kids encyclopedia robot

List of place names of Native American origin in the United States facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Many places across the United States get their names from the languages of the original Native American tribes. This article explores some of these interesting names, including states, towns, rivers, and mountains. It shows how the history and languages of these tribes are still a big part of the country's geography.

Contents

How U.S. States Got Their Names from Native American Languages

Did you know that many U.S. states have names that come from Native American languages? These names often describe the land, people, or important features of the area.

  • Alabama – This state is named after the Alibamu tribe. Their name comes from a Choctaw phrase that means "thicket-clearers" or "plant-cutters."
  • Alaska – The name Alaska comes from the Aleut word alaxsxaq. It means "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed," which makes sense for a coastal state!
  • Arizona – The origin of Arizona's name is debated, but it likely comes from the O'odham phrase ali ṣona-g, meaning "having a little spring."
  • Arkansas – This name comes from the Illinois word for the kką:ze tribe, which the Miami and Illinois people used to refer to the Quapaw tribe.
  • Connecticut – From an Eastern Algonquian language (perhaps Mahican), this name means "at the long tidal river," referring to the Connecticut River.
  • Idaho – The origin of Idaho is a bit of a mystery. It might be from the Plains Apache word ídaahę́, meaning "enemy," used for the Comanches. Or, it could be a made-up word.
  • Illinois – The French gave this name, which comes from an Algonquian word (perhaps Miami) that seems to mean "s/he speaks normally." It refers to the Illiniwek people.
  • Iowa – This name comes from the Dakota word ayúxba or ayuxwe, which the French later adapted.
  • Kansas – Named after the kką:ze tribe, which means "south wind people."
  • Kentucky – From an Iroquoian word meaning "at the meadow" or "on the prairie."
  • Massachusetts – From an Algonquian language, this name means "near the small big mountain," likely referring to Great Blue Hill.
  • Michigan – This name comes from the Ottawa phrase mishigami, meaning "large water" or "large lake."
  • Minnesota – From the Dakota phrase mni-sota, which roughly means "cloudy water."
  • Mississippi – From an Algonquian language, probably Ojibwe, meaning "big river" (Ojibwe misiziibi).
  • Missouri – Named for the Missouri tribe, whose name comes from the Illinois word mihsoori, meaning "dugout canoe."
  • Nebraska – From the Chiwere phrase ñįbraske, meaning "flattened water."
  • New Mexico – The name "Mexico" comes from the Nahuatl word Mēxihco, but its exact meaning is unknown.
  • North Dakota and South Dakota – The word dakhóta comes from the Sioux word for "friend" or "ally."
  • Ohio – From the Seneca word ohi:yo’, meaning "beautiful river."
  • Oklahoma – Chief Allen Wright created this name as a translation of "Indian Territory." In Choctaw, okla means "people" and homa- means "red," so it means "Red people."
  • Tennessee – This name comes from a Cherokee village called Tanasi, but its original meaning is unknown.
  • Texas – From the Caddo phrase táyshaʔ, meaning "friend."
  • Utah – This name comes from a language of one of the Ute tribe's neighbors, like Western Apache yúdah, meaning "high up."
  • Wisconsin – Originally "Mescousing," this name comes from an Algonquian language. It most likely means "it lies red."
  • Wyoming – From the Munsee Delaware phrase xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat."

Native American Names in Delaware

Delaware has several places with names from Native American languages, especially from the Munsee Delaware tribe.

Towns and Areas in Delaware

Native American Names in the District of Columbia

The nation's capital also has names that reflect its Native American history.

Towns and Areas in D.C.

  • Anacostia – From the Piscataway name Anakwashtank, meaning 'a place of traders'. It was originally a village name.
  • Takoma – This name was first used for Mount Rainier. It comes from a word meaning 'snow-covered mountain'. A resident named the area Takoma in 1883, thinking it meant 'high up' or 'near heaven'.

Rivers in D.C.

Native American Names in Florida

Florida's landscape is full of names from Native American tribes, especially the Timucua, Choctaw, and Seminole.

