List of place names of Native American origin in New England facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

New England is a region in the Northeastern United States. It includes six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Many places in New England have names that come from the indigenous peoples (Native Americans) who lived there first.

This article lists some well-known towns, rivers, lakes, and mountains with Native American names. There are thousands of such names in New England, so this list only covers a few!

How Names Were Shared
Places Named After Tribes
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
See also

How Names Were Shared

Most of these names were heard and written down by early English settlers. These settlers usually spoke only English and didn't know the Native American languages very well.

Sometimes, a few people who spoke both languages helped explain the names. This helped us understand what some of the names originally meant. These names are often easier to understand today.

However, most settlers didn't know what the names meant. They would ask the Native Americans, or they would guess. The Native Americans often found it hard to explain their language to the English. So, they might describe what a place was used for or what it looked like, instead of explaining the exact meaning of the words.

Because of this, the meanings of these names fall into two groups:

Some names have meanings that we understand pretty well, based on the original language.
Other names have meanings that are just traditional stories or guesses made by settlers. These might not be the true original meanings.

For example, a name might be said to mean "the place of portage" (where canoes were carried) or "the pines." But the actual words might not mean that at all! Still, it's possible the place was used for those things. People in New England have always loved to guess and debate the meanings of these names!

When English colonists first arrived in the early 1600s, New England was home to many different Native American tribes. Most of these tribes spoke languages from the Algonquian family. Often, whole areas were named after the tribe living there, like Massachusetts.

Many of these tribal names are very old. Even the Native Americans themselves might not have known their exact original meanings. For these names, we mostly rely on old stories and traditions.

Places Named After Tribes

Many places in New England are named after Native American tribes. Here are some examples, though their names might be changed a bit in English:

Abnaki
Hammonassett
Mahican
Mattabesset
Mill
Mi'kmaq
Mohegan
Montauk
Natick
Narragansett
Niantic
Nipmuc
Norridgewock
Passamaquoddy
Paugussett
Pennacook
Penobscot
Pequot
Podunk
Poquonock
Quinnipiac
Tunxi
Wampanoag

Connecticut

In Connecticut, common Native American languages included Hammonasset, Mahican, Montauk, Niantic, Paugussett, Pequot-Mohegan, Podunk, Poquonock, Quinnipiac, Tunxi, and Wangunk.

Connecticut, the state and river: Means "place of the long river" or "by the long tidal stream."
Aspetuck River (and town): (Paugussett) "at the high place."
Cockenoe Island: (Montauk) Named after a Native American interpreter from the 1600s.
Coginchaug River: (Wangunk) "place where fish are dried."
Congamuck Ponds (near the Maine border, also Congamond Lake): (Nipmuck) "long fishing place."
Cos Cob: (Mohegan from Cassacubque) "high rocks."
Hammonassett Point: (Hammonassett) "place of sand bars."
Hockanum River (and community): (Podunk) Means "hook."
Housatonic River: (Mahican) "beyond the mountain."
Mashapaug Pond: (Nipmuck) "large pond."
Massapeag: (Mohegan) "place at the large cove."
Menunketesuck River (and Menunketesuck Island): (Hammonasset) "strong flowing stream."
Mianus River (and town): (Paugussett) Named after a 17th-century chief, "Mianu/Mayanno's."
Mohawk Mountain: Named after an eastern Iroquois tribe. The Algonquian term for them meant "wolves," "hungry animals," or "cannibals."
Mohegan: A tribe whose name means "hungry animal" or "wolf."
Moodus River (also reservoir and village): (Wangunk) From "mache moodus" or "bad noises" (referring to strange sounds heard in the area).
Moosup: (Narragansett) Named after a chief called "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): Named after a tribe, meaning "point of land on tidal river."
Norwalk River (and city): (Algonquian) noyank or "point of land," or from the name Naramauke.
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 (Rhode Island 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: (Algonquian) "cleared land."
Quaddick Reservoir: (Nipmuck) "bend in river" or (Narragansett) "boggy place."
Lake Quassapaug: (Quinnipiac) "big pond" or "big rock."
Quinebaug River (and town): (Nipmuck) "long pond."
Quinnipiac River: (Quinnipiac) "where we change our route."
Lake Quonnipaug: (Quinnipiac) "long pond."
Sachem Head: (Algonquian/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) Named after a 17th-century chief (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" for New London.
- Miamogue: (Paugussett) "where we come together to fish" for Bridgeport (harbor).
- Nawaas: General name for Connecticut.

