American Indian Place Names In Rhode Island, Page 1

[1] Quinebaug = "Long Pond".

[2] Annawan was a Wampanoag Captain during King Philip's War (1675-6).

[3] See Goddard (2002) for linguistic derivation of translation;region comprises the three towns of Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, and presently called "Rhode Island". A number of spelling variants exist.

[4] Occasionaly written Gold's Island in older records?

[5] A clear misunderstanding of Native American ways regarding "buying," "selling" land.

[6] See Sonanoxet for other names referring to Fox Island.

This material my be used for personal use, and may be quoted in publication, as long as these sources are cited: 1) Dr. Francis Joseph O'Brien, Jr., author, and; 2) Rhode Island USGenWeb (RIGenWeb) Project.

Database Quick Links | A | B | C | D | E | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W | Y | Home | References |

American Indian Place Names In Rhode Island Database Page Two

Return to the RIGenWeb Articles Index

Return to the RIGenWeb Home Page

Name	Historical & Geographical Information	Translation
Absalona	hill. Two to three miles east of Chepachet [in Glocester].	Indian man named Absalom?
A'Wumps, A'Waumps	Pond, Providence County, Burriville. See Allum for Nipmuck Name	The fox (Quinebaug [1] tribe Indian Chief or Sachem)
Absalone	See Absalona
Absalonomiscut	a TRACT of land on the west side of Johnston. The Seven Mile line ran parallel with Mooshassuck and Providence river, at Fox point. Johnston, west of this line, was called Absalonomiscut. See city records.	Place of the fish trap; where fish are caught in a weir
Achagomiconset	See Ashagomiconset
Achetonsick	See Assapumsic
Acoaxet	Ancient Wampanoag village	See Acokesit
Acokesit	RIVER. Judge Brayton thinks it is Acoaxet [in Little Compton].	At fishing promontory; at the place of young pines?; place of small fields?
Acontaug	See Aguntaug
Acquabapogue	See Aquabapaug
Acquebapaug	See Aquabapaug
Acquedneck	See Aquidneck
Acquednecke	See Aquidneck
Acquedneessucks	See Aquednesuk
Acquedneseth	See Quidnesit
Acqueebapaguck	See Aquabapaug
Acqueednuck	River (a branch of the Pawtuxet), Washington County, Coventry	Place beyond the hill
Acquidneck	See Aquidneck
Acquidnesit, Acquidneset	See Quidnesit
Agawan	Hunt Club Golf Course, Providence County, East Providence	Low land; overflowed by water; place to unload canoes
Aguntang	See Aguntaug
Aguntaug	BROOK, near an island called Mincamekek, in Cedar-swamp near or in a great pond two miles due East from Westerly bridge, called Puscomattas pond, or Borden's pond. [Potter, page 65] Runs to the S. bend of Pawcatuck river, and thence to the North bend, at Ashawa [in Ashaway].	Under tree; big tree place
Aguspemokick	See Aquopimokuk
Akoaxet	RIVER, in Little Compton, about five miles S. E. from Seconnet.	At fishing promontory; at the place of young or small pines?; place of small fields?
Alum, Allum, Allumps	See A'Wumps for Pequot name (Now Wallum Lake)	Dog
Amataconet	Providence County, Lincoln	Observation place?; meeting place?
Anackatuseck	River, Kent County ?	Place where brooks join?
Anackatusicke	See Anackatuseck
Anaquacut, Anaquacutt	See Annaquacutt
Anaquatucket	RIVER. Orkatucket. S. and S. West of Wickford, and within one mile of it. The road to Boston Neck and Tower Hill crosses it a mile S. from Wickford.	At the end of the river; at end of the tidal current; overflowing river?
Anawan, Annawan[2], Anawon	See Anawanscut	He commands
Anawanscut	See Annawanscut
Annaquacutt	POND, and FARM of 446 acres; sold for the benefit of Col. Angell's regiment. R. I. schedules, June 1791. In Tiverton.	At the end of the river
