Hatteras Indians facts for kids
The Hatteras Indians were a Native American tribe. They lived in the North Carolina Outer Banks. Their village was on Hatteras Island. It was called Croatoan. About 80 people lived in their small village.
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What's in a Name?
The meaning of the name Hatteras is not known. An English explorer named John Lawson first used it. He wrote about the Hatteras Indians in his book. Even though the meaning is unknown, the people were called "the people of shallow water." They were also known as Croatans.
A Look at Their History
The Hatteras Indians first met English settlers in 1587. By the mid-1700s, the tribe was no longer present.
The Tuscarora War
In 1711, the Tuscarora War began. The Hatteras Indians chose to help the English colonists. They fought against the Tuscarora tribe and their friends. This war was very hard on the Hatteras people. Many were forced to leave their lands by other tribes.
What Happened to the Hatteras People?
Some people from the Hatteras Island area today have white ancestors. Some historians believe that after the tribe met colonists, some Hatteras people joined other tribes. These included Algonquian and Siouan-speaking tribes in North Carolina. Survivors of the Roanoke colony may have also joined them.
Some people today who are descendants of the Hatteras Indians might be part of the Lumbee Indians.
Their Language
The Hatteras Indians spoke a language. It was part of the Algonquian language family.
