Amerindian names of localities in Westchester County represent several dialectical variations of the great Algonquian language. While some are of the Mohegan dialect and akin to those of Connecticut, others partake more of the Delaware or Lenape characteristics as spoken in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Where either of these have been retained unchanged in their phonetic elements, and without the loss of a syllable or initial letter, the task of identification and translation of their components has been comparatively easy. Many, however that have been handed down colloquially without having been recorded m deed or record, have become so altered that even the Amerind himself, should he reappear from the « happy hunting ground," would be utterly unable to recognize the present sounds of the terms as part of his native speech. Those of the personal names bestowed on places are especially difficult to analyze, owing to their construction and the changes already noted Many of the place names were translated many years ago by Schoolcraft, Trumbull, and others, some correctly, and others more often incorrectly. Some of the latter were so erroneous that they have been passed by the writer without notice. The present attempts are based upon the comparative rules of Algonquian nomenclature, and are therefore not the hasty generalization of misapplied Chippeway root terms so often used by Schoolcraft and followed by others The names mostly are descriptive appellations of the localities where originally bestowed, and as such do not differ from those retained in other parts of the country where the same language was spoken.
Acquehounck. — Var., Aqueanounck, Achqueehgeuom. Hutchinson's Creek, Eastchester Creek, and a locality in West Farms. The variations of this term are quite numerous. Delaware, Achwowdngeu, " high bank." See Aquehung, another variant.
Alipkonck. — "A place of elms." This interpretation, given by Schoolcraft in 1844, is probably correct. Allowing for the interchange or permutation of l and w, as well as b and p, occurring in many dialects, we find its parallel in the Otchipwe Anip, Abnaki, anibi, " elm tree," which with the locative completes the analysis.
Apawquammis. — Var. , Apawammeis, Apawamis, Epawames. Budd's Neck, in Rye. The main stem of this name, Appoqua, signifies " to cover;" mis, " the stock or trunk of a tree," a generic, hence " the covering tree," possibly a descriptive term for the birch tree, and used as a personal name.
Appamaghpogh. — Var., Apparaghpogh. Lands near Verplanck's Point, also a locality east of Cortlandt. The main stem of this term is the same as that in the previous name, with the suffix plug, " a water-place " or " pond." " The (lodge) covering water-place," i.e., a place where the cat-tail flag (Typha latifolia) was cut. The flags were used for mats and covering wigwams.
Aquehung. — A locality on the Bronx River. The name of Staten Island is the same, Acquehonga, " a high bank or bluff;" also Hockqueunk, "on high."
Apwonnah. — Rye. It means "an oyster," or " the roasted shell-fish."
Armonck. — See Cohamong.
Armenperal. — Var., Armenperai. Sprain River. probably greatly corrupted. Its meaning has not been ascertained. A district on the Schuylkill River, was called Armenveruis (Col. Hist. N. Y., Vol. I., p. 593), probably the same name, for the v should be p.
Askewaen. — A personal name, meaning not ascertained.
Aspetong. — A bold eminence in Bedford. The main stem or root of this term signifies " to raise up," aspe; Eliot uses it in the form Ashpohtag, " a height," which applies well to the locality.
Asumsowis. — A locality in Pelham; a personal name probably.
Bissightick. — Var., Bisightick, a " creek." This probably means " a muddy creek," pissigh-tuck; Delaware, Assisk-tik.
Be-tuck-qua-pock. — Var., petuquapaen (Van der Donck's map). This was the " Dumpling pond," at Greenwich, Conn. P'tukqua-paug, " a round pond, or water-place." (See Trumbull's Names in Connecticut.)
Canopus –– Name of a chieftain.
Cantetoe. — In this form not a place name, but seemingly from Cantecoy, " to sing and to dance." Variations, Kante, Cante, etc. It may have been derived, however, from Sand which see.
Catonah. — var., Katonah, Ket-atonah, " great mountain." Said to be the name of a chief. Cantetoe, by some is said to be a variant of Catonah.
Cisqua. — See Kisco. It does not mean beaver-dam in its present form.
Cohomong. — Var., Armonk, Comonck, Cob-a-mong (?) Hills, also Byram River, the boundary between Connecticut and New York. The termination denotes a fishing-place — amaug. As it was a boundary it may represent a survival of Chaubun-longamaug, " the boundary fishing-place." Byram River may have been an earlier boundary, and, as such, retained to the present day.
Cowangongh. — A locality in West Farms; a "boundary-place."
Croton. — A personal name. Schoolcraft suggests Kenotin, " the wind.", I prefer the Delaware Kloltin, "he contends."
Euketaupucuson. — Mar., Ekucketaupacuson. "A high ridge in Rye," also applied to Rye Woods. This name denotes a " place where a stream opens out or widens on both sides," i.e., overflows, generally where the stream flows through low lands.
Gowahasuasing. — A locality in West Farms. A Delaware form signifying "a place of briars," or " a place where there is a hedge," comes from the same elements.
Haseco. — See Miossehassaky.
Honge. — Blind brook. Probably taken from Acquehung.
Kisco. — See Keskistkonck.
Kitchawong. — Var., Kicktawanc, Kechtawong, Kichtawan (Kussi-tchuan). Croton River, denotes " a wild, dashing stream." First suggested by Schoolcraft.
Kekeshick. — A locality in Yonkers. Ketch-auke, "the principal, or greatest place," probably a palisaded enclosure.
Kitchtawan. — Var., Kightowank. A locality in Sing and in Cortlandt. Probably a variation of Kitchawong.
Keskistkonck Var., Kisco, Keskisco, Cisqua. Originally an Indian village situated on the bank of a creek. Massachusetts, Kishketuk-ock, " land on the edge of a creek."
Kestaubnuck. — Mar., Kastoniuck (Keche-tauppen-auke). " The great encampment." A village of the Indians (Van der Donek's map). Schoolcraft was mistaken in deriving Nyack from this term. Nyack signifies " a point of land," and is the equivalent of the Long Island Nyack (Kings County) Noyac (Suffolk County).
Kiwigtignock. — Var., Kewightegnack, He-weghtiquack. An elbow of the Croton River. Whquae-tigu-ack, " land at head of the cove." Compare Wiq'uetaquock, the cove at Stonington, Conn.
Laaphawachking. — Pelham. None of the components warrant a translation "as a place of stringing beads." We would suggest rather "a plowed field or plantation." Lapechwahacking, " land again broken up " for cultivation.
Maminketsuck. — A stream in Pelham. "A strong flowing brook," Manuhketsuck. Earlier forms might suggest another interpretation.
Mamaroneck. — A river, so named after Mamaronock, a chief who lived at Wiquaeskeck in 1644. Variations, Moworronoke, Momoronah, etc. (Mohmo'-anock) " he assembles the people."
Manursing. — An island. This form denotes a " little island." Minnewits, Minnefords, etc., was so called after Peter Minuit.
Myanas. — Var., Meanau, Meanagh, Medhagh,