Annaquatucket	See Anaquatucket
Annawamscutt	See Annawanscut
Annawanscut	CREEK, in Barrington [Bristol per GNIS database], near the brick-kilns, and leads from them into the bay, a little N. of Nayatt point.	Rock summit?; end of the rocks; ruler's hill?; commander's rock
Annawomscutt	See Annawanscut
Annoccotuckett	See Anaquatucket
Annocotuckett	See Anaquatucket
Annogatucket	See Anaquatucket
Annogotucket	See Anaquatucket
Anowanscut	See Annawanscut
Anshanduck	See Antashantuck
Antaghantic	NECK. Three miles west of Providence tide water shore, and about the west side of Neutaconcanut hill, near the river. [Land titles, Vol. 2, page 324.]	Turning backwards river (oxbows)
Antashantuc	See Antashantuck
Antashantuck	Neck and Pond, Providence County, Providence	Well forested place
Antushantuck	See Antashantuck
Apehungansett	See Apponaug or Ponaganset?
Apehungunset	See Apponaug
Aponack	See Apponaug
Aponaganset	See Apponaug
Aponahock	See Apponaug
Aponake	See Apponaug
Aponaugh	See Apponaug
Aponihoak	See Apponaug
Apponagansett	See Apponaug
Apponaug	VILLAGE, named from a small river, so called, running into the head of Greenwich Bay, at Coweset [in East Greenwich]. The meaning of the word is shell-fish. Opponenauhock, now Apponaug. It was a great place of resort to the Indians, as appears by banks of clam-shell dust left by them.	Where he roasts oysters
Apponog	See Apponaug
Aqethnec, Aquethnek	See Aquidneck
Aquabapaug	POND, near the head of Pawcatuck river, near and below Chipchug. S. W. from S. Kingstown depot, one mile. Probably Worden's Pond. The name means muddy water.	At the head of the pond; the pond before (another pond or land tract?)
Aquantaug	Brook, Washington County, Westerly	Under the trees; big trees
Aquebapaug	See Aquabapaug
Aquedenesick	See Aquidnesuk
Aquedneck	See Aquidneck
Aquedneset	See Aquidnesuk
Aquednesset	See Aquidnesuk
Aquednet	Washington County, Coventry	At the island
Aquednick	See Aquidneck
Aquedoneck	See Aquidneck
Aqueedennuck, Aqueedenuck	See Aqueednuck
Aqueednuck	Kent County, Coventry	Place beyond (or at the end of) the hill
Aquethnick	See Aquidneck
Aquetneck	See Aquidneck
Aquetnet	See Aquidneck
Aquiday	See Aquidneck
Aquidesit	See Quidnesit
Aquidneck[3]	Island, Newport County, Narrgansett Bay	On (some kind of) island; at the island
Aquidnesset	See Quidnesit
Aquidnesuk, Aquidnesuc	ISLAND, now Small or Dutch Island [in Narragansett Bay], near Potter's factory, at S. Kingstown ferry. It was occupied by the Dutch sent from N. Y. as a fur trading place, before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, or about 1616.	At the small island
Aquidnic	See Aquidneck
Aquidy	or Aquidnic, NEWPORT [in Narragansett Bay], or rather Rhode Island, sometimes written Aquethnick, the middle syllable guttural. The word means longest island. It was deeded to Coddington by Canonicus and Miantinomy.	At the island (See Aquidneck)
Aquitamosit	See Aquitawoset
Aquitawoset	a TRACT of land purchased by Atherton, N. and N. E. of Wickford. Same as Aquidnesit or Quidnesit. It is the shore between Potowomut and Cocumscusset or Wickford.	At the small island
Aquitawosit	See Aquitawoset
Aquitoweset	See Aquitawoset
Aquntaug	See Aguntaug
Aquopimokuk, Aquopimekuk	ISLAND, now GOULD'S Island [4], off Newport [in Narragansett Bay], once owned by Sachem Koskotop, who sold [5] it to Gould. It is the most northern isle off Newport Bay, being nearly a mile N. W. from the Alms-house at Coaster's Harbor .	At the short narrow straits which separate the island from the mainland
Aquopimoquk	See Aquopimokuk
