List of Bergen, New Netherland placename etymologies
Placenames in the 17th century European province of Bergen, New Netherland (in what is now northeastern New Jersey), in most cases had their roots in Dutch and Algonquian language Lenape. At the time of European settlement it was the territory of the Raritan, Tappan, and Hackensack Indians, who spoke the Unami dialect. The Munsee lived in its northwestern reaches (Highlands), while the Wappani lived to the northeast (Hudson Valley) and the Canarsee and Reckgawawanc lived to the east (Manhattan). Both the Lenape and Dutch often gave names inspired by the geography or geology of natural environment and described a shape, location, feature, quality, or phenonmenon. A recurring theme is the reference to rock and bodies of water, both of which were, and remain, in abundance.
The Lenape were without a written language. The Swannikens, or Salt Water People (as the Europeans were called), used the Latin alphabet to write down the words they heard from them. These approxiamations were no doubt greatly influenced by Dutch, which was the lingua franca of the multilingual province. Some names still exist in their altered form, their current spelling (and presumably pronouciation) having evolved over the last four centuries into American English. With some cases it cannot be confirmed whether the roots are in the Dutch or the Lenape; nor do sources concur on the meaning of the Lenape leading to divergent interpretations.
There are various opinions as to the naming of Bergen. Some say that it so called for Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands or the city in Norway[1] Others believe it comes from the word bergen, which in the Germanic languages of northern Europe means hills,[2] and could describe a most distinct geological feature of the region, The Palisades.[3]Yet another interpretation is that it comes from the Dutch word bergen, meaning to save or to recover, inspired by the settlers return after they had fled attacks by the native population.
The first settlement by the Europeans took its name from a burgermeester of Amsterdam. Also an investor in Dutch West India Company (WIC), Michael Reyniersz Pauw, purchased land along the banks of the Hudson in 1630 in order to establish a patroonship. Pavonia is a Latinized version of his surname, based on the word for peacock During the Dutch Golden Age, a period of economic, scientific and artistic growth, Latin was used in academia and among those fortunate enough to have learned it.
Name of a Unami group who lived along and between the banks of the Passaic Neck [4] who lent the name to one of state's first townships established in 1683. Meaning a place in a rapid stream where fishing is done with a net, [5] Alternatively, at the lamprey stream from contemporary axkwaakahnung. Spellings include Achquakanonk, Acquackanonk [6]
A tidal island, site of first ferry landing for the patroonship Pavonia, which became Paulus Hook. Spellings include [7], and Arressechhonk'[8] and Aresick meaning burial ground [9]
Site of summer encampament and counsel fire of the Hackensack, its complete meaning has been lost. Spellings include Gamoenapa,[10]Gemonepan,[11] Gemoenepaen,[12] Gamenepaw, Comounepaw, Comounepan [13]Communipau [14]
Could possibiy be related to contemporary word gamuck meaning other side of the water or otherside of the river[15] or landing place at the side of a river [16]
Site of first "bouwerie" built at Pavonia and called Jan de Lacher's Hoeck[17] some have suggested that it comes from Community of Pauw, which likely is more a coincidence that a fact.[18][19][20][21]
The meadowlands, river and city, the Lenape group and their territory, take their from site of semi-permanent encampment on the neck between the river and Overpeck Creek, near the Teaneck Ridge. Variously translated as place of stony ground[22] or place of sharp ground [23]. Spellings include Ahkingeesahkuy, Achsinnigeu-haki[24], Achinigeu-hach, Ack-kinkas-hacky, Achkinhenhcky, Ackingsah-sack, Ackinckeshacky,[25] Hackinsack[26]
Alternatively, suggested as the place where two rivers come together on low ground or stream which discharges itself into another on the level ground which would speak to the confluence of the Hackensack and Overpeck Creek.[27]
Meaning is not clear. Site of a seasonal Hackensack encampment and one of first "bouweries" built by Dutch settlers at Pavonia. Spellings include: Aharsimus, [28]Ahasimus, [29]Hasymes, [30] Haassemus, Hahassemes, Hasimus, Horseemes[31] Contemporary: ahas meaning crow [32]
Tobacco pipe, from hoopookum or hupoken [33] Most likely to refer to the soapstone collected there to carve tobacco pipes, in a phrase that became Hopoghan Hackingh [34] or place of stone for the tobacco pipe
Alternatively from Hoebuck, old Dutch for high bluff and likely referring to Castle Point[35] Variations used during the colonial era included Hobock, [36]Hobocan, Hoboocken,[37]and Hobuck, [38].Although the spelling Hoboken was used by the English as early as 1668 [39], it doesn't appear that until Col. John Steven purchased the land on which the city is situated that it became common.
