Casteel Family of VIrginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia

[Scarlett]

Looking for information on derivation of Casteel families of the above areas. The name was later shortened to Steele/Steel however many still use the Casteel spelling. Our line was supposed to have originated in North Carolina - John Casteel, Cherokee Indian. He left that area with the Sparks family and settled in Elliott Co. Ky. where he died and is buried. Casteel does not sound like an Indian name, some say it is
" Melungeon." Most of us have light hair and eyes however. Any information is appreciated.

[Terry Barton]

Hi Scarlett.  I can't help you with the genealogy, but did add the Casteel surname to the Steele Surname project.  It was already included in the Castle Surname Project.  Here are the links to the two projects:

http://www.familytreedna.com/DNAList.asp?Group=Steele
http://www.familytreedna.com/DNAList.asp?Group=Castle

You can test a male Casteel (Steel) member of your family and have him joined to both projects (after the results are back) as you search for your genetic kin and genetic ancestry.  If he was Cherokee from his father's fathers' ... father's paternal line - that will also be shown in the yDNA results.

It may also be useful to compare your yDNA results with the Sparks family - if the results are not Native American

Terry