Maine

In Maine, common Native American languages included Abnaki, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Norridgewock, Pennacook, and Penobscot.

Allagash River (and town): (Abnaki) "bark shelter."
Androscoggin River: (Abnaki) "place where fish are dried."
Aroostook River: (Mi'kmaq) "beautiful river."
Aziscohos Lake: (Abnaki) "small pine trees."
Caribou: (Abnaki) kalibu "shoveler" (an animal that digs for food).
Casco Bay: (Mi'kmaq) Means "muddy."
Chebeague Island: (Abnaki) "separated place."
Chemquasabamticook Lake: (Abnaki) "where there is a large lake and rocks."
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" (a type of fish).
Damariscotta (and lake and river): (Abnaki) "many alewives" (another type of fish).
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."
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) Said to be from a Chief Joseph Orono, with no translation.
Ossipee River: (Abnaki) "beyond the water."
Oquossoc: (Abnaki) "place of trout."
Passadumkeag: (Abnaki) "rapids over gravel beds."
Passamaquoddy Bay: Named after a tribe, meaning "place of abundance of pollack" (a fish).
Pemadumcook Lake: (Maliseet) "extended sand bar place."
Pemaquid: (Mi'kmaq) "extended land" (a peninsula).
Penobscot River: (Abnaki?) Named after a tribe, meaning "place of descending rocks/ledges."
Piscataqua River (New Hampshire border): (Pennacook) "the place where the river divides."
Piscataquis River: (Abnaki) "at the river branch."
Quoddy Head: (Passamaquoddy) Short for "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."
Skowhegan (town): (Abnaki) "watching place [for fish]."
Squa Pan Lake (and town): (Abnaki) "bear's den."
Umcolcus Lake: (Abnaki) "whistling duck."
Usuntabunt Lake: (Abnaki) "wet head" or possibly "three heads."
Wassutaquook River: Specific name.
Webhannet River: (Abnaki) "at the clear stream."
Former names:
- Ahbaysauk: (Abnaki) "place where clams are baked" for Bar Harbor.
- Amitgon pontook: (Abnaki) "place at the falls where fish are dried" for Lewiston Falls.
- Machegony: (Mi'kmaq) "shaped like a large knee" for Portland.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, common Native American languages included Massachusett, Nipmuc, Wampanoag (southeast), Natick, and Narragansett (southwest), and Pocumtuck.

