Croatan. I did take my fathers death certificate when she was unaware. I realize my writing style is very erratic (like somebody said squirrel in front of a hound,lol) and I apologise for that, but thank you so much for your time Mrs Gray, sincerely Edward Davis (P.S. Joyceann Gray passed your info to me because I have Bass matches. Chapman, Chavis. Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler, Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly, Biggs. Lasie. The study found the truth to be somewhat less exotic: Genetic evidence shows that the families historically called Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European . Her parents born in Amherst Co. VA in 1760s. Love recognizes no barriers. BOWLING BOWMAN BRADBY BRANHAM BRAVBOY BRIGER/BRIDGER BROGAN His name was James Turner born 1791 in Russell, VA. Is it possible he was Mulugeon? Do you have any information? There are Coopers who live in Somerset, Ky. and a lot of the older generations have died. In Callaway County and Randolph County Missouri, known Melungeon surnames in the community are listed on Census records, Minor, Gibson, Hicks, Hix, and more. We believe the melungeon came through from my direct Collins and Gabbard lines from that area. Dalton, Dare, Davis, Denham, Dennis, Dial, Dorton, Doyle, Driggers, Dye, Dyess. Powell. Physical Traits. He was definitely a minor in 1756 (deed of gift of Gilbert Gibson). Robert K Thomas mentions an offshoot of Lumbees settling in Lincoln Co, Asheville and Macon Co NC in the link below. See more ideas about appalachia, history, appalachian people. Page 100 - Research Melungeon in the Surnames forums on Genealogy.com, the new GenForum! Chau Mecca Burton Ferrell. Cumbo. But it can be difficult to trace. I also have connections to various surnames on common Melungeon surname list and trace various branches back to the different areas moving E to SE in . I have 21 of those melungeon surnames in my direct bloodlines. Lucas. On my grandmother side we are Callaway,Ray and Mitchell. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement. Recently made a trip to Clairborne County TN to travel the lands near the Cumberland Gap where some of my people are from. 2 Answers. her reading and research of various materials noted herein. The Melungeons were a people of mysterious origins who had swarthy complexions, straight black hair, black or gray eyes and were found by the first pioneers. I saw where the name Branham is mentioned and my great-great grandmothers name was Ressie Branham and her husband was Charels Zolly Moody. My family is from Wise Dickinson and Buchanan counties in Va. John Brown-Warrants 26 Dec 1760, 700 acres on the Flatt River, includes Bolins, Riddles and Collins Improvements. Hope you can find your connections. Thanks for contacting me, Im working on a big project right now and as soon as I can Ill see what I can find. Can you give me access to your family tree? King James IV is also my 14th great grandfather. Thanks, Rachel. What are your Stallard and Sizemore ancestors? Dare. My maternal grandfather was Clarence Gibson from Wharn Cliff West Virginia. You present a hard nut to crack but not impossible. Cynthia Millican 2/06/01. My grandmothers biological family is originally from Wise Virginia and Morristown, Tn areas. Surnames: Allen. We think she was born in Wythe County, Va in 1927 and was married to my great grandfather John Rufus Mink, Sr around 1913-1914 as she had their first child in 1915. I'm still digging on into the melungeon . [https://nativeheritageproject.com/2012/08/10/a-report-on-research-of-lumbee-origins-by-robert-k-thomas-part-18-appendix/?fbclid=IwAR21JgwWwyYej0aPBQ8JKjGvNaHk_pXexc7Ddmkn6kKdxF6vaLxJdglOIf8](https://nativeheritageproject.com/2012/08/10/a-report-on-research-of-lumbee-origins-by-robert-k-thomas-part-18-appendix/?fbclid=IwAR21JgwWwyYej0aPBQ8JKjGvNaHk_pXexc7Ddmkn6kKdxF6vaLxJdglOIf8). I wish I could prove anything but I know it is a long time family claim. Other Surnames in his line are Brewer, Davis, Seals, Phipps, Tagliaferro(toliver) and many more. Hi! I was astounded and wondered where all these genes came from. FORUM ARTICLES SEARCH. Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves/Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Roberson/Robertson/Robinson, Russell. Elizabeth Katherine Jones supposed DOB was February 27, 1901. In January of 1943, Plecker sent a circular to all public health and county officials in Virginia, listing, county by county, the surnames of all families suspected of having African ancestry. I hope Im on the right track. WILLIAMSON WILLIS WILSON WISBY WISE WOOD WRIGHT WYATT WYNN. They were listed as white on census, but Im at a dead end before 1850 census, a Daniel Boone is listed as the father, and the only other earlier record I can find is a Daniel Boone in Amherst, VA that fits his birth year, but listed black. It has taken years and both of my parents have been gone over about 20 years. It possibly accounts for my 0.7% West African/Congolese DNA. Surnames include Adkins, Beam (er), Black, Blevins, Brown, Bunch, Bundren, Burke, Burns, Cooper, Davis, Fields, Gist, Gunter, Keys, Lackey, Lowrey, Redwine, Riley, Shankles, and Sizemore. This is seen