Some would believe the city to named after European town of the same name. The Flemish Hoboken, annexed in 1983 to Antwerp, Belgium,[40] is derived from Middle Dutch Hooghe Buechen or Hoge Beuken, meaning High Beeches or Tall Beeches.[41]. Established in 1135, the New Netherlanders were likley aware of its existence (and may have pronounced the Lenape to conform a more familiar sound), but it is doubtful that the city on the Hudson is named for it.[42]
Mawewi meaning meeting place or place where paths meet[7][8] or assembly[43] Contemporary: mawemin[44]
Use of this name was not wide spread in the province to describe the confluence of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers at Newark Bay in the Meadowlands. [45]Called Achter Col by the New Netherlanders, the name Hackensack has survived to describe region. New Barbadoes Neck was term used by British.
On Bergen Neck between Constable Hook and Communipaw at Caven Point. Spellings include Minelque
Possibly related to contemporary monacque for badger or monachgeu for ground hog
Ground hog, badger, or place of dug up earth [46]
Contemporary:monachgeu for groundhog, and munhacke for badger and munhageen meaning to dig a hole [47]
On Bergen Neck between Constable Hook and Communipaw. Spellings include: Pimbrepow, Pembrepock, Pemmerepoch,[48]Pemrapaugh
From Parampseapus or Peremessing meaning , perhaps, where there is worthwhile (or fertile) land or place of wild turkeys. Seapus or sipus is said to mean water, so the name may mean turkey river. Saddle River was also called Peramseapus See Spellings include Pyramus. [49][50]
wet grass or place where grass is wet
The county, river and city are taken from pahsayèk,[51] pahsaayeek[52] and pasayak, meaning valley or water that flows through the valley. Spellings include: Pawsaick, Pissawack Contemporary: Pachsa'jeek[53]
underneath the rock, spellings: Ramapough, Ramopock
The people, river, bay, and towns take their name from a derviation of Naraticong meaning river beyond the island (considering location, Staten Island). [3] [54]
Alternatively, Raritan is a Dutch pronounciation of wawitan or rarachons meaning forked river or stream overflows. [55]
Sukit meaning black and achgook meaning snake, [56]hence black snakes.[57] Spellings include Sekakes, [58] Sikakes, Sickakus. Contemporary: seke meaning black and xkuk or achgook[59] meaning snake. [60] Locally, pronouced "SEE-kaw-cus", with the accent on the first syllable, not the second as often used by non-natives.[61] Snake Hill, a massive intrusion in the midst of the Meadowlands.
Said to mean resting place for the departed or happy hunting ground since this area of Wyckoff, according to tradition, was the burial place of many Native Americans, possibly including Oratam, sakima of the Hackensack Indians [62] Possibly related to contemprary schikamik meaning hole or grave. [63] Contemorary meaning: black fish [64]
Overpeck Creek, site of Hackensack semi-permanent village
The region radiating from Palisades Interstate Park and its inhabitants as named by New Netherlanders, who spelled it as Tappaen. [65][66] Site of the "bouwerie" Vriessendael.
