Place Names In Boston Beyond

Native American Place Names of Massachusetts

This dictionary of Native American places was originally published in 1909. Alphabetically arranged by Native American name, this reference work gives insight into the Native origins of Massachusetts cities, towns, rivers, streams, lakes, and other locales. The current state of Massachusetts retains the name of the once inhabiting tribe, although its people were decimated by illness and disorganized by warfare around 1617. Massachusetts is a word meaning "a hill in the form of an arrow-head."

Hunt's Merchants' Magazine

Dictionary of American Indian Place and Proper Names in New England

The names which the original inhabitants assigned to our mountains, plains and valleys, are mostly lost. Many of our rivers, bays, and falls of water are yet known by their ancient Indian names. On account of their originality, antiquity, signification, singularity, and sound, these names ought to be carefully preserved. In every respect they are far preferable to the unmeaning application, and constant repetition of an improper Eng­lish name. " Samuel Williams, LL.D., Natural and Civil History of Vermont My sole aim in the production of this volume has been to collect the accessible Indian Place and Proper Names of New England, and to give the locations of the one, with their inter­pretations, as far as possible, and the tribal affiliations of the other.