in all generations that I know of in my family. Sparks Morrison Supposedly Calloways father was John Henry Jeremiah Bunch (again according to Ancestry family trees) who may have been Melungeon at least a tree has that in their comments. In addition, it leaves untouched some of the families who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically classed as whites, but who claimed Native American ancestry, such as the Sizemore claimants among the Eastern Cherokee applicants." My blue-eyed, somewhat darker skinned, maternal grandfather had a mysterious father whose parents, William Wright and Malissa Delph (my great-great grandparents) were born in Tennessee and both age 24 in the 1860 census. If anyone knows anything concerning the melungeons from Grayson County, Virginia. While I have some information, I would like to trace him back to Ireland, as my DNA shows over 70% Irish. Her father (my grandmothers great grandfather) was from Kentucky and his grandfather, Calloway Bunch came from Bedford, VA according to Ancestry. Scott. Would love to hear if you have tips or suggestions! Willis. Him and his wife did not have any children. I have always been the odd duck in my family. While the Melungeon people faced social isolation due to their non-white heritage, they rarely faced legal penalties for it. Thank you for posting this. Over the generations, many other surnames have become associated with the Melungeons. Melungeons ( / mlndnz / m-LUN-jnz) are an ethnicity from the Southeastern United States who descend from Europeans, Native American, and sub-Saharan Africans brought to America as indentured servants and later as slaves. "Jordan, son of Gilbert Gibson was undoubtedly born after 1746/7, possibly as late as 1752 or so. We are finding out all kinds of things about our heritage that we never knew. My ancestral lines take me to Muskogee (Creek) in Georgia/SouthCarolina ending in Oklahoma. 1999. Hello. My grandfather had a very dark complexion and when I asked him about this he said these traits were Black Dutch. Genealogist You are very welcome, Taking a DNA test might very well help. In this regard, Melungeons retained enough European ancestry to still participate in many institutions of the United States but still be treated with racial scorn and remain isolated from broader social acceptance. I did find her husband and kids. That's what happened to Jack Goins, Hawkins County, Tn. my family comes from west virginia in the appalachian mountains and we are of native american descent through my grandma though i havent tracked down who yet. Mixed Melungeons had lived in Vir- ginia from 1660. Revels, Sampson. The Clarks and Coopers were listed on the census in Malboro Co, Kershaw Co and Gafney, SC. Gann, Garland, Gibbs, Gibson/Gipson, Goins/Goings, Givens, Gowan/Gowen, Graham, Green(e), Gwinn. I asked my grandfather (1885-1973) what his familys origins were and he said Black Dutch. They came into Tennessee via Virginia. Thank you for the informative blog. The rest of my matches are 1 in Germany and the rest in Spain, Portugal, Purro Rico, Italy, and Brazil. I am so saddened by your grandmothers story. I have been trying for so long to do this on my own. PHIPPS PRINDER POLLY POWELL POWERS PRITCHARD PRUITT, RAMEY RASNICK REAVES REVELS REEVES RICE I have traced my ancestry back to the right areas at the right times, I have pictures of them that just dont match up with the white on their census records. My family has web page on Facebook. Hello again Ms. Gray. , I am descended from Wood. A lot of evidence has led me to see that I come from Ashkenazi and Portuguese Sephardic descent. Jack, a Melungeon descendant through several ancestors, expected that his Y paternal . Robert K Thomas mentions an offshoot of Lumbees settling in Lincoln Co, Asheville and Macon Co NC in the link below. After receiving my Y resilts I came up with only 27 matches. Upon reading message boards someone suggested that the father could be Mlungeon. Glad to see the name here. I suspect that they were mulungeon and passed as white after moving to Indiana. Ive been researching for a couple of months when I first came across melungeons. Roanoke, Virginia 24015 This page was submitted by Nancy Sparks Morrison and Now a new DNA study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy attempts to separate truth from oral tradition and wishful thinking. I did a DNA but found there was very littlelike 1 or 2%. carol warren 2/21/11. RICHARDSON RIDDLE RIVERS ROBERSON ROBERTSON ROBINSON RUSSELL, SAMMONS SAMPSON SAWYER SCOTT SEXTON SHAVIS I have also done a DNA test at the request of a distant relative to try and connect those with my last name and variations of it. I also had 1% of the unknown but I have known for years that I had in me the melungeons lineage. My grandmother was adopted and sadly was a victim of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society and was stolen from her family. Hello, I looking for any information on the Collins, Campbell, Burford, Taylor so what I am looking for is any information on families that moved to Texas. I am looking for information on the Jones, Barker, and Smith lines specifically but I cross about 15 of these families in my tree several