Melungeon DNA Project
Encyclopedia
The Melungeon DNA Project is a genetic study of people who have Melungeon
ancestors mostly in Hancock County, Tennessee and nearby areas of Kentucky according to historic records. Participants' genealogical suitability for inclusion is determined by a group of Melungeon researchers. The study was started in 2005 by Jack Goins, author of Melungeon And Other Pioneer Families. Goins is of Melungeon ancestry and has done extensive research on the group. Participants must descend in a direct paternal line for the Y chromosome
testing, or a maternal line for the Mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) testing.
The Melungeon DNA Project volunteer administrator has no commercial affiliation with any profit-making organization and receives no compensation for services or expenses involved with the project.
Group 1: Core Melungeon
At present, "Bunch
, Goins, Gibson
, Minor
, Collins
, Williams
, Goodman
, Denham
, Bowlin, Mullins
, Moore
, Shumake, Boltons
, Perkins
, Mornings, Menleys, Breedlove
, Hopkins
and Mallett
," and name variations, have been designated core families by the project organizers. More names may be added as this is an ongoing research project, and these names will be in Group 1.
Group 2: Melungeon related.
If the above names are in the participant's family but are not in a direct line to enable Y-DNA or mtDNA testing, participants will be placed in Group 2: Melungeon related.
Preliminary results of the Core Melungeon DNA Project are available here:
To summarize, most individuals tested to date have been shown to have Y and/or mtDNA haplogroups that are considered Western European
and/or African. Y-DNA R1b is predominant in Western European countries of: U.K., Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal. It also hovers around 50% in France and Germany.
This is consistent with historic research of Paul Heinegg, who in Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware traced many African-American families free in North Carolina
in 1790-1810, back to families descended from marriages and unions between white women and African men in colonial Virginia. The women were free, often indentured servants; the men were free, indentured or slaves, and sometimes freed slaves. By the early 19th century, their mixed-race descendants had joined the movement to the frontiers in Virginia and North Carolina (and later Kentucky
and points west), in part because they found it an easier social environment than the Tidewater
plantation
area. In those frontier areas, the mixed-race people were sometimes called or identified as Portuguese
, Arabs
, Indian
, Melungeons and other groups.
Also, through conquest
, enslavement
, genocide
, disease
and assimilation, European and to a lesser extent African DNA was introduced into the Indian populations
Having the paternal or maternal progenitor carry a specific haplogroup
does not, of course, imply that the family was predominantly of that ethnicity
. Or that the progenitor was, in fact, of that ethnicity.
Melungeon
Melungeon is a term traditionally applied to one of a number of "tri-racial isolate" groups of the Southeastern United States, mainly in the Cumberland Gap area of central Appalachia, which includes portions of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Kentucky. Tri-racial describes populations...
ancestors mostly in Hancock County, Tennessee and nearby areas of Kentucky according to historic records. Participants' genealogical suitability for inclusion is determined by a group of Melungeon researchers. The study was started in 2005 by Jack Goins, author of Melungeon And Other Pioneer Families. Goins is of Melungeon ancestry and has done extensive research on the group. Participants must descend in a direct paternal line for the Y chromosome
Y chromosome
The Y chromosome is one of the two sex-determining chromosomes in most mammals, including humans. In mammals, it contains the gene SRY, which triggers testis development if present. The human Y chromosome is composed of about 60 million base pairs...
testing, or a maternal line for the Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
(mtDNA) testing.
The Melungeon DNA Project volunteer administrator has no commercial affiliation with any profit-making organization and receives no compensation for services or expenses involved with the project.
Group 1: Core Melungeon
At present, "Bunch
Bunch
Bunch may refer to:* BUNCH, competitors in computer manufacturing* Bunch, Oklahoma, a village in the state of Oklahoma in the United States of America* Bunch grass, any grass of the Poaceae family* The Bunch, a 1972 folk rock group...
, Goins, Gibson
Gibson (surname)
Gibson is an English and Scottish surname. The name is derived from a patronymic form of the common mediaeval personal name Gib, which is a short form of Gilbert. The name Gilbert was very popular in Great Britain in the Middle Ages. Variant forms of the surname include Gibsoun, Gipson, Gibbson,...
, Minor
Minor
Minor means "not important", and in Latin "smaller". It may also refer to:* an underage child, see Minor * Academic minor, a secondary focus of a Bachelor's degree, the primary focus being an academic major-Mathematics:...
, Collins
Collins (surname)
The surname Collins has a variety of likely origins in Britain and Ireland:#Anglo-Saxon: A patronymic surname based on the name Colin, an English diminutive form of Nicholas. In England, Collins usually signified "son of Colin."...