Counties in Florida

Towns and Cities in Florida

Rivers in Florida

Native American Names in Georgia

Georgia's names often come from the Cherokee and Creek tribes.

Counties in Georgia

Towns and Cities in Georgia

Native American Names in Hawaii

The names in Hawaii come from the native Hawaiian language.

Counties in Hawaii

Native American Names in Idaho

Idaho's names often come from the Shoshone and Kootenai tribes.

Counties in Idaho

Towns and Cities in Idaho

Rivers and Lakes in Idaho

Native American Names in Kansas

Kansas has many places named after the Osage, Pawnee, and Shawnee tribes.

Counties in Kansas

Towns and Cities in Kansas

Native American Names in Kentucky

Kentucky's names often come from the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Shawnee tribes.

Towns and Cities in Kentucky

Parks in Kentucky

Native American Names in Louisiana

Louisiana's names often come from the Choctaw and Atakapa tribes.

Parishes in Louisiana

Towns and Cities in Louisiana

Rivers and Swamps in Louisiana

Native American Names in Missouri

Missouri's names often come from the Osage and Shawnee tribes.

Counties in Missouri

Towns and Cities in Missouri

Native American Names in Montana

Montana's names often come from the Salish and Kootenay tribes.

Counties in Montana

Towns and Cities in Montana

Rivers and Lakes in Montana

Native American Names in Nebraska

Nebraska's names often come from the Pawnee, Omaha, and Sioux tribes.

Counties in Nebraska

Towns and Cities in Nebraska

  • Anoka – A Dakota Indian word meaning "on both sides."
  • Arapahoe
  • Mankato – From the Dakota Indian word Maḳaṭo, meaning "blue earth."
  • Minatare – From the Hidatsa word mirita'ri, meaning "crosses the water."
  • Monowi – Meaning "flower," named for the many wild flowers growing there.
  • Nehawka – From an Omaha and Otoe Indian name for a creek meaning "rustling water."
  • Niobrara – The Omaha and Ponca word for spreading water or spreading river.
  • Ogallala – Named for the Oglala people.
  • Omaha – Named for the Omaha people who lived nearby.
  • Osceola
  • Ponca
  • Tecumseh
  • Wahoo
  • Winnebago
  • Wyoming – From a Delaware word meaning "large plains" or "extensive meadows."
  • Yutan – Named for an Otoe chief.

Native American Names in Nevada

Nevada's names often come from the Southern Paiute and Goshute tribes.

Counties in Nevada

Towns and Cities in Nevada

Rivers and Lakes in Nevada

Native American Names in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's names often come from the Abnaki and Pennacook tribes.

Native American Names in New Mexico

New Mexico's names often come from the Tewa and Comanche languages.

  • Jemez Springs – Named for the nearby Pueblo of Jemez.
  • Nambe – A Spanish version of a Tewa word meaning "rounded earth."
  • Taos – From the native Taos language, meaning "place of red willows."
  • Tucumcari – From Tucumcari Mountain. It may come from the Comanche word tʉkamʉkarʉ, which means 'ambush'.

Native American Names in North Dakota

North Dakota's names often come from the Ojibwa and Sioux tribes.

Counties in North Dakota

Towns and Cities in North Dakota

Native American Names in Ohio

Ohio's names often come from the Lenape, Mohawk, and Shawnee tribes.

Counties in Ohio

Towns and Cities in Ohio

Native American Names in Oklahoma

Oklahoma's names are deeply rooted in Native American languages, especially Choctaw.

Native American Names in Oregon

Oregon's names often come from the Klamath, Tillamook, and Umatilla tribes.

Counties in Oregon

Towns and Cities in Oregon

Native American Names in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has many places named after the Lenape and Shawnee tribes.

