A “Melungeon” is a person descending from a tri-racial population thought to be of mixed European, African and Native American ancestry. Noticeable features include tanned ruddy skin, a very smooth texture of dark hair and light or colored eyes.

Melungeons are not easily identifiable with any specific race. Generally, they are believed to be the result of Caucasian women who had children with enslaved African American men and fled to the mountains to raise their offspring. Gradually, the offspring mixed with the local Native Americans and produced this tri-racial group. 

Historically, melungeons were associated with the Cumberland Gap area of central Appalachia, which includes portions of east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and eastern Kentucky. Often this group labeled themselves as Portuguese to avoid the horrible treatment that came along with having any African ancestry. Famous people who are said to have Melungeon ancestry are Ava Gardner, Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln to name a few.