Heathcliff’s ethnicity is not explicitly stated. However, he is described by other characters as “a dark-skinned gypsy, in aspect” and having “deep black eyes”. Some readers have theorized that Heathcliff has African heritage as Liverpool, where he was picked up by Mr. Earnshaw, was a slave-trading hub at the time. Another common theory is that he is the illegitimate child of Mr. Earnshaw and his gypsy mistress, thus making him half-gypsy.