About Paul Heinegg
“The world’s expert on the Free Black population in the United States.”
— Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr.
Over 35 years of experience in genealogical research.
Paul Heinegg has over 35 years of experience in genealogical research. He is the recipient of four major genealogy awards, and has authored three books and four journal articles. These publications include the origin and family history of over 1,100 African American families that were free in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware during the colonial period.
Paul was identified as “the world’s expert on the Free Black population in the United States” by Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr., and as “the leading authority on early African American families” by Genealogical.com and FamilySearch.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Hackett Fischer described him as a “gifted genealogist” who “transformed our knowledge of slaves and free people of African ancestry in early America” and “changed our fundamental understanding of race, slavery, and servitude in early America”.
In addition to his extensive research on the genealogy of free African Americans, Paul has also traced the ancestry of an enslaved family back to the mid-1600s in a journal article that meets rigorous genealogical standards.
About Ayo Heinegg Magwood
Ayo Heinegg Magwood is a senior genealogist with Black Ancestries. She partners with her father, renowned genealogist Paul Heinegg, to co-author comprehensive research reports on both enslaved and free African American families. Together, they co-authored the forthcoming journal article "Tracing an African American Family Lineage from the 17th to the 20th Century: The Kee Family of Northampton County, NC" for The Genealogist, as well as the FTDNA blog post, "Researching the Ancestry of Formerly Enslaved African American Families." Magwood has spoken at North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS) and Halifax County Genealogical Society conferences. She co-presented the Legacy FamilyTree webinar "Breaking the 1870 Brick Wall: Comprehensive Strategies for Tracing Formerly Enslaved African American Ancestors" with Black Ancestries CEO Andre Kearns.
Testimonials
Whitney Coleman
"Paul's passion for genealogy shines through in the meticulous quality of his work. He has a knack for connecting dots that others might miss, and his willingness to go down rabbit holes to find the most elusive answers is truly commendable.”
M.B. Baker
“Paul’s report was concise with excellent illuminating details and linked documents embedded in the narrative. I will continue to have Paul explore my genealogical brick walls. I am very grateful for his expert assistance.”