Massachusetts (the state): (Natick) "by the great hills" (referring to hills south of Boston).
Achastapac: (Pocumtuck) "Land of rivers and mountains."
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."
Annisquam (and river): No specific translation given.
Assabet River: (Nipmuck) "at the boggy place."
Assawompset Pond: (Narragansett) "trading place"; (Wampanoag) "place of large upright rock."
Assinippi: (Wampanoag) "rocks in water."
Assonet River (also Cedar Swamp and village): (Narragansett) "at the rock" (referring to 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) "long rocky place."
Congamond Lake (on Connecticut border): (Nipmuck) "long fishing place."
Cotuit: (Wampanoag) "long planting field."
Cummaquid: (Wampanoag) "harbor."
Cuttyhunk: (Wampanoag) "thing that lies out in the sea."
Gansett Harbor: No specific translation given.
Mount Greylock: Named for a Missisquoi chief.
Hockanum: (Podunk) "hook."
Hockomock 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) Named after a 17th-century chief, "Iyanogh's."
Jamaica Plain (and pond): (Natick) "beaver."
Manhan River: (Nipmuck) "island."
Manomet (and point): (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."
Megansett Harbor: No specific translation given.
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."
Monatiquot River: (Massachusett) "a lookout-out 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) No specific translation given.
Nagog Pond: Located in Acton, part of Concord water supply. No specific translation given.
Nahant: (Natick) "the point" or "almost an island."
Nantasket Beach: (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."
Nashoba Brook: No specific translation given.
Natick: Named after a tribe, meaning "the place I seek" or "home," "place," "clearing."
Naushon Island: (Wampanoag) "middle" (no clear translation).
Nemasket River: (Wampanoag) "place where the fish are."
Neponset River: (Natick) Possibly "a good fall" (easy for canoe travel).
Nonamesset Island: (Wampanoag) No specific translation given.
Nissitissit: (Nipmuc) "two brooks" or "between two brooks."
Nonquitt: (Narragansett) "dry or landing place."
Onota Lake: (Mahican) "blue/deep."
Pasque Island: No specific translation given.
Penikese Island: No specific translation given.
Pocasset: (Natick) "where the stream widens."
Pontoosuc: (Mahican or Nipmuck) "falls on the brook."
Punkatasset Hill: (Algonquian) No specific translation given.
Quabbin Reservoir: (Nipmuck) "crooked streams."
Quaboag River: (Nipmuck) "before the pond" or short for "red pond."
Quinebaug River: (Nipmuck) "long pond."
Lake Quinsigamond: (Nipmuck) "pickerel-fishing place."
Quequechan River: (Wampanoag) "falling river."
Quissett: (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."
Segreganset River: (Narragansett) "place of hard rocks."
Shawmut Peninsula: (Algonquian) "ferry" or "place to draw up canoes."
Siasconset: (Narragansett) "at the place of many/great bones" (possibly whales).
Sippewissett: (Wampanoag) "at the little river."
Snipatuit Pond: (Wampanoag) "at the rocky river."
Squannacook River: (Nipmuc) "place for taking salmon."
Squibnocket Point (and pond): (Wampanoag) "at the place of dark rocks" (or clay cliff).
Swampscott: (Natick) "place of red rocks."
Succanessett: (Wampanoag) "place of black shells."
Taconic Mountains: (Natick) "steep ascent."
Tantiusques: (Nipmuck) "black stuff between the hills."
Tuckernuck Island: (Wampanoag) "round loaf of bread."
Uncatena Island: (Womanoag) "like a hill" or "end of the hill" or "shows from afar."
Mount Wachusett (and reservoir): (Natick) "near the mountain."
Waquoit: (Wampanoag) "at the end."
Mount Watatic: (Nipmuck) No specific translation given.
Watuppa Ponds: (Wampanoag) "roots."
Weepecket Islands: (Wampanoag) Possibly from Wanbackuck, "white headed eagle" or "osprey."
Weweantic River: (Wampanoag) "crooked" or "wandering stream."
Wianno: No specific translation given.
Minnechaug Regional High School: (Algonquian) "Land of Berries."
Woronoco: (Nipmuck) "winding about."
Former names:
- Capawack or Capoag: (Wampanoag) "enclosed harbor" for Martha's Vineyard.
- Cohannet: (Wampanoag or Narragansett) "at the long or pine place" for Taunton.
- Poughkeeste: (Wampanoag) "bay with coves" for Buzzards Bay.

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, common Native American languages included Abnaki, Nipmuc, and Pennacook.

