Melungeon
Melungeon is a term used for an ethnically mixed population in the southeastern United States that is of uncertain origin, perhaps a combination of various European, Middle Eastern and Native American strains.
Melungeons have been the subject of much debate about their ethnic, linguistic, cultural and geographic connections. While not officially recognized as an ethnic or racial group by the U.S. government, they often have a keen sense of self identity and, in some areas, a long history of existing separate from the mainstream community.
The extent to which Melungeons constitute a specific race or ethnicity is controversial, because members of this group are considered to be ethnically mixed rather than exhibiting characteristics which can be incontrovertibly classified as being of a single racial phenotype.
Even the origin of the term "Melungeon" is highly controversial.
Location
"Melungeon" is applied to group members living in:
Potentially related populations include:
Among the Native Americans, connections exist within:
Each of these groupings of Melungeons has a particular history and culture, but historical evidence shows relationships between them and indicates a common origin.
Origin
Melungeons claim to be of the following origin:
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern origins are confirmed by contemporary genetic and medical evidence.
A 1990 Spain
Physical traits such as sexdactyly, "Indian toes" and the Thalassemia
Language
The number of Melungeon and Native American terms which have been preliminarily linked with Ottoman period Turkish and Arabic words with identical pronunciations and meaning (and thus 'reinforce the Melungeon construct') is at least 1000.
