Melungeon Genetic Comparison

Who are the Melungeons Most Closely Related To?

THE MELUNGEONS: THE PIONEERS of the INTERIOR SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1526-1997
by Eloy J. Gallegos

On p. 80 of the above text, Eloy Gallegos provides a Table giving the Mean Measure of Divergence (MMD) of Melungeons from Other Populations taken from a 1990 study by James L. Guthrie Dr. Gallogos stated (p.79) that, “Overall, I believe the gene frequency approach taken to resolve Melungeon origins is the best available given the limited funding and time available for the project, however, it is equally important to support gene frequency studies with historical, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological information which might be obtained from the Melungeon group. Finally, a study of human values, traits of this group...etc, world-view, religious aspirations, motivational traits, eccentric and habitual behavior, and idiosyncrasies could be used in support of establishing Melungeon origins when compared to other world population groups.”

A perfect match meaning that a person is to be considered absolutely pure blooded, would equal 0.000. I beleive that the most distant match indicating no connection whatsoever would be 0.999.

POPULATION

MMD

Libya(Tripoli*) 0.017
Cyprus (Toodos-Greek) 0.017
Malta* 0.018
Canary Islands (Spanish) 0.019
Italy (Veneto) 0.022
Close Matches
Portugal 0.024
Italy (Trentino) 0.026
Spain (Galacia) 0.027
U. S. Whites (Minnesota)+ 0.028
Ireland# 0.029
Italy 0.030
Sweden 0.030
Libya (minus Fezzan) 0.030
Germany 0.031
Britain 0.031
Greece 0.032
Netherlands 0.032
Wales 0.033
Corsica 0.034
France 0.035
Spain 0.036
U. S. Whites 0.036
England 0.040
Sicily 0.040
Iceland 0.041
Northern Ireland 0.042
Finland 0.046
Sardinia 0.051
Turkey 0.053
Cyprus 0.058
U.S. Blacks 0.189
Distant Matches
Gullas (Blacks South Carolina) 0.222
Seminole, Oklahoma 0.241
Cherokee 0.256
Seminole, Florida 0.308

* The Arab/Berber (Moorish) component of the Spanish/Portugese of today.
+Probably Swedes. Could reflect the Moorish in Swedes.
# Married into Melungeon families in the S. E. U. S. Does not include Northern Ireland.

In spite of the close corrolation between the Turks and the Melungeons, Dr. Gallegos, who is of Spanish/Portugese extraction, does not agree with Dr. N. Brent Kennedy on Melungeon origins. His book is aimed toward the Spanish/Portugese expeditions prior to the establishment of the English on the American continent in 1607. In the * above, he says that the Moorish component came through the Spanish/Portugese whose genes combined with the Moors, rather than from that group of people themselves.

This page was submitted by Nancy Sparks Morrison and the opinions in this page are strictly the author's, based upon her reading and research of various materials noted herein.

Nancy Sparks Morrison
Genealogist
Roanoke, Virginia 24015
USA
Email: [email protected]

© Nancy Sparks Morrison, 1998, 1999.


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