List of Michigan placenames of Native American origin

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Map of Native American populations of the Northwest Territory. Most of Michigan's Native American-derived place names come from the languages spoken in these groups. NW Native Tribes, 1792.png
Map of Native American populations of the Northwest Territory. Most of Michigan's Native American-derived place names come from the languages spoken in these groups.

Many places throughout the state of Michigan take their names from Native American indigenous languages. This list includes counties, townships, and settlements whose names are derived from indigenous languages in Michigan.

Contents

The primary Native American languages in Michigan are Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, all of which are dialects of Algonquin. Some other places names in Michigan are found to be derived from Sauk, Oneida, Wyandot, Abenaki, Shawnee, Mohawk, Seneca, Seminole, Iroquois, and Delaware, although many of these tribes are not found in Michigan.

Municipalities

State

Michigan – derived from Ottawa "mishigami" meaning "large water" or "great water" in reference to the Great Lakes. [1] [2]

Counties

Other settlements

Natural features

Bodies of water

Islands

Other

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheboygan County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ojibwe</span> Group of indigenous peoples in North America

The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. They are Indigenous peoples of the Subarctic and Northeastern Woodlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potawatomi</span> Native American people of the Great Plains

The Potawatomi, also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie, are a Native American people of the Great Plains, upper Mississippi River, and western Great Lakes region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquin family. The Potawatomi call themselves Neshnabé, a cognate of the word Anishinaabe. The Potawatomi are part of a long-term alliance, called the Council of Three Fires, with the Ojibway and Odawa (Ottawa). In the Council of Three Fires, the Potawatomi are considered the "youngest brother". Their people are referred to in this context as Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and refers to the council fire of three peoples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odawa</span> Indigenous people of North America

The Odawa are an Indigenous American people who primarily inhabit land in the Eastern Woodlands region, now in jurisdictions of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Their territory long preceded the creation of the current border between the two countries in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Council of Three Fires is a long-standing Anishinaabe alliance of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi North American Native tribes.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians</span> Reservation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians</span>

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Kalamazoo is the name of the Kalamazoo River in U.S. state of Michigan, and several settled places named after it, including the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Township, and Kalamazoo County. There is uncertainty concerning the origin of the river's name, but several theories have been suggested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little River Band of Ottawa Indians</span>

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is a federally recognized Native American tribe of the Odawa people in the United States. It is based in Manistee and Mason counties in northwest Michigan. It was recognized on September 21, 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians</span> Native American tribe in Michigan

The Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians is a state recognized tribe of Ojibwe and Odawa Native Americans, based in the state of Michigan. The tribe is headquartered in St. Ignace, Mackinac County and has around 4,000 enrolled members. Today most tribal members live in Mackinac, Chippewa, Emmet, Cheboygan, and Presque Isle counties, however many tribal members are also located throughout the state of Michigan and the United States.

References

Citations

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Sources

  • Bright, William (2004). Native American Place Names of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN   9780806135984.
  • Vogel, Virgil J. (1986). Indian Names in Michigan. University of Michigan Press. ISBN   0-472-06365-0.