Because of this, the history of Wisconsin and the meanings behind its unique place names is a double helix of both French and Native American heritages. So I dug a little deeper to find the meanings behind the names.
What is the origin of Wisconsin?
“Wisconsin” (originally “Meskonsing”) is the English spelling of a French version of a Miami Indian name for a river that runs 430 miles through the center of our state, currently known as the Wisconsin River.
How did Wausau get its name?
French fur traders first used the word Bulle for it (French for bubbles, in reference to the rapids) which became anglicized as a popular name for the region “Big Bull Falls”. Because of the mistranslation of the French name for the region, some sources claim the name Wausau means “noise like thundering bull” in Chippewa (to reference the rapids).
How did some cities get their names from the French?
Some places received their names as a consequence of French colonial settlement (e.g. Baton Rouge, Detroit, New Orleans, Saint Louis ). Nine state capitals are French words or of French origin (Baton Rouge, Boise, Des Moines, Juneau, Montgomery, Montpelier, Pierre, Richmond,…
What are some neighborhoods in New Orleans named after French people?
Louisiana (Louisiane in French – named in honor of King Louis XIV of France in 1682) Abbeville (after Abbeville, France) (One of several communities in the United States named “Abbeville”.) Algiers New Orleans neighborhood. Ascension Parish, named from the French l’Ascension.
How did Racine get its name?
The area had been called “Kipi Kawi” and “Chippecotton” by the native Potawatomi, both of which are names for “Root River” (the modern name for the river running through the town) and the French adapted the original meaning by calling it Racine (French for root). 4. Door County – ” Doors of Death” (French)