times. Please let me know if you are still researching these families. I was told we were Jewish my entire life but never made more connection to it as kid, but more so as an adult. to Clark co. Ill. Linders wife, Jane Sophia Lee. Many of the Melungeon are believed to have taken the surnames of white settlers as their dialects switched to English for trading. I just uploaded me DNA from Ancestry to Gedmatch Gensis. Have you ever heard of Lowerys or Roses in your findings? I learned about these colors when I was in Fashion for 28 years. We just about cover all of those people. I am actually stuck on my grandmothers maternal line, my great grandmothers maiden name was Jones and I am unable to find any information on her mother and her mothers line. TUPPANCE TURNER, WARE WATTS WEAVER WHITE WHITED WILKINS WILLIAMS Adams/brown/butler/campbell/lots of clarks from virginia/cole/davis/garland/hall/hill/,lots of Jones from bristol/abingdon,Virginia into east Tennessee near Johnson city,lydia Martin from Richmond,va/nichols/robertson/Mary rock (Smith) who married samuel Denton my 8 th gg/talitha cumi Stevens who married my 2 bd gg huh. Looking for Starnes. Campell, Carrico, Carter, Casteel, Caudill, Chapman, Chavis, Clark, Cloud, Coal/Cole/Coles, Coffey, Coleman, Colley, Collier/Colyer, Collins, Collinsworth, Cook(e), Cooper, Cotman, Counts, Cox/Coxe, Criel, Croston, Crow, Cumba/Cumbo/Cumbow, Curry, Custalow. And for some not any death dates. I am researching my family tree. Additionally, Jack founded both the Y-DNA, mitochondrial (maternal) DNA and autosomal Families of Interest . I know she had children in Wise, Virginia as well as in Haticus, W Va, and Morristown, TN between the years of 1915-1935 with my grandmother being the youngest in 1935. Dad claimed their was Cherokee on his side but I have found no proof. Nearly everyone who has written about the Melungeons agrees that they fiercely resented the name. Good afternoon, You have so much work put into this. I honestly believe we are Melungeon. My mother and grandfather are directly from the Hall lineage. I am researching the following names of my Hancock/Hawkins Tennessee ancestors who apparently had ties to the border areas in Virginia and Noryh Carolina as well . I can not find any information about Elizbeth Katherines birth, or her as a child, it is as if she just appears as an adult out of the blue. Her folks were from Pennsylvania. Her skin was so dark her lips looked blue and she had a line on the side of her hands where the pigment stopped and the skin of her palms began. My paternal grandmothers grandmother was a Bunch from Indiana. There is no proof that Melungeons even have Mediterranean ancestry, . People are always asking me exactly what are you? Anyone with any info or connection, please email me!!!! Thank you for your time in reading this. I, too, am kin to Reeves from the VA/WV area who claimed unproven Native blood, even though there descendants were dark-skinned, dark-haired, etc. I guess Brent Stanley could be my match! HI ,Ihave Halls in my line too! Thank you for writing, so let us see where this takes us. My great grandmother was Leona G. Phipps from Grayson County, Virginia. Thank you for your time and any help in advance. But when I get to these relatives I can not find any birth dates. I was born and raised in Big Stone Gap Va I am of mulungeon descent. Hello, I was wondering if you could help me more with my roots. Always claimed to be cherokee but nothing in my research shows it. Thanks for posting. My great grandmother was Leeann Cox and it was said she had Indian blood. Does anyone know anything about Po (Napoleon) Brown from south east Kentucky? Thank you for your work. When some names come up, push the button for tree. Cooper. Her mother was Elmeda Johnson who died in childbirth,her father Jim cogdill went to ww1 and her grandparents raised her, family stories have suggested her mother was NA and Ive seen the name Luna johnson in my search once , it suggested that Luna johnson was her grandmother or great grandmother, all my grandmothers sons look very Hispanic in old photos but a lighter skin tone,say lighter than a Mexicans but quite a bit darker than a regular Caucasian,she her self had what Ive heard described as very ruddy complexion but to me she looked pure cherokee. Among the northern Europeans, the Melungeon ancestors include English, Scot, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, and German parents. Connie Crosby 4/27/02 . Apr 9, 2017 - COMMON MELUNGEON SURNAMES Adams, Adkins, Allen, Allmond, Ashworth, Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler, Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly,. My maternal grandfather was Clarence Gibson. The Short surname was my maiden name. Hi. Christy. My name is Nikki Landerkin. The Clarks and Coopers were listed on the census in Malboro Co, Kershaw Co and Gafney, SC. Although I cannot find the connect yet. Surname is Turner. Nash, Nelson, Newman, Niccans, Nichols, Noel, Norris. Dad was a Revolutionary soldier. This is what my husband and I have done. They were originally from SC and settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains around Gaston/Lincoln Co, Rutherford Co and Cleveland Co.