List of place names in New England of aboriginal origin
From Freepedia
This is a List of place names in New England of aboriginal origin. New England is in the northeastern part of the United States, and is comprised of six states: Connecticut, Maine. Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Rhode Island, and Vermont. Listed are well-known names of towns, significant bodies of water, and mountains. This list is a work-in-progress, and is not meant to be comprehensive, as several thousand names exist.
New England in the early-17th century when English colonists first landed was Algonquin land. Most aboriginal place names left are Algonquin/Abnaki, varying according to regional tribal dialects, and misinterpretations by Europeans. Refer to external links to see general charts and breakdowns of tribal language influences.
Place names on this list represent a number of aboriginal languages within the Algonquin family, for the most part, if in warped or anglicized form:
- Abnaki
- Hammonassett
- Mahican
- Maliseet
- Mi'kmaq
- Mohegan
- Montauk
- Natick
- Narragansett
- Niantic
- Nipmuck
- Norridgewock
- Passamaquoddy
- Paugussett
- Pennacook
- Penobscot
- Pequot
- Podunk
- Poquonock
- Quinnipiac
- Tunxi
- Wampanoag
- Wangunk
Contents |
Connecticut
Common languages: Hammonasset, Mahican, Mohegan, Montauk, Niantic, Paugussett, Pequot, Podunk, Poquonock, Quinnipiac, Tunxi, Wangunk
- Connecticut, the state, and river: (several languages) "place of the long river" or "by the long tidal stream"
- Aspetuck River (and town): (Paugussett) "at the high place"
- Cockenoe Island: (Montauk) from the name of a 17th-century native interpreter
- Coginchaug River: (Wangunk) "place where fish are dried/cured"
- Congamuck Ponds (on MA border Congamond Lake): (Nipmuck) "long fishing place"
- Cos Cob: (Mohegan from Cassacubque) "high rocks"
- Hammonassett Point: (Hammonassett) "place of sand bars"
- Hockanum River (and town): (Podunk) "hook"
- Housatonic River: (Mahican) "beyond the mountain"
- Mashapaug Pond: (Nipmuck) "large pond"
- Massapeag: (Mohegan) "place at the large cove"
- Mianus River (and town): (Paugussett) a 17th-century chief's name - "Mianu/Mayanno's"
- Mohawk Mountain: eastern Iroquois tribe; Algonquin term for their western enemies – "wolves," "hungry animals," or "cannibals"
- Mohegan: tribe; "hungry animal" or "wolf"
- Moodus River (also Reservoir, and town): (Wangunk) from "mache moodus" or "bad noises" (the Moodus noises)
- Moosup: (Narragansett) a chief named "Mausup"
- Mystic River (and town): (Pequot-Mohegan) "great tidal river"
- Naugatuck River (and town): (Quinnipiac) "single tree"
- Natchaug River: (Nipmuck) "between rivers"
- Nepaug Reservoir: (Wangunk) "fresh pond"
- Niantic River (and town): tribe; "point of land on tidal river"
- Oronoque: (Quinnipiac) "curved place" or "land at the bend"
- Pachaug River (and Pond): (Narragansett} "at the turning place"
- Pataguanset Lake: (Niantic) "at the round, shallow place"
- Pawcatuck River (RI border): (Niantic/Pequot) "the clear divided (tidal) stream"
- Pequabuck: (Wangunk) "clear, open pond"
- Pistapaug Pond: (Quinnipiac) "muddy pond"
- Pocotopaug Lake: (Wangunk) "divided pond" or "two ponds"
- Poquetanuck: (Mohegan) "land broken up" (like dried mud cracking)
- Poquonock Bridge and river: (Algonquin - several) "cleared land"
- Quaddick Reservoir:(Nipmuck) "bend in river" or (Narragansett) "boggy place"
- Quassapaug Pond: (Quinnipiac) "gravelly/stony pond"
- Quinebaug River (and town): (Nipmuck) "long pond"
- Quinnipiac River: (Quinnipiac) "where we change our route"
- Lake Quonnipaug: (Quinnipiac) "long pond"
- Sachem Head: (Algonquin/general) "chief"
- Saugatuck River: (Paugussett) "outlet of the tidal river"
- Scitico: (Nipmuck) "land at the river branch"
- Shenipsit Lake: (Mohegan) "at the great pool"
- Shepaug River: (Tunxis) "great pond"
- Shetucket River: (Mohegan) "land between rivers"
- Shunock River: ((Mohegan) "stony place" or possibly "place between streams"
- Skungamug River: (Nipmuck) "eel-fishing place"
