Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice
Indian Names in our Area
Chemung County NY
Article: Indian Names in our Area
Written & Submitted by Joyce M. Tice
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Indian Names in or near Tri-Counties area
We are so fortunate in this area to still be surrounded by the beautiful Indian names for so many of our rivers, towns, counties and geographical features. The only drawback, of course, is constantly having to spell them for people who do not live in our area and who are not used to them. Following is a preliminary and incomplete list of some of them with meanings. Sources for this are Arch Merrill, Heverly, 1897 Tioga County History and others. Please feel free to tell me of others that you know.

Prepared by Joyce M. Tice

Apalachin


Canandaigua town, lake

Carontuoan

Capital of the Andastes, now called Spanish Hill at Athens
Catatonk Creek

Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County

Cayuga County

Cayuta Creek

Chemung Town, County, River big horn Named for a mammoth tusk found on its banks.
Chenango River, County bull thistle Ochenang was a Tuscarora Indian Village
Cowanesque River, town at the long island Ga-wa-ni-a-que (1897 p. 27-28)
Delaware River, County

Genesee County

Kanawaholla
head on a pole A Seneca village on location of Elmira's present court house.
Nanticoke town

Niagara falls, river, county

Onondaga County

Oquaga stream, a minor Indian tribe

Oscalui an Indian village
in Bradford County
Otselic River

Owasco Lake

Owego Town, Creek where the valley widens Ahwaga
Seneca lake, county

Sheshiquin Township

Susquehanna River, County long crooked river
Tioga River, County (NY & PA) at the forks or meeting of the waters Diahoga
Tioughnioga River

Tonowanda town

Towanda Village, creek where we bury the dead a Delaware word
Tuscarora township, creek
A tribe which inhabited the area
Wappasening


Wappasening creek where there are white stones Wapachsinning
Wilawanna town place where the big horn was found.
Wyalusing township, creek the place of the hoary veteran or the good hunting ground M'chwihilusing
Wysox township, creek the place of grapes or where there is a canoe harbor Wisachgimi


First Added to the Site on 08 JULY 1998
By Joyce M. Tice

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