Place-Names in the United States

Abstract

THAT the study of place-names, apart from its intrinsic interest, is an invaluable source of illuminating evidence for archaeologist, anthropologist and social historian, has become a commonplace among all who are familiar with the publications of the English Place-Name Society. Analogous studies of place-names of Indian origin have been made in the United States; but there the untrustworthy character of early documents, if not their complete absence, is a difficulty which is only partially overcome by reference to those few survivors who are still acquainted with the original Indian language. Dr. J. P. Harrington, of the Smithsonian Institution, arrives at the meaning of names of Indian origin in the eastern United States by reference to Delawares now resident in eastern Oklahoma, whose language is one of the few eastern languages still surviving, predominantly the tongue of the Pennsylvanian Indians at the time of first settlement. It is interesting to note that many place-name elements were immediately recognized by living Delawares, but others remained doubtful, even when the words were reconstructed by them out of the basic elements of their language. Of the names submitted for interpretation, “Chesapeke”, for long a puzzle to students, is said to be “salt bay” from chesa = salt and peekw = body of water. Susquehanna is “muddy river”, and Monongahela, ‘caving banks”. Potomac, which previously had been interpreted as “carrying place” or “centre for trading”, is now construed in the opposite sense as a place where a man lays down a burden, resting place-presumably the place at which Indian war or trading parties took a rest when they came in sight of some village approximately in the present position of the city of Washington.