- Taconic: (Mahican) "steep ascent"
- Uncasville: (Mohegan) 17th-century chief's name (wonkus - "fox")
- Wangum Lake: (Paugussett) "bend/crooked"
- Wangumbaug Lake: (Nipmuck) "crooked pond"
- Wangumgaug Lake: "crooked pond"
- Lake Waramaug: (Mahican) "good fishing-place"
- Willimantic River (and town): (Mohegan or Nipmuck) "good cedar swamp"
- Winnepauk: (Mahican) "beautiful pond"
- Wononpacook Pond: (Mahican) "land at the bend in the pond"
- Wononskopomuc Lake: (Mahican) "rocks at the bend in the lake"
- Wopowaug River: ((Wangunk) "crossing-place"
- Wopowog: (Wangunk) "crossing-place"
- Wyassup Lake: (Mohegan) "flags" or "rushes"
- Yantic River (and town) (Mohegan) "as far as the tide goes up this side of the river"
- Former names:
- Mameeg or Nameeg: (Pequot-Mohegan) "fishing place" New London
- Miamogue: (Paugussett) "where we come together to fish" Bridgeport (harbor)
- Nawaas: general name for Connecticut
Maine
Common languages:
- Northern: Abnaki, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy
- Southern: Abnaki, Norridgewock, Pennacook, Penobscot
- Acadia National Park: (Mi'kmaq) "the earth/land"
- Allagash River (and town): (Abnaki) "bark shelter"
- Androscoggin River: (Abnaki) "place where fish are dried/cured"
- Aroostook River: (Mi'kmaq) "beautiful river"
- Aziscoos Lake: (Abnaki) "small pine trees"
- Caribou: (Abnaki) kalibu "shoveler" (gets food by pawing or shoveling]]
- Casco Bay: (Mi'kmaq) muddy
- Chebeague Island: (Abnaki) "separated place"
- Chemquasabamticook Lake: (Abnaki) "where there is a large lake and a river"
- Chesuncook Lake: (Abnaki) "at the principal outlet"
- Chiputneticook Lakes: (Abnaki) "at the place of the big hill stream"
- Cobscook Bay: (Maliseet) "rocks under water"
- Cobbosseecontee Lake: (Abnaki) "many sturgeon"
- Damariscotta: (Abnaki) "many alewives"
- Mount Katahdin: (Abnaki) "the principal mountain"
- Kennebago Lake: (Abnaki) "long/large pond/lake"
- Kennebec River: (Abnaki) "long quiet water"
- Kennebunk (and river): (Abnaki) "long sand bar"
- Madawaska River: (Mi'kmaq) "where one river joins another"
- Matagamon: (Abnaki) "far on the other side"
- Matinicus Island: (Abnaki) "far-out island"
- Mattamiscontis Lake: (Abnaki) "many ale-wives"
- Mattawamkeag River (and town): (Abnaki) "fishing beyond gravel bar" or (Mi'kmaq) "on a sand bar"
- Metinic Island: (Abnaki) "far-out island"
- Millinocket (and lake): (Abnaki) "this place is admirable"
- Molunkus Pond (and stream): (Abnaki) "ravine"
- Monhegan Island: (Mi'kmaq or Maliseet) "out-to-sea island"
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake: (Abnaki) "moose feeding place" (portage to or big trees at)
- Muscongus Bay: (Abnaki) "many/large rock ledges"
- Musquash Lake: (Abnaki) "muskrat"
- Musquacook River (and Lake): (Abnaki) "muskrat place"
- Nahmakanta Lake: (Abnaki) "many fish"
- Nollesemic (and lake): (Abnaki) "resting place at the falls"
- Ogunquit: (Mi'kmaq) "lagoons within dunes"
- Orono (Abnaki) purportedly from a Chief Joseph Orono, no translation
- Ossipee River: (Abnaki) "beyond the water"
- Oquossoc: (Abnaki) "place of trout" (a certain trout-type)
- Passadumkeag: (Abnaki) "rapids over gravel beds"
- Passamaquoddy Bay: tribal name; "place of abundance of pollack"
- Pemadumcook Lake: (Maliseet) "extended sand bar place"
- Pemaquid: (Mi'kmaq) "extended land" (peninsula)
- Penobscot River: (Abnaki?) tribal name; "place of descending rocks/ledges"
- Piscataqua River (NH border): (Pennacook) "the place where the river divides"
- Piscataquis River (Abnaki) "at the river branch"
- Quoddy Head(Passamaquoddy) abbreviation to "pollack"
- Saco (and river): (Abnaki) "flowing out" or "outlet"
- Sebago Lake (and town): (Abnaki) "big lake"
- Sebasticook Lake: (Penobscot-Abnaki) "almost-through place"
- Seboomook Lake (and town): (Abnaki) "at the large stream"
- Squapan Lake (and town): (Abnaki) "bear's den"
- Umcolcus Lake: (Abnaki) "whistling duck"
- Usuntabunt Lake: (Abnaki) "wet head" or possibly "three heads"
- Wassutaquook River: sp.
