Melungeon anyone?

[Tippiechick]

Anyone else believe/know that they are of Melungeon descent?

I had no idea why my dad's side of the family looked so dark-skinned and had certain uncommon features. We all have Asian-type folds on our top eyelids. We have very high cheekbones. And, we have the ridges on the backs of our front teeth and the extra bump on the back of our skulls. And, his side of the family has a Melungoen surname common to TN, too.

Now, I know that these are classic characteristics of Melungeons.

I am in the process of trying to do more research to see if I can prove this ancestry.

Melungeon info Melungeon traits

Just wondering if anyone else knew of having Melungeon ancestry.

[RUgreek]

Melungeon info

9. Red Bones of Louisiana.

Is that where the term Red Neck originates too?

[Tippiechick]

No.

[KatieKate1244]

The term "red neck" comes from the days when coal miners in WV were striking in order to get the coal companies to allow them to unionize. You could tell who was pro-union by miners wearing red bandanas around their necks, hence "red necks."

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by KatieKate1244

The term "red neck" comes from the days when coal miners in WV were striking in order to get the coal companies to allow them to unionize. You could tell who was pro-union by miners wearing red bandanas around their necks, hence "red necks."

And another theory, the term came from the sunburned necks of farmers.

[KatieKate1244]

Actually, I just looked at some of the links you provided, Tippiechick, and it really describes my mom's side of the family really well.

[Nikki_DZ]

Originally posted by Tippiechick


I am in the process of trying to do more research to see if I can prove this ancestry.

Just wondering if anyone else knew of having Melungeon ancestry.

Tip-
I'd be interested to see in research you might stumble on about the Melungeon community "as far north as Highland County, OH". This is my home county, and where generations of my maternal grandmother's family have lived. We've always had snags in tracing the heritage on that side, so my curiousity is piqued.

Thanks

[carnation]

My mother's side of the family is heavily Melungeon.

[Munchkin03]

This describes one half of my family very well.

Of course, most American Blacks who have at least 6 generations in this country can be categorized under "tri-racial."

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by Munchkin03
This describes one half of my family very well.

Of course, most American Blacks who have at least 6 generations in this country can be categorized under "tri-racial."

True.

But I had no idea that bump in the back of the head wasn't normal. I thought everyone had them.

[Tippiechick]

Dionysus,

Everyone has a bump on the back of the skull. But, in Melungeon decendants, there is an additional bump/ridge where the skull joins the neck. This is below the main "bump" on the back of the head and is along the same level as the ears.

[Munchkin03]

I'm bumping this super-old thread to see if there's anyone new here who has Melungeon ancestry, or any of the other tri-racial isolates of the Southeast!

[Shellfish]

One of my great-great-great-great-grandfathers had a name associated with the Wesorts of Maryland; I guess he was originally from there but moved to North Carolina. In some early 1800s censuses, he is listed as white, but then later he is given as free colored. His daughter, my great-great-great-grandmother, and her husband moved elsewhere in NC, presumably to pass.

[honeychile]

Bumping due to Yahoo! article: DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia's Melungeons.

The article is more interesting than the usual Yahoo! article, as it goes into the WHY, instead of just stating a fact or two. Enjoy!

[carnation]

I saw this! I hope I'll see more of their research!