(last updated 12/8/2021)
I recently found a number of pre-1650 contracts between Dutch settlers and Native Americans living in the areas of present-day New Jersey and New York. These contracts contain Dutch phonetic renderings of Native American personal names.
Variant spellings of what appears to be the same name are included on the same line. From context, all of the names appear to be masculine.
The land contracts at issue were primarily with the Lenape and Mahican peoples. However, the Dutch were also in trading relationships with the Mohawk/Iroquois and Susquehannock peoples, and it is not always clear from the contracts themselves to what tribe or nation the Indigenous parties belonged. Based on the lands involved, the names are almost certainly from the Algonquian language family, specifically one of the Eastern Algonquian languages. I do not have the expertise to identify the language more narrowly than that.
The contracts do not
give enough data to establish any naming patterns. They record single names. For SCA purposes, a person
wishing to portray a Native American persona could register one of these given names
combined with a neutral byname, such as a branch name like of the East or the name of the person’s local group, or possibly
with a Dutch element. It might also be
possible to use one of the recorded place names to create a locative byname,
although more research is needed to establish the pattern such a name would use.
This article is
intended as a starting place, rather than a final word. There is much more research to be done in
this area.
Male Names
Abantsene / Abantzeene
Aepjen
Afarouw
Anehoopoen
Ararijkan / Ararykan
Arommeauw
Asvachkou
Awachkouw / Awaghkou
Cacapeteyno / Kakappetteno / Kakapeteyno / Kakapetteyno / Kakapoteyno
Cottamack
Eesanques
Ehetyn / Ehetin
Janqueno
Kachpohor
Kanamoack
Kemptas
Ketachkwawars
Ketamau
Kikitoauw
Kottamack
Krahorat
Mathamen
Mechowodt / Mechowot
Mekowetick
Menqueuw
Nancoutamhat / Nanaucontamhat
Nawanemit
Neumers
Oratany
Packamieus
Paepechkene
Papsickene
Pennawys / Penhawis / Pewihas / Pewichaas
Pemhake
Piscamoc
Pokahake
Ponitaranachgyne
Quesquaeskous / Quesquakoos
Rechgawac
Sackwewew
Sackwomeck
Sacoock
Sagiskzva / Sagiskwa
Saheinsios
Sawowouwe
Sepinto
Seyseys / Seysey
Sickenosen / Sickeposem
Siconesius
Siearewach
Suarinkehink / Suarinkehinck
Suwirau
Tamekap
Tattoepan
Techepewoya / Techepeuwya
Tekwappo
Tenkirauw
Tequemet / Tequemeck
Tetemakwemama
Tirkirauw
Wappinttawachkenis / Wappittawackenis / Wappettawackenis
Wapyquart
Warinckehinck / Warinkehinck
Wattewochkouw
Wieromies
Wissipoack / Wissipoock
Wiwyt
Wuoyt
Place Names
Aressick
Castetuen / Castuteeuw / Keskateuw
Gouwanes
Hobocanhackingh
Keshaechquereren
Kekeskick / Kekeskich
Klaverrack
Merechkawikingh
Minnahanonck
Pagganck
Papenakick
Renegakonck / Rinnegaconck / Rinnegachonck
Rumegaconck
Sannahhagag
Saphorakan
Semesseeck
Sewanhacky / Suan Hacky / Suwanhackingh
Sickajoock
Sintsinck
Tenkenas
Wierpos
Bibliography:
Bassi, Daniella Franccesca, Dutch-Indian Land Transactions, 1630-1664: A Legal Middle Ground of Land Tenures, University of Vermont (2017) (https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1713&context=graddis)
Gehring, C. trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. GG, HH & II, Land Papers, 1630-1664 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1980).
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