Category Archives: toponyms

A few Siuslaw place names

Posted on February 29, 2016 by

It’s leap day, that comes just once every four years. On the last leap day, I wrote about the indigenous name for Camas Valley. Maybe to create a leap year day tradition of writing about place names, I’ll write this … Continue reading →

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“Place of Pines”: A case of mistaken identity?

Posted on September 7, 2015 by

There is an old myth that refuses to die that the “Coos” in Coos Bay means either ‘lake’ or ‘place of pines’.  I’ve written before as to the likely origin of the place name Coos – probably traces back to … Continue reading →

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Revisiting Woahink and Cleawox

Posted on July 10, 2015 by

Three years ago I wrote about the probable Siuslaw language origins of the names Cleawox and Woahink lakes.  I just got a new book for a present – Native American Place Names of the United States – and it was … Continue reading →

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Tenmile Lake

Posted on July 1, 2015 by

I saw in the newsletter they are talking about getting around to renaming Camp Easter Seals.  The tribe printed this article a couple of years ago, but to give people ideas for names I am reposting it here.  I’ve modified … Continue reading →

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Da’nis village: a possible etymology

Posted on June 14, 2015 by

Out of dozens of place names given in the CLUS languages, some have clear meanings (because the speaker offered a translation); others have etymologies easily figured out.  But some are hopelessly opaque. Da’nis village, which was located in North Bend, … Continue reading →

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Sea Lion Cave

Posted on April 21, 2015 by

North of Florence, just south of the Heceta Head Lighthouse, is popular tourist attraction Sea Lion Cave. It is said to be the largest sea cave on the west coast. The Sea Lion Cave’s website claims that Captain William Cox … Continue reading →

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Cape Perpetua

Posted on February 14, 2015 by

Photo courtesy  US Forest Service Cape Perpetua is such a beautiful place on the central coast.  And even though it is in Alsea country, it has meaning for our tribes too, when many CLUS people were removed to Yachats.  While … Continue reading →

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