Caucasoid was a word for a person from Europe, West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, or the Horn of Africa. The group of these persons was called "Caucasoid race" or Caucasian race. In former times, many people divided human beings into three races. These races were called Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid. Today, scientists agree that there is only one human race. Modern genetic research has shown that the idea of three races was wrong.
German anthropologist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752 – 1840) invented the name Caucasian race because he saw a connection to the Caucasus Mountains.
In the United States, white people are often called "Caucasian". But the "Caucasian race" included people with a skin from white to dark brown.