List of New Jersey placenames of Native American origin facts for kids
New Jersey is a state rich in history, and many of its places still carry names from the Native American people who lived here long ago. These names often describe the land, animals, or important events. They remind us of the Lenape and other tribes who were the first inhabitants of this beautiful area. Learning about these names helps us connect with the past and understand the deep roots of New Jersey's heritage.
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New Jersey's Native American Place Names
Many places in New Jersey have names that come from Native American languages. These names are a living link to the state's original inhabitants. They often describe the land, water, or local features.
Counties with Native American Names
Only one county in New Jersey has a name directly from a Native American language:
Towns and Communities with Native American Names
Many towns and smaller communities across New Jersey also have names from Native American words. These names often tell us something about the place itself.
- Absecon
- Acquackanonk Township
- Allamuchy Township (Lenape: Alemuchink)
- Alloway Township
- Almonesson (part of Deptford Township))
- Apshawa (part of West Milford)
- Atsion Village
- Batsto Village
- Cheesequake (part of Old Bridge Township) (Lenape: Chiskhakink)
- Cinnaminson Township
- Communipaw
- Cohansey Township
- Conaskonk Point (part of Union Beach) (Lenape: Kwënàskunk)
- Crosswicks
- Croton (part of Delaware Township)
- Cupsaw (part of Ringwood)
- Espanong (part of Jefferson Township)
- Hackensack
- Hoboken (Lenape: Hupokàn)
- Hockhockson (part of Tinton Falls)
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Hopatcong
- Locktown (part of Delaware Township)
- Lopatcong Township
- Macopin
- Mahwah
- Manahawkin
- Manalapan Township
- Mannington Township
- Mantoloking
- Mantua Township
- Matawan
- Metuchen
- Navesink
- Neshanic
- Netcong
- Normanook (part of Sandyston Township)
- Nummytown (part of Middle Township)
- Old Tappan
- Packanack Lake
- Pahaquarry Township
- Paramus
- Parsippany
- Passaic
- Peahala Park (part of Long Beach Township)
- Peapack-Gladstone
- Pennsauken Township
- Pequannock
- Perth Amboy
- Piscataway Township
- Pohatcong Township
- Pompton Lakes
- Pompton Plains
- Pompton Township
- Preakness
- Rahway
- Ramapo
- Raritan
- Raritan Township
- Repaupo (part of Logan Township)
- Rockaway
- Rockaway Creek
- Rockaway River
- Rumson
- Secaucus
- Shamong Township
- Sicomac
- Singac (part of Little Falls)
- South Amboy
- Squankum (part of Howell Township and also the original name of Williamstown)
- Succasunna
- Teaneck
- Totowa
- Towaco
- Tuckahoe (Lenape: Takeho)
- Walpack Township
- Wanamassa
- Wanaque
- Watchung
- Weehawken
- Weequahic
- Weequahic Park
- Wenonah
- Whippany
- Wickatunk (part of Marlboro Township) (Lenape: Wikwètunk)
Rivers, Lakes, and Mountains with Native American Names
New Jersey's natural features, like its many rivers, lakes, and mountains, also carry names from Native American languages. These names often describe the physical characteristics of the land or water.