Possibly from Tuphanne meaning cold water [67]
Likely more related to contemporary petapan meaning dawn or petapaniui meaning at the break of dawn, [68] and relates to their kin across the river, the Wappani,, whose name is derived from the Algonquian people of the east or easterners. (Contemporary: Wapaneu meaning easterly and Wapanke meaning to-morrow.)
Variously interpreted as or rocks that look like rows of trees or at the end of (the Palisades or stream that flowed from them.) and place of gulls.[69]
Spelling have included: Awiehawken, Wiehacken, Weehauk, Weehawk, Weehock, Wiceaken,Wihaken, Wyhaken, and Wiehachan Contemporary: wikweko means at the end of
Curiously, Peter Minuit, first governor of New Netherland, sailed to the the new world upon a ship called the "Seagull", or in Dutch, Het "Meeuwken" (which bears a strking resemblance)
Called Meghgectecock by the Lenape this described the area around Newark Bay and the rivers that flowed into it. Neither are longer in use. Achter, meaning behind, and kol, meaning neck, can be translated as the back (of the) peninsula,[70] in this case Bergen Neck. Variations include Achter Kol, Achter Kull, Archer Col, Achter Kull [71]
Tidal strait separating Staten Island from the mainland. From kille meaning water channel such as riverbed, rivulet, or stream . Likely to have evolved from Achter Col, the name given by the New Netherlanders for area surrounding Newark Bay and waters that flowed into it, as English language speakers immigrated to the region radiating from the Elizabethtown Tract and Perth Amboy.
A land grant to Jacob Jacobsen Roy who was a chief gunner or constable in Fort Amsterdam in New Amsterdamin 1646, by the Dutch West India Company, under the leadership of Director-General William Kieft. Konstapel's Hoeck in Dutch, takes its name from Roy's title.[72]. A hoek or hoeck in Dutch meaning a spit of land or small peninsula. Though not used, could be translated to English as Gunner's Point.
Lrom kromme kille meaning crooked creek, border between Secaucus and North Bergen, likely Similar to evolution of Gramercy, which is almost certainly a corruption of the Dutch krom mesje, or little crooked knife, the name of a small brook that flowed along what is now 21st Street in Manhattan.[73]
Alternatively Dwarskill or Dwarskill Creek, a tributary of the Oradell Reservoir meaning cross creek
Separating Bayonne and Staten Island. From the Middle Dutch word kille, meaning riverbed or water channel. Likely evolved from Achter Col, as in kille van kol, or channel from the neck, its spellings including Kill von Cull, Kille van Cole, Kill van Koll
Called Muhheakantuck or the river that flowed two ways in Unami. The Noort Rivier was one of the three main rivers in New Nederland, the others being the Versche Rivier or Fresh River (likely because of its sweet water) and the Zuid Rivier or South River. In maritme usage, it still defines that part of the Hudson between Hudson County and Manhattan.
Uiterwaarden meaning a flood plain, of which there were many, this one at the foot of Paterson Plank Road. [74]
Oever meaning a sloping bank and perk meaning border or boundary, hence at the water's edge [75], actually a riparian zone. Used in English as early as 1665. By the Leanpe called Tantaqua, it was the site of semi-permanent village of the Hackensack.
A tidal island, called Arresick or Arresink by the Lenape. Site where, in 1630, Michael Pauw's staked his claim for his attempted patroonship, Named after his agent who built a hut and ferry landing there, hoek or hoeck meaning a spit or point. Variations include Paulus Hoeck, Powles Hoek, Powles Hook
Sand Punt is the peninsula around which most settlers to Fort Amsterdam, Fort Orange, Staten Eylandt, and Lange Eylandt, and Bergen sailed before entering the The Narrows.
References
- ^ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njhudson/genhistory_hudson_bergen_2.html.
