Here is why everyone seems to be Cherokee, basically comes down to unwarranted self importance:



It is common enough that it falls into genealogical urban legend. TONS of families claim having Cherokee ancestors, most often a Cherokee 'princess'. Since expericenced researchers already know that there never were "princesses", they recognize that it is almost always an exaggeration without any basis. I say ALMOST always, because in some cases, they do have Cherokee ancestry. Most of the time, there is little facts to back it up, or it even is disproven. There was a time when any background such as Black, was HIGHLY discriminated against, and persons used Cherokee to explain it.