- Absecon Inlet
- Absecon Island
- Alexauken Creek (a small river feeding the Delaware River in Hunterdon County) (Lenape: Alàxhakink)
- Assunpink Creek (Lenape: Ahsën'pink)
- Assiscunk Creek
- Lake Atsion
- Batsto River
- Campgaw Mountain
- Capoolong Creek (a small river feeding South Branch Raritan River)
- Cheesequake State Park
- Chincopin Branch (a small river feeding the Manumuskin River in Cumberland County)
- Chingarora Creek
- Cohansey River
- Crosswicks Creek
- Cupsaw Lake
- Cushetunk Mountain
- Hakihokake Creek (a small river feeding Delaware River in Hunterdon County)
- Hockhockson Swamp
- Lake Hopatcong
- Iosco (part of Bloomingdale)
- Lake Iosco
- Kittatinny Mountains (Lenape: Kitahtëne)
- Lamington
- Lamington River
- Loantaka Brook
- Lockatong Creek
- Luppatatong Creek
- Macanippuck Run (a small river feeding Delaware River in Cumberland County) (Lenape: Mèkënipèk)
- Machesautauxen Creek, another name for the Sleeper Branch (a small river feeding Mullica River)
- Mahoras Brook
- Manapaqua Branch (a stream in Ocean County)
- Manasquan
- Manasquan River (Lenape: Mënàskunk)
- Manantico Creek
- Mannington Creek
- Manumuskin River
- Manunka Chunk (a place on the border of White Township and Knowlton Township) (Lenape: Mënànkahchunk)
- Mashipacong Island (river island in the Delaware River)
- Matchaponix Brook
- Mattano Park
- Metedeconk River
- Mingamahone Brook (a small river feeding the Manasquan River in Monmouth County)
- Minisink
- Mount Mohepinoke (located on the border of Liberty Township and White Township)
- Moonachie
- Moosepac Pond (located in Jefferson Township)
- Muksukemuk, the native name for Deep Voll Brook
- Mulhockaway Creek (a small river feeding the South Branch Raritan River via Spruce Run in Hunterdon County)
- Musconetcong Mountain
- Musconetcong River
- Muskee Creek (a small river feeding the Maurice River in Cumberland County)
- Muskingum Brook (a small river feeding the Batsto River via Springers Brook in Burlington County)
- Musquapsink Brook
- Nacote Creek (a small river feeding the Mullica River in Atlantic County)
- Nantuxent Creek
- Navesink River
- Nescochague Creek
- Neshanic River
- Nishisakawick Creek and Little Nishisakawick Creek (small rivers feeding the Delaware River in Frenchtown, Hunterdon County)
- Nihomus Run (a small river feeding the Salem River in Salem County)
- Nishuane Brook (a small river feeding the Second River in Essex County)
- Nomahegan Brook (a small river feeding the Rahway River in Union County)
- Normanook Brook alt. Normanock Brook (a small river feeding Big Flat Brook in Sandyston Township, Sussex County)
- Oranoaken Creek
- Packanack Mountain
- Papakating Creek
- Pascack Brook
- Pascack Valley
- Passaic River
- Patcong Creek (a small river feeding Great Egg Harbor in Atlantic County)
- Paunpeck Creek (a small river feeding the Hackensack River via Cromakill Creek in North Bergen, Hudson County)
- Peckman River
- Pennsauken Creek
- Pequest River
- Picatinny Arsenal
- Pochuck Creek
- Pochuck Mountain
- Pohatcong Creek
- Pohatcong Mountain
- Pompeston Creek (a small river feeding the Delaware River in Burlington County)
- Pompton River
- Pophandusing Brook (a small river feeding the Delaware River in Warren County)
- Preakness Range
- Rahway River
- Ramapo Mountains
- Ramapo River
- Rancocas Creek
- Raritan Bay
- Raritan River
- Sanhickan, the native name for the falls of the Delaware River at Trenton
- Shabakunk Creek, West Branch Shabakunk Creek, and Little Shabakunk Creek
- Shannoc Brook (a small river feeding Toms River in Ocean County)
- Shipetaukin Creek (a feeder stream for the D&R Canal in Mercer County)
- Mount Tammany
- Tantomwom, the native name for Long Hill.
- Tulpehocken Creek
- Upper Pohatcong Mountain
- Waackaack Creek alt. Waycake Creek (a small river feeding Raritan Bay in Monmouth County –its name is given to the Waackaack Rear Range Light)
- Wagaraw Brook
- Wagaraw Mountain
- Wampum Brook (a small river feeding Shrewsbury River in Monmouth County)
- Wanaque River
- Watchung Mountains
- Warinanco Park
- Watnong Mountain (located in Parsippany-Troy Hills)
- Watsessing Park
- Watsessing River
- Waughaw Mountain (located in Montville Township)
- Wawayanda Creek
- Wawayanda Mountain
- Wawayanda State Park
- Weamaconk Creek (a small river feeding Matchaponix Brook in Monmouth County)
- Wemrock Brook (a small river feeding Matchaponix Brook via Weamaconk Creek in Monmouth County)
- Wesickaman Creek (a small river feeding the Mullica River in Burlington County)
- Westecunk Creek
- Whippany River
- Wickecheoke Creek
- Windbeam Mountain (located in Ringwood)
- Yantacaw Brook (a small river feeding the Third River in Montclair, Essex County)
- Yantacaw Brook Park