- ^ Walking Tour of the Bergen Square
- ^ a b Indigenous Population Cite error: The named reference "autogenerated5" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://www.hiddenhistory.com/PAGE3/swsts/nujers-1.HTM#Delaware
- ^ http://www.wanaqueborough.com/archive/lenape.htm
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ Arresickhttp://www.cityofjerseycity.org/oldberg/chapter7.shtml
- ^ New Jersey Colonial Records, East Jersey Records: Part 1-Volume 21, Calender of Records 1664-1702
- ^ On July 12th, 1630, Mr. Michael Pauw, Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Lord of Achtienhover, near Utrecht, obtained through the Directors and Councillors of New Netherlands, a deed from the Indians to the land called Hopoghan Hackingh, this being the first deed recorded in New Netherlands. On November 22nd, of the same year, the same parties procured from the Indians a deed to Mr. Pauw of Ahasimus and Aresick (burying-ground), the peninsula later called Paulus Hook.
- ^ Ruttenber,E.M.,Indian Tribes of Hudson's River, ISBN 0-910746-98-2 (Hope Farm Press, 3rd ed, 2001)
- ^ Joan F. Doherty, Hudson County The Left Bank, ISBN 0-89781-172-0 (Windsor Publications, Inc., 1986)
- ^ Joan F. Doherty, Hudson County The Left Bank, ISBN 0-89781-172-0 (Windsor Publications, Inc., 1986)
- ^ New Jersey Colonial Records, East Jersey Records: Part 1-Volume 21, Calender of Records 1664-1702
- ^ http://www.cityofjerseycity.org/oldberg/chapter15.shtml
- ^ The Lenape/English Dictionary http://www.gilwell.com/lenape
- ^ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njmorris/general_info/indian.htm
- ^ Communipaw
- ^ http://members.home.nl/pushkar/oranje11.html#1626
- ^ http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/y/e/Ron-C-Myers/GENE31-0099.html
- ^ Gannett, Ganett, Henry, The Origin of Certain Place Names in The United States
- ^ Writers' Program (U.S.) New Jersey. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names Trenton , NJ, New Jersey Public Library Commission, 1945. ... www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/Digidox7.php
- ^ http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/indians.html
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/indians.html
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ Ruttenber,E.M.,Indian Tribes of Hudson's River, ISBN 0-910746-98-2 (Hope Farm Press, 3rd ed, 2001)
- ^ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njmorris/general_info/indian.htm
- ^ http://www.cityofjerseycity.org/oldberg/chapter7.shtml
- ^ http://www.hiddenhistory.com/PAGE3/swsts/nujers-1.HTM#Delaware
- ^ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Dutch-Colonies/2002-03/1015788155
- ^ Insert footnote text here
- ^ http://www.talk-lenape.org/spelling.php
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ HM-hist "The Abridged History of Hoboken", Hoboken Museum
- ^ Hoboken Reporter Jan 16, 2005
- ^ http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl
- ^ http://files.usgwarchives.org/nj/statewide/history/colrec/vol21/v21-01.txt
- ^ Hoboken Reporter Jan 16, 2005
- ^ New Jersey Colonial Records, East Jersey Records: Part 1-Volume 21, Calender of Records 1664-1702
- ^ [http://members.home.nl/pushkar/oranje11.html#1626 Nederlandse Geschiedenis, 1600
- ^ U.S. Towns and Cities with Dutch Names, Embassy of the Netherlands
- ^ Van Rensselaer, Mariana Schulyer, The History of the city of New York, Volume 1, 1909 (New York: Macmillan)
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ http://www.gilwell.com/lenape/m.htm
- ^ New Jersey Colonial Records, East Jersey Records: Part 1-Volume 21, Calender of Records 1664-1702
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ http://www.gilwell.com/lenape/m.htm
- ^ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Dutch-Colonies/2002-03/1015788155
- ^ http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com/bergen_county_new_jersey_municipalities.html
- ^ If You're Thinking of Living In/Paramus; In Shopping Mecca, Houses Sell Well Too, The New York Times, April 15, 2001.
- ^ Lenape Language / Pronunciation.