Counties in Pennsylvania

Towns and Cities in Pennsylvania

  • Aliquippa – From Lenape alukwepi, meaning 'hat,' named after Queen Aliquippa who wore a large hat.
  • Catasauqua – From the Lenape language, meaning "dry ground" or "thirsty ground."
  • Conemaugh – Lenape kwənəmuxkw, meaning 'otter.'
  • Conshohocken – Lenape kanshihakink, meaning 'in elegant land.'
  • Kittanning – Lenape kithanink, meaning 'on the main river,' referring to the Allegheny-cum-Ohio.
  • Manayunk – Lenape məneyunk, meaning 'place of drinking.'
  • Mauch Chunk – Lenape maxkw-chunk, meaning 'bear mountain.'
  • Monongahela – Lenape Mənaonkihəla, meaning 'the high riverbanks are washed down' or 'the banks cave in.'
  • Muncy – Named after the Munsee people, whose name means 'person from Minisink' (meaning 'at the island').
  • Nanticoke – From the Nanticoke language, meaning 'Tide water people.'
  • Ohiopyle – From the Lenape phrase ahi opihəle, meaning 'it turns very white,' referring to frothy waterfalls.
  • Poconos – Lenape pokawaxne, meaning 'a creek between two hills.'
  • Punxsutawney – Lenape Punkwsutenay, meaning 'town of sandflies or mosquitoes.'
  • Shamokin – Lenape Shahəmokink, meaning 'place of eels.'
  • Susquehanna – Lenape siskuwihane, meaning 'muddy river.'
  • Tamaqua – Lenape, meaning 'running water.'
  • Tobyhanna – From an American Indian word meaning "a stream whose banks are fringed with alder."
  • Tunkhannock – Lenape tank hane, meaning 'narrow stream.'
  • Wissahickon – From Lenape wisamekwhikan, meaning 'catfish creek.'
  • Wyoming Valley – Munsee, xwēwamənk, meaning 'at the big river flat.'

Native American Names in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's names often come from the Narragansett and Nipmuck tribes.

Native American Names in South Carolina

South Carolina's names often come from the Cherokee and Saluda tribes.

Counties in South Carolina

Towns and Cities in South Carolina

Rivers and Lakes in South Carolina

Native American Names in South Dakota

South Dakota's names often come from the Sioux and Lakota tribes.

Counties in South Dakota

Towns and Cities in South Dakota

  • Canistota – From a New York Native American word canistoe, meaning "board on the water."
  • Kadoka – Lakota for "hole in the wall."
  • Kampeska – Sioux for "bright and shining," like a shell or glass.
  • Oglala – Lakota for "to scatter one's own."
  • Owanka – Lakota for "good camping ground."
  • Pukwana – The name for the smoke from a Native American peace pipe.
  • Ree Heights – Named after the Arikara people, sometimes called the Ree.
  • Seneca – From Algonquian sinnekaas, referring to the Seneca people.
  • Wanblee – From Lakota Waŋblí Hoȟpi, meaning "golden eagle nest."
  • Wasta – From Dakota wašté, meaning "good."
  • Wakonda – From Sioux wakor or waukon, meaning "wonder, mystery, sacred."
  • Yankton – A changed version of Sioux Ihanktonwan, meaning "the end village."

Native American Names in Tennessee

Tennessee's names often come from the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes.

Counties in Tennessee

Towns and Cities in Tennessee

Rivers and Lakes in Tennessee

Native American Names in Texas

Texas has several places named after the Caddo and Wichita tribes.

Native American Names in Utah

Utah's names often come from the Ute and Paiute tribes.

Native American Names in Vermont

Vermont's names often come from the Abnaki tribe.

Towns and Cities in Vermont

Rivers and Lakes in Vermont

Native American Names in Washington

Washington State has many places named after the Salish and Chinook tribes.

Native American Names in Wyoming

Wyoming's names often come from the Sioux and Crow tribes.

  • Cheyenne – From Dakota Šahíyena, a smaller version of Šahíya, meaning "Cree."
  • The name "Wyoming" comes from a Delaware Tribe word Mechaweami-ing or "maughwauwa-ma," meaning "large plains" or "extensive meadows." This was the tribe's name for a valley in northern Pennsylvania.
  • Popo Agie River – From the Absalooke or Crow Language Poppootcháashe, which means "Plopping River" because of the sound the water makes coming out of a sinkhole.

Learn More About Native American History

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of place names of Native American origin in the United States Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.