- Webhannet: (Abnaki) "at the clear stream"
- Former names:
- Ahbaysauk: (Abnaki) "place where clams are baked/dried" Bar Harbor
- Amitgon pontook: (Abnaki) "place at the falls where fish are dried/cured" Lewiston Falls
- Machegony: (mi'kmaq) "shaped like a large knee" Portland
Massachusetts
Common languages:
- Eastern: Natick, Nipmuck, Wampanoag (southeast)
- Western: Natick, Nipmuck, Narragansett (southwest)
- Massachusetts (the state): (Natick) "by the great hills" (the hills of Milton, Blue Hill, south of Boston)
- Acoaxet: (Narragansett) "at the fishing promontory" or "place of small pines"
- Acushnet River (and town): (Naragansett) "at the cove"
- Agawam: (Nipmuck or Pennacook) "low land" (with water) or "place to unload canoes" (possible portage spot)
- Assabet River: (Nipmuck) "at the boggy place"
- Assawompsett Pond: Narragansett "trading place"; (Wampanoag) "place of large upright rock"
- Assinippi: (Wampanoag) "rocks in water"
- Assonet River (also Cedar Swamp and town): (Narragansett) "at the rock" – the rock in question being Dighton Rock
- Cataumet: (Wampanoag) "at the ocean" or "landing place"
- Lake Chaubunagungamaug: ((Nipmuck-Mohegan) "boundary fishing place"
- Chappaquiddick Island: (Wampanoag) "separated island"
- Chicopee (also Falls, and river): (Nipmuck) "violent water"
- Cochituate: (Natick) "place of swift water"
- Cohasset: (Natick) "high place" or "promontory"
- Congamond Lake (on CT border - Congamuck Ponds): (Nipmuck) "long fishing place"
- Cotuit: (Wampanoag) "long planting field"
- Cummaquid: (Wampanoag) "harbor"
- Cuttyhunk Island: (Wampanoag) "thing that lies out in the sea"
- Mount Greylock: named for a Missisquoi chief
- Hockamock Swamp: (Natick-Abnaki) "evil spirit" or "hellish place"; (Narragansett) "hook-shaped place"
- Hoosac Tunnel: (Mahican) "rock place"
- Humarock: (Wampanoag) "shell place" or "rock carving"
- Hyannis: (Wampanoag) name of a 17th-century chief, "Iyanogh's"
- Jamaica Plain and (Pond): (Natick) "beaver"
- Manhan River: (Nipmuck) "island"
- Manomet Point (and town): (Wampanoag) "portage place"
- Mashpee: (Wampamoag) "place near great cove"
- Mattapan: (Natick) "resting place" or "end of portage"
- Mattapoisett: (Wampanoag) "resting place" or "edge of cove"
- Merrimac: (Pennacook) "deep place"
- Merrimack River: (Abnaki) "at the deep place"
- Mishaum Point: (Narragansett) "great neck" or "canoe-landing place"
- Lake Monomonac (NH border): (Abnaki) "at the very deep place"
- Monomoy Island (and Point): (Wampanoag) "look-out place" or "deep water"
- Muskeget Island (and Channel): (Wampanoag) "grassy place"
- Mystic River (Natick) "great tidal stream"
- Nabnasset: (Nipmuck)
- Nahant: (Natick) "the point" or "almost an island"
- Nantasket: (Natick/Wampanoag) "at the strait" or "low-tide place"
- Nantucket Island: (Wampanoag) "in the midst of waters" ; (Naragansett) far off, among the waves
- Nashawena Island: (Wampanoag) "between"
- Natick: tribe; "the place I seek" or "home," "place," "clearing"
- Naushon Island: (Wampanoag) "middle" (no clear translation)
- Neponset River: (Natick) possibly "a good fall" (easy for canoe travel)
- Nonamesset Island: (Wampanoag)
- Nonquitt: (Narragansett) "dry or landing place"
- Onota Lake: (Mahican) "blue/deep"
- Pocasset: (Natick) "where the stream widens"