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ http://www.woodlandindians.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3749
- ^ Between 1628 and 1640, the Sanhicans were driven away from the west shore of Raritan Bay by a band of Wisquaskecks, known as the Roaton or Raritanghe, who removed from their territory north of Manhattan across Staten Island and into the lower Raritan Valley. By July 1640, the Raritans were described as "a nation of savages who live where a little stream [the Raritan River] runs up about five leagues behind Staten Island." At a peace conference with the Dutch in 1649, Pennekeck, sachem of Achter Col (Newark Bay), "said the tribe called Raritanoos, formerly living at Wisquaskeck had no chief, therefore he spoke for them, who would also like to be our friends..." Their intrusion was apparently contested unsuccessfully by Sawanoos (Southern) Lenape and Sanhicans. Consequently, the Hackensacks were separated from other Sanhican communities.
- ^ Troeger, Virginia, B. and McEwen, Rbert, James Woodbridge, 2002, Charlestown, SC: Acadia Publishing, p18
- ^ Anthony, Rev A.S and Binton D.G. (editors) Lenape-English Dictionary, 1888, (Historical Society of Penn)
- ^ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njmorris/general_info/indian.htm
- ^ Gannett, Ganett, Henry, The Origin of Certain Place Names in The United States
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- ^ http://www.native-languages.org/lenape html
- ^ Page, Jeffrey. "Our towns challenge our tongues", The Record (Bergen County), June 17, 2005. Accessed June 19, 2007. "You can always tell newcomers to Secaucus. Because most words are pronounced with emphasis on the next-to-last syllable, they say they live in see-KAW-cus - although the ones who fear their friends might recall that Secaucus used to be pig-farming country might say they live in South Carlstadt, which doesn't exist. If I said 'see-KAW-cus' to someone local, they'd think I didn't know what I was talking about, said Dan McDonough, the municipal historian. Of course it's SEE-kaw-cus. Everybody knows that."
- ^ If You're Thinking of Living In/Wyckoff; Country Ambiance in Ramapo Foothills. The New York Times, March 19, 1995.
- ^ http://www.gilwell.com/lenape/s.htm
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- ^ external.oneonta.edu/cooper/susan/hudson.html
- ^
Map c.1635, Tappaens used to describe population and region - ^ Old Tappan Tappan is name given to the region and its inhabitants by New Netherlanders from the 1687 patent:"…a Cartaine trackt of Landt named ould tappan as ye same is bounded by trees marked by ye indians.” Tappan, from the Lenni Lenape word Tuphanne (reputed to mean cold water) . The out-lying area to the west was ould tappan. One theory is that early Dutch mariners on the Hudson River called this out-lying wilderness uyt-tappan, meaning out tappan and corrupted it in their own language to oud Tappan, thence in English ould or old tappan.
- ^ http://www.gilwell.com/lenape/s.htm
- ^ Weehawken, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, accessed June 13, 2007. "A township in Hudson County, N.J., seven miles northeast of Jersy [sic] City. The name was originally an Algonquin Indian term and later changed by folk-usage to a pseudo-Dutch form. Its exact meaning is unclear, but variously translated as place of gulls, rocks that look like trees, maize land, at the end (of the Palisades) and field lying along the Hudson."
- ^ Online Nederlands Woordenboek (Online Dutch Dictionary)
- ^ http://www.kellscraft.com/DutchEnglishOnHudson/DutchEnglishOnHudsonCh03.html
- ^ Joan F. Doherty, Hudson County The Left Bank, ISBN 0-89781-172-0 (Windsor Publications, Inc., 1986)
- ^ Gramercy Park profile, New York (magazine). Accessed September 30, 2007. "Originally called Crommessie (from Krom Mesje, Dutch for "crooked little knife")
- ^ rivershttp://lookwayup.com/free/DutchEnglishDictionary.htm
- ^ http://lookwayup.com/free/DutchEnglishDictionary.htm
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