Algonquian Submitted Place Names

Algonquian names are used by the Algonquian peoples of Canada and the United States (not to be confused with Algonquin, a subgroup).
type
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Algoma (Region) Algonquin
Region in Ontario, Canada. Created name by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. The 'al' is from "Algonquin", the the 'goma' is from the word 'gomee', meaning "water".
Allegheny (Body of Water) Lenape
The name Allegheny may come from Lenape welhik hane or oolikhanna, which means 'best flowing river of the hills' or 'beautiful stream', and from a Lenape account of an ancient mythical tribe called "Allegewi", who lived along the river before being taken over by the Lenape.
Anamoose (Settlement) Ojibwe
City in North Dakota. From the Ojibwe word 'uhnemoosh', meaning "female dog".
Askibwaanikaa-ziibi (River) Ojibwe
Two rivers in Minnesota. From Ojibwe askibwaanikaa-ziibi meaning "river full of Jerusalem artichokes".
Athabasca (Settlement, Other, Body of Water & Mountain) Cree (Anglicized)
Name of numerous towns, lakes, rivers, a glacier, and a mountain, in Canada, primarily in the province of Alberta... [more]
Attawapiskat (River & Settlement) Cree
River and town in Ontario, Canada. From the Attawapiskat people, meaning "people of the parting of the rocks", or Āhtawāpiskatowi ininiwak.
Chilcotin (Region) Cree (Anglicized)
From the Chilcotin (Tsilhqot'in) people of British Columbia, Canada. Means "people of the red ochre river", after the Chilko river.
Chilko (River) Cree (Anglicized)
Name of a river in British Columbia, Canada. From the Chilcotin (Tsilhqot'in) word tŝilhqóx, meaning "the red ochre river".
Etobicoke (Settlement) Iroquois (Anglicized), Algonquin (Anglicized)
From the Mississagua name for the area, wah-do-be-kang (wadoopikaang), and means "the place where alders grow". Anglicized by Augustus Jones as 'ato-be-coake', but adopted by John Graves Simcoe as 'Etobicoke' in 1795.
Ga-shashagunushkokawi-sibi (River) Ojibwe
A river in Minnesota. From Ojibwe ga-shashagunushkokawi-sibi meaning "place of rushes river."
Gichi-biitoobiig (Region) Ojibwe
A region in Minnesota. From Ojibwe gichi-biitoobiig meaning "great duplicate water, parallel body of water, double body of water".
Gichigami-ziibi (River) Ojibwe
A river in Minnesota. From Ojibwe gichigami-ziibi meaning "great lake river".
Kazabazua (River & Settlement) Algonquin (Gallicized)
River and town in Quebec. From 'kachibadjiwan', meaning "hidden current" in Algonquin, as the river is primarily underground.
Kejimkujik (Other & Body of Water) Mi'kmaq
Lake and national park in Canada. From Mi'kmaq, meaning "attempting to escape", or "swollen waters", or "tired muscles".
Kitigan Zibi (Political Subdivision) Algonquin
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin reserve in Quebec. Meaning "cultivated land" in Algonquin.
Kluane (Other) Cree
National park in Yukon, Canada. The name comes from the Southern Tutchone language.
Kouchibouguac (River & Other) Mi'kmaq
National park and river in New Brunswick, Canada. Meaning "river of the long tides" in Mi'kmaq.
Manitoulin (Island & Region) Ojibwe (Gallicized), Ojibwe (Anglicized)
Island and region of Ontario, Canada. From the Ojibwe word Manidoowaaling, meaning "cave of the spirit", named for an underwater cave where a powerful spirit lived... [more]
Maniwaki (Settlement) Algonquin (Gallicized)
Town in Quebec. Algonquin for "Mary's Land", for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who lived there.
Manoominikaani-zaaga'igan (Body of Water) Ojibwe
A lake in Minnesota. From the Ojibwe word manoominikaani-zaaga'igan meaning "plenty of wild rice lake".
Manoominikeshiinh-ziibi (River) Ojibwe
Ojibwe name for the St Croix River. From Ojibwe manoominikeshiinh-ziibi meaning "ricing-rail river".
Mi'kma'ki (Region) Mi'kmaq
The Mi'kmaq name for their ancestral and unceaded territory, which includes modern-day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador and well and parts of Quebec and Maine... [more]
Mississauga (Region) Ojibwe (Anglicized)
From the Anishinaabe word misi-zaagiing, meaning "Those at the Great River Mouth". Name of the Mississauga tribe, and now a name of a Toronto suburb. Closely related to the Ojibwe word misswezahging, mean "river of many outlets".
Muskoka (Political Subdivision) Ojibwe (?)
Nezhingwaakokaansing (Settlement) Ojibwe
A settlement in Minnesota. From the Ojibwe word nezhingwaakokaansing meaning "little place of pines".
Nipigon (River & Settlement) Ojibwe
Town and river in Ontario, Canada. From the Ojibwe word Alimipigon, possibly meaning "where the water begins".
Nipissing (Body of Water & Settlement) Algonquin
Lake and town in Ontario, Canada. From the Algonquin word meaning "big water"
Pukaskwa (Other & River) Ojibwe
National park and river in Ontario, Canada. May be from the Ojibwe word 'pukasu', meaning "to cook the marrow in the bones of animals", or "eaters of fish"... [more]
Punxsutawney (Settlement) Lenape
the name (for the base-city of the Groundhog Day woodchuck Punxsutawney Phil) comes from the indigenous word for "Town of the Sandflies"
Roanoke (Settlement, Island & River) Algonquian
The name Roanoke is said to have originated from rawrenock, an Algonquian word for "shell money".
Saugeen (River & Political Subdivision) Ojibwe (Anglicized)
Town and river in Ontario, Canada. From the Ojibwe 'zaagiing', and means "at the river's outlet" or "at the mouth of the river".
Tahquamenon (Body of Water & River) Ojibwe (Americanized, ?)
There is no one consensus on the meaning of this name. ... [more]
Tecumseh (Settlement) Shawnee
From the given name Tecumseh, for the Shawnee chief. Tecumseh is the name of several cities, towns, and other municipalities in the United States and Canada.
Tsenacommacah (Region) Powhatan (Archaic)
This is the name of the homeland of the Powhatan Confederacy in what is now the eastern part of the US state of Virginia.
Tyewhoppety (Other) Shawnee
Tyewhoppety is an unincorporated community located in Todd County, Kentucky, United States. ... [more]
Vuntut (Other) Cree
National park in Yukon, Canada. Meaning "among the lakes" in Gwich'in.
Wapusk (Other) Cree
National park in Manitoba, Canada. From the Cree word for polar bear, 'wâpask'.
Wauwautosa (Settlement) Algonquian
Wauwautosa (an edge city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is named after the Potawatomi Chief Wauwataesie and the Potawatomi word for "firefly".
Wawa (Settlement & Body of Water) Ojibwe
Name of a town and lake in Ontario, Canada. From the Ojibwe wording wewe, meaning "wild goose"
Wenji-maajiijiwang (Body of Water) Ojibwe
Ojibwe name for the headwaters of the Mississippi River. From the Ojibwe word wenji-maajiijiwang meaning "where the river begins".
Wetaskiwin (Settlement) English (Canadian), Cree
A city in Alberta. From the Cree word wiitaskiiwin ispatinaw, meaning "the hills where peace was made".
Yoho (Other) Cree
Name of a national park in British Columbia, Canada. The name is from a Cree expression of wonder.
Zaagawaamik (Settlement) Ojibwe
An Ojibwe settlement in Minnesota, from Ojibwe zaagawaamik meaning "sandbar".