- Pontoosuc:(Mahican or Nipmuck) "falls on the brook"
- Quabbin Reservoir: (Nipmuck) "crooked streams"
- Quaboag River: (Nipmuck) "before the pond" or abbreviation of "red pond" (m'squ'boag)
- Quinebaug River: (Nipmuck) "long pond"
- Lake Quinsigamond: (Nipmuck) "pickerel-fishing place
- Quisset: (Nipmuck) "at the place of small pines"
- Sagamore: (Wampanoag) "chief"
- Santuit: (Wampanoag) "cool water place"
- Saugus: (Natick) "outlet"
- Scituate: (Wampanoag) "at the cold spring or brook"
- Seekonk: (Narragansett) "wild black goose" or (Wampanoag) "mouth of stream" or "wild goose"
- Segreganset: (Narragansett) "place of hard rocks"
- Siasconset: (Narragansett) "at the place of many/great bones" (whales?)
- Snipatuit Pond: (Wampanoag) "at the rocky river"
- Squibnocket Point (and pond): (Wampanoag) "at the place of dark rocks" (or clay cliff)
- Swampscott: (Natick) "place of red rocks"
- Taconic Mountains: (Natick) "steep ascent"
- Tuckernuck Island: (Wampanoag) "round loaf of bread"
- Mt. Wachusett (and Reservoir): (Natick) "near the mountain"
- Waquoit: (Wampanoag) "at the end"
- Mt. Watatick: (Nipmuck)
- Watuppa Pond: (Wampanoag) "roots"
- Weweantic River: (Wampanoag) "crooked" or "wandering stream"
- Woronoco (Nipmuck) "winding about"
- Former names:
- Capawack or Capoag: (Wampanoag) "enclosed harbor" Martha's Vineyard
- Cohannet: (Wampanoag or Narragansett) "at the long or pine place" Taunton
- Poughkeeste: (Wampanoag) "bay with coves" Buzzards Bay
- Shawmut: (Natick) "ferry" or "place to draw up canoes" Boston
New Hampshire
Common Languages: Abnaki, Nipmuck, Pennacook
- Ammonoosuc River (Upper and Lower): (Abnaki) "small, narrow fishing place"
- Ashuelot (pond, river): (Pennacook or Natick) "place between"
- Canobie Lake: (Abnaki) "abundant water"
- Contoocook: (Pennacook) "place of the river near pines" or (Abnaki) "nut trees river" or (Natick) "small plantation at the river"
- Coos: (Pennacook) "pine tree"
- Hooksett: (Pennacook) possible abbreviation of Annahooksett "place of beautiful trees"
- Massabesic Lake: (Abnaki) "near the great brook"
- Merrimack
- Mount Monadnock: (Natick) "at the most prominent island" (-like mountain)
- Mt. Moosilauke: (Abnaki) "good moose place" or "at the smooth place"
- Nashua: (Pennacook/Nipmuck) "between streams"
- Ossipee (and lake): (Abnaki) "beyond the water"
- Paugus Bay: (Abnaki) "small pond"
- Pawtuckaway Pond (and mountains): (Abnaki) "falls in the river" or "clear, shallow river"
- Pemigewasset River: (Abnaki) "extensive rapids"
- Pennacook: tribal name; "at the foothills"
- Piscataqua River (ME border): (Pennacook) "place where the river divides"
- Piscataquog River: (Abnaki) "place where the river divides"
- Souhegan River: (Pennacook or Nipmuck) "watching place"
- Squam Lake (Abnaki) "salmon"
- Lake Sunapee (and town): (Pennacook) "rocks in the water", "rocky pond"
- Suncook River (also Pond, and town): (Pennacook) "rocky place"
- Umbagog Lake: (Abnaki) "clear lake"
- Lake Winnipesaukee (and town): (Pennacook) "land around the lakes" or "good land around lake at mountains"
- Winnisquam Lake: (Abnaki) "salmon-fishing place"
- Former names:
- Amoskeag: (Pennacook) "fishing place" Manchester
- Kodaak wadso: (Abnaki) "summit of the highest mountain" Mount Washington