, Williams
Williams (surname)
Williams is a patronymic form of the name William that originated in medieval England and later came to be extremely popular in Wales. The meaning is derived from son or descendant of Guillemin, the French form of William. Derived from an Old French given name with Germanic elements; will =...
, Goodman
Goodman (surname)
Goodman is a surname, formerly a polite term of address, used where Mister would be used today. Compare Goodwife. It may refer to:- Given name :* Goodman Acem ne Aiskowitz, American humorist* Goodman Lipkind- Family name :...
, Denham
Denham
- People :* Carl Denham, fictional character from King Kong* Daryl Denham, British radio DJ* Digby Denham, Australian politician* Dixon Denham, British explorer* Henry Denham, British printer* Henry Mangles Denham, , Royal navy...
, Bowlin, Mullins
Mullins (surname)
The surname Mullins is of Irish origin, and is akin to Mullen and McMillan . It may refer to:*Aimee Mullins , an American athlete and performer*Andria Mullins , an American beauty queen and performer...
, Moore
Moore (surname)
The name Moore is a popular surname in many English-speaking countries and is of Gaelic/English origin. It is the 31st most common surname in the United Kingdom, and 9th most common in the United States....
, Shumake, Boltons
Boltons
Boltons is a civil parish in the Allerdale district of Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 585. Settlements in the parish include Bolton Low Houses, Bolton New Houses, Mealsgate, Boltongate and Sandale....
, Perkins
Perkins
-People:The name is of Welsh origin from Perthyn, relative or belonging to a particular person or family, and also thought to be the Anglicized form of Peredur, from Medieval Welsh...
, Mornings, Menleys, Breedlove
Breedlove
The name Breedlove can refer to:People named Breedlove:*Craig Breedlove, five-time world land speed record holder*Dennis E. Breedlove, American botanist*Lynn Breedlove, American musician*Rod Breedlove, former American Football linebacker...
, Hopkins
Hopkins
Hopkins is an English, Welsh and Irish patronymic surname. The English and Welsh derivations mean "son of Hob". It derives from the Germanic warrior name Hrod-berht, translated as "renowned-fame". It was 'borrowed' into French, where the spelling was changed from "Hob" to "Robert". The name in...
and Mallett
Mallett
- People :* Ashley Mallett, a former Australian cricketer* Daryl F. Mallett, a science fiction editor and writer* David Mallett, a singer-songwriter* Harry Mallett, a cricketer and administrator* Edward K...
," and name variations, have been designated core families by the project organizers. More names may be added as this is an ongoing research project, and these names will be in Group 1.
Group 2: Melungeon related.
If the above names are in the participant's family but are not in a direct line to enable Y-DNA or mtDNA testing, participants will be placed in Group 2: Melungeon related.
Preliminary results of the Core Melungeon DNA Project are available here:
To summarize, most individuals tested to date have been shown to have Y and/or mtDNA haplogroups that are considered Western European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and/or African. Y-DNA R1b is predominant in Western European countries of: U.K., Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, and Portugal. It also hovers around 50% in France and Germany.
This is consistent with historic research of Paul Heinegg, who in Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware traced many African-American families free in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1790-1810, back to families descended from marriages and unions between white women and African men in colonial Virginia. The women were free, often indentured servants; the men were free, indentured or slaves, and sometimes freed slaves. By the early 19th century, their mixed-race descendants had joined the movement to the frontiers in Virginia and North Carolina (and later Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and points west), in part because they found it an easier social environment than the Tidewater
Tidewater (geographic term)
Tidewater is a geographic area of southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina that is considered a part of the Coastal Plain. Portions of Maryland facing the Chesapeake Bay are also given this designation. The area gains its name because of the effect the area has from the changing tides of...
plantation
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
area. In those frontier areas, the mixed-race people were sometimes called or identified as Portuguese
Portuguese American
Portuguese Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the offshore island groups of the Azores and Madeira....
, Arabs
Arab American
An Arab American is a United States citizen or resident of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage or identity, who identifies themselves as Arab. Arab Americans trace ancestry to any of the various waves of immigrants of the countries comprising the Arab World...
, Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, Melungeons and other groups.
Also, through conquest
Conquest (military)
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. One example is the Norman conquest of England, which provided the subjugation of the Kingdom of England and the acquisition of the English crown by William the Conqueror in 1066...
, enslavement
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
and assimilation, European and to a lesser extent African DNA was introduced into the Indian populations
Having the paternal or maternal progenitor carry a specific haplogroup
Haplogroup
In the study of molecular evolution, a haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor having the same single nucleotide polymorphism mutation in both haplotypes. Because a haplogroup consists of similar haplotypes, this is what makes it possible to predict a haplogroup...
does not, of course, imply that the family was predominantly of that ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
. Or that the progenitor was, in fact, of that ethnicity.