The Hatteras were an Algonquian American Indian nation that resided on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Some scholars believe that the Hatteras are descendants of the Croatan, the American Indian tribe that first encountered the Roanoke Island Colony. Known for their coastal fishing techniques and seafaring abilities, the Hatteras nation's numbers had dwindled by the early 18th century due to their exposure to European diseases. Seeking protection during the Tuscarora War, the Hatteras allied with the colonists in opposing the nearby Mattamuskeet nation.

The Hatteras Indians continued to dwindle throughout the 18th century. A 1731 report estimated that there were not more than 20 families still living on the island. In 1759 the Hatteras received a 200-acre reservation from the colonial government located near Cape Hatteras. By 1763, colonists reported that most Hatteras that remained on the island had mixed with the white population. Today the Algonquian Indians of North Carolina claim Hatteras ancestry. Yet as of 2024, no Hatteras group is recognized at the state or federal level.

For more information and links to resources, please see our editorial statement on American Indian terminology.