Asa	Pond, Kingston and Swamp & Brook, Pawtucket	Stone or stoney
Asamequin	See Osamequin
Asapumsick	See Assapumsik
Ascoamacot	See Misquamacut
Ascoamacott, Ascoamicutt	See Misquamacut
As-coc-a-nox-suck	See Akoaxet?
Ascomackock	See Misquamacut
Ascomacut	SAME as Misquamacut, Westerly	See Misquamacut
Ascomicut	See Misquamacut
Ashagomiconset	LAND through which Aguntaug brook runs before it enters the S. bend of Pawcatuck river. This Ashagomiconset land and two ponds form a line that runs through the middle of Westerly.	Where there are green meadows [for pasture]
Ashamu	Dance Building, Providence	Water spring?
Ashanduck	See Antashantuck
Ashanteaug	Rocks, Washington County	Where lobsters are
Ashawa	or wake or wague, RIVER, runs to Potter's bridge and Ashawa village [in Ashaway]. It enters Pawcatuck river near its N. bend. From this junction the State line of Connecticut runs due N., and below, this river forms the State line to the ocean.	Land in the middle; land between
Ashawag	See Ashawa
Ashawake	See Ashawa
Ashawaug	See Ashawa
Ashawawague	See Ashawa
Ashawawake	See Ashawa
Ashaway	River and Village, Washington County, Ashaway	See Ashawa
Ashawogue	See Ashawa
Ashawoque	See Ashawa
Ashumequin	See Osamequin
Ashunaiunk	RIVER, in Richmond, probably Beaver river. It rises north of Ten Rod road, enters the N. side of Richmond at Reynold's factory, passes parallel with the Usquebaug, E. side of Shannock hill, to near Clarke's mill.	Rock point; stony point; stony stream?
Ashwauge	See Ashawa
Askomackock	See Misquamacut
Askomicutt	See Misquamacut
Aspanansuck	Washington County, Exeter	High place; brook near the high hill?
Aspatnansuck	or Hakewamepinke, the residence of Wawaloam, wife of Miantinomy. Potter, page 248. Supposed to be at Exeter hill, on Ten Rod road.	End of dry field; edge of the bank
Aspotucket	Providence County [corruption of Pawtucket ?]	At the fishnet cove; at the high place; at the falls?
Assanapset	Brook, Providence County, Providence	Where the nest was held down by rocks; at the small rocky stream (see Assapumsik?)
Assapumpseat	See Assapumsik
Assapumpset	See Assapumsik
Assapumset	See Assapumsik
Assapumsic	See Assapumsik
Assapumsik	BROOK, or spring, East from the great Elm in Johnston [Providence ? - GNIS database]. Only a few rods distant N. E. is an Indian retreat, in a ledge of rocks.	Place where wild hemp is gathered to make cords or nets; great meadow; stoney crossing place
Assopumsett	See Assapumsik
Astomacut	See Misquamacut
Asuhmequin	See Osamequin
Asumequin	See Osamequin
Aswauge	See Ashawa
Awashunks	See Awoshonks
Awoshonks	SWAMP, S. [& Park] end of Little Compton, a mile or two N. E,. from Seconnet point. The Indian queen named Awoshonks resided near it.	Woman who rules (Sakonnet Tribe Sachem)
Azoiquoneset[6]	or Nonequasset, ISLAND [in Narragansett Bay]. Fox island, two miles S. E. from Wickford. It means Spruce Pitch island.	Spruce-pitch small-island place
Azorquonseut	See Azoiquoneset
Azoruonesut	See Azoiquoneset

Name	Historical & Geographical Information	Translation
Bapetaushant	See Bapetaushat
Bapetaushat	TRACT. N. W. corner of Charlestown, adjoining Machaquamaganset. [See Potter's History, 249.]	Hollow place; cave hiding place
Bapetaushaut	See Bapetaushat
Basskutoquoge	See Bassoqutoquaug
Bassokutoquage	See Bassoqutoquaug
Bassoqutoquaug, Bassoqutoquog	a SACHEMDOM; or Basskutoquoge [in Exeter]. [Potter, page 63, and Land Evidence, Vol. 1st, page 33.] This was sachemdom under Koskotop, who sold Aquopimekuk island to Gould.	Where trees were split; river branch place
Boxet	POND, near Tippecan pond, West Greenwich. Same as Wixerboxet	Small pond