Rhode Island
Common languages:
- Northern: Natick, Nipmuck
- Southern: Narragansett
- Apponaug: (Narragansett) "where oysters/shellfish are roasted" or "waiting place"
- Aquidneck: (Narragansett) "at the island"
- Canonchet: a 17th-century Narragansett chief
- Chepachet: (Narragansett) "boundary/separation place"
- Conanicut Island: (Narragansett) named for a 17th-century chief Canonicus
- Conimicut: (Narragansett) thought to be named for grand-daughter of Canonicus (see above)
- Mount Hope: (from Narragansett Montop or Montaup) "look-out place" or "well-fortified island"
- Narragansett (Bay and town): tribe: "at the narrow point"
- Natick: tribe; "the place I seek" or "home"
- Pascoag (and river): (Nipmuck) "the dividing place" (of river)
- Pawtucket: (Narragansett) "at the falls in the river (tidal stream)"
- Pettaquamscutt Rock (and river): Narragansett) "at the round rock"
- Pontiac: famous mid-18th century Ottawa chief
- Sakonnet Point: (Narragansett) "home of the black goose"
- Scituate Reservoir: (Wampanoag) "at the cold spring/brook"
- Shawomet: (Narragansett) "at the peninsula/neck" (canoe-landing place)
- Usquepaugh: (Narragansett) "at the end of the pond"
- Weekapaug: (Narragansett) "at the end of the pond"
- Woonsocket: (Nipmuck) "place of steep descent"
- Wyoming: (Delaware) "large prairie"
- Former names:
- Aquidnic: (Narragansett) "the island" Rhode Island
- Niwosaket: (Narragansett) "place of two brooks" Woonsocket
- Manisses: (Narragansett) "little god"; (Niantic) "little island" Block Island
- Mattoonuc Neck: (Niantic) "place at look-out hill" Point Judith
- Maushapogue: (Narragansett) "land at the great cove" Cranston
Vermont
Common languages: Abnaki, Mahican
- Ascutney: (Abnaki) "at the end of the river fork"
- Lake Bomoseen (and town): (Abnaki) "keeper of ceremonial fire"
- Hoosac Mountains: (Mahican) "stone place"
- Hoosic River
- Lake Iroquois: (Abnaki-French) "real adders" (describing western enemies of Abnaki)
- Jamaica: (Natick) "beaver"
- Maquam Bay
- Lake Memphramagog: (Abnaki) "where there is great expanse of water"
- Mettawee River
- Missisquoi River: tribal name
- Monadnock Mountain: (Abnaki) "at the mountain which sticks up like an island" (see New Hampshire)
- Moosalamoo Mountain: (Abnaki) "moose trail"
- Netop Mountain: (Natick) "my friend"
- Nickwaket Mountain: (Abnaki) "at the fork" or "home of squirrels"
- Nulhegan River: (Abnaki) "log trap" or "deadfall"
- Ottauquechee River: (uncertain - Natick?) "swift mountain stream"
- Passumpsic River (and town): (Abnaki) "flowing over clear, sandy bottom"
- Pico Peak: (possibly Abnaki) "the pass/opening"
- Pompanoosuc: (Abnaki) abbreviation of Ompompanoosuc "mushy/quaky land"
- Popasquash Island
- Quechee: abbreviation of Ottauquechee
- Queneska Island: (Abnaki) "elbow" or "long joint"
- Walloomsac River
- Winooski River (and town): (Abnaki) "wild onions"
- Former names:
- Mozodepo wadso: (Abnaki) "moose-head mountain" Mount Mansfield
- Tawakbodee-esso wadso: (Abnaki) "resting place/sit-down mountain" Camel's Hump
References
- Huden, John C. (1962) Indian Place Names of New England, Museum of the American Indian Heye Foundation
External links
- Map of New England Languages
- Massachusetts place names
- Rhode Island place names
- Algonquin language family