Ammonoosuc River (Upper and Lower): (Abnaki) "small, narrow fishing place."
Amoskeag: (Pennacook) "fishing place" in Manchester.
Ashuelot River (and pond): (Pennacook or Natick) "place between."
Canobie Lake: (Abnaki) "abundant water."
Contoocook (and river and lake): (Pennacook) "place of the river near pines" or (Abnaki) "nut trees river" or (Natick) "small plantation at the river."
Coös: (Pennacook) "pine tree."
Hooksett: (Pennacook) Possibly short for Annahooksett "place of beautiful trees."
Mascoma River (and lake): (Abnaki) "much grass" or "salmon fishing" or "red rocks."
Massabesic Lake: (Abnaki) "near the great brook."
Merrimack River (and town): No specific translation given here, but see Massachusetts for its meaning.
Mount Monadnock: (Natick) "at the most prominent island" (like mountain).
Mount Moosilauke: (Abnaki) "good moose place" or "at the smooth place."
Nashua River (and city): (Pennacook/Nipmuck) "between streams."
Ossipee River (and town and lake): (Abnaki) "beyond the water."
Paugus Bay: (Abnaki) "small pond."
Pawtuckaway Lake (and mountains): (Abnaki) "falls in the river" or "clear, shallow river."
Pemigewasset River: (Abnaki) "extensive rapids."
Pennacook (village): Named after a tribe, meaning "at the foothills."
Piscataqua River (Maine border): (Pennacook) "place where the river divides."
Piscataquog River: (Abnaki) "place where the river divides."
Souhegan River: (Pennacook or Nipmuck) "watching place."
Squam Lake (and river): (Abnaki) "salmon."
Lake Sunapee (and town): (Pennacook) "rocks in the water," "rocky pond."
Suncook River (also lakes and village): (Pennacook) "rocky place."
Umbagog Lake: (Abnaki) "clear lake."
Lake Winnipesaukee (and river): (Pennacook) "land around the lakes" or "good land around lake at mountains."
Lake Winnisquam: (Abnaki) "salmon-fishing place."
Former names:
- Kodaak wadso: (Abnaki) "summit of the highest mountain" for Mount Washington.

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, common Native American languages included Natick, Nipmuc, and Narragansett.

Apponaug: (Narragansett) "where oysters/shellfish are roasted" or "waiting place."
Aquidneck Island: (Narragansett) "at the island."
Canonchet: Named after 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 a granddaughter of Canonicus.
Mount Hope: (from Narragansett Montop or Montaup) "look-out place" or "well-fortified island."
Narragansett Bay (and town): Named after a tribe, meaning "at the narrow point."
Natick: Named after a tribe, meaning "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: Named after a famous 18th-century Ottawa chief.
Quonochontaug: (Narragansett) "home of the blackfish."
Sakonnet River (and point): (Narragansett) "rainy place."
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" for Rhode Island.
- Niwosaket: (Narragansett) "place of two brooks" for Woonsocket.
- Manisses: (Narragansett) "little god"; (Niantic) "little island" for Block Island.
- Mattoonuc Neck: (Niantic) "place at look-out hill" for Point Judith.
- Maushapogue: (Narragansett) "land at the great cove" for Cranston.

Vermont

In Vermont, common Native American languages included Abnaki and Mahican.

Mount Ascutney (and village): (Abnaki) "at the end of the river fork."
Lake Bomoseen (and town): (Abnaki) "keeper of ceremonial fire."
Hoosac Mountains: (Mahican) "stone place."
Hoosic River: No specific translation given.
Lake Iroquois: (Abnaki-French) "real adders" (describing western enemies of Abnaki).
Jamaica: (Natick) "beaver."
Maquam Bay: No specific translation given.
Lake Memphremagog: (Abnaki) "where there is great expanse of water."
Mettawee River: No specific translation given.
Missisquoi River: Named after a tribe.
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."
Ompompanoosuc River: (Abnaki) "mushy/quaky land."
Ottauquechee River: (uncertain – Natick?) "swift mountain stream."
Passumpsic River (and village): (Abnaki) "flowing over clear, sandy bottom."
Pico Peak: (possibly Abnaki) "the pass/opening."
Pompanoosuc: Short for Ompompanoosuc.
Popasquash Island: No specific translation given.
Quechee: Short for Ottauquechee.
Queneska Island: (Abnaki) "elbow" or "long joint."
Walloomsac River: No specific translation given.
Winooski River (and city): (Abnaki) "wild onions."
Former names:
- Mozodepo wadso: (Abnaki) "moose-head mountain" for Mount Mansfield.
- Tawakbodee-esso wadso: (Abnaki) "resting place/sit-down mountain" for Camel's Hump.