Map of the Costanoan languages and major villages.
Over 50 villages and tribes of the
Ohlone (also known as Costanoan)
Native American people have been identified as existing in
Northern California circa 1769 in the regions of the
San Francisco Peninsula ,
Santa Clara Valley ,
East Bay ,
Santa Cruz Mountains ,
Monterey Bay and
Salinas Valley . The known tribe names and village locations of people who spoke the Costanoan languages
[1] are listed by regions below.
[2]
In 1925,
Alfred Kroeber , then director of the
Hearst Museum of Anthropology , declared the tribe extinct, which directly led to its losing federal recognition and land rights.
[3]
San Francisco Peninsula
Languages spoken:
Ramaytush ,
Tamyen on southern border
Tribes and villages of the
San Francisco Peninsula :
Ahwaste – the San Francisco Peninsula
[1]
Chiguan – Pacific Coast of San Francisco Peninsula vicinity of
Half Moon Bay
[2]
Cotegen – Pacific Coast south of Half Moon Bay
Lamchin – present-day
San Mateo County , Bay shore from
Belmont south to
Redwood City and valleys to the west
Oljon – Pacific Coast on lower
San Gregorio Creek and
Pescadero Creek
Quiroste – Pacific Coast from
Bean Hollow Creek to
Ano Nuevo Creek
[4]
Name unknown – At
Tunitas Creek
[3]
Ssalson (tribe) – along
San Mateo Creek , in San Andreas Valley. Had 3 villages:
Aleitac (village) – along San Mateo Creek in San Andreas Valley
Altahmo (village; also spelled Altagmu ) – along San Mateo Creek in San Andreas Valley
Uturbe (village) – along San Mateo Creek in San Andreas Valley
Pruristac – One mile from the Pacific Coast in San Pedro Valley, near
San Pedro Creek , present day
Pacifica
Timigtac – half mile from Pacific Coast, on bank of
Calera Creek , present-day Pacifica
Tulomo – the San Francisco Peninsula
[4]
Urebure (also spelled Buriburi )
[5] –
San Bruno Creek south of
San Bruno Mountain
Yelamu (tribe) – northern San Francisco Peninsula
Amuctac (village) – near
Visitacion Valley in San Francisco
Abmoctac (village) connected with
Dolores Mission
[5]
Acnagis (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Acynm (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Aleta (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Aluenchi (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Amutaja (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Anamas (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Anamon (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Anchin (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Aramay (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Assunta (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Atarpe (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Cachanegtac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Caprnp (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Carascan (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Cazopo (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chagunte (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chanigtac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chapngtac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chayen (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chicntae (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chiguau (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chipisclin (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chipletac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chiputca (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chuchictac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Churmutce (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chuscan (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chutchin (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Chynau (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Conop (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Elarroyde (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Flunmuda (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Gamchines (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Genau (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Guanlen (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Guloismistae (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Halchis (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Horocroc (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Huimen (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Hunctu (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Itaes (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Joquizara (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Josquigard (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Juniamuc (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Juris (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Lamsim (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Libantone (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Livangebra (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Livangelva (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Luianeglua (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Luidneg (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Macsinum (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Malvaitac (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Mitline (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Muingpe (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Naig (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Olemos. A former
rancheria connected with Dolores
[5]
Olestura rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Olpen rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Ompivromo (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Olmolosoc rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Otoacte (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Ousint (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Patnetac (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Pructaca (village)connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Proqueu (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Purutea (village)connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Puycone (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sadaues rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sagunte (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Saraise (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sarontac (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Satumuo rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Saucon (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sicca (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sipanum (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Siscastac (village) connected to Dolores Mission
[5]
Sitintajea rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sitlintaj rancheria connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Ssalayme (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Ssichitca (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Ssiti (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Ssogereate (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Saupichum (village) connected with Dolores Mission
[5]
Subchiam (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Suchigin (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Suchui (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Sunchaque (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tatquinte (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Timsim (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Titiyu (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Torose (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Totola (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tubisuste (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tuca (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tupuic (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tupuinte (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Tuzsint (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Ussete (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Vagerpe (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Yacomui (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Zomiomi (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Zucigin (village) connected with Dolores mission
[5]
Chutchui (village) – near the present day site of Mission Dolores in San Francisco.
[6]
Uchium – a division of the Olamentke, and according to
Chamisso one of the most numerous connected with Dolores mission in 1816
Petlenuc (village) – near the
Presidio of San Francisco
Sitlintac (village) – near
Mission Creek in San Francisco
Tubsinta (village) – near
Visitacion Valley in San Francisco
Puichon – near present-day
Menlo Park ,
Palo Alto and Mountain View
Supinum - near present-day
The Horse Park, Woodside, California ,
Portola Valley ,
Tuchayune – fishing village on
Yerba Buena Island
[6]
The following tribes furnished most of the converts at Mission Dolores:
Ahwaste, Bolbone, Chiguau, Cuchillones, Chuscan, Cotejen, Junatca, Karkin,
Khulpuni, Olemos, Olhon, Olmolococ, Olpen, Quemelentus, Quirogles, Saclan,
Salzon (Suisun), Sanchines, Saucou, Sichican, Uchium and Uquitinac.
[5]
Santa Clara Valley
Languages spoken:
Tamyen ,
Chochenyo on eastern fringes
Tamyen language region (also spelled Tamien , Thamien ) – tentatively Santa Clara Valley along
Guadalupe River and west through
Cupertino .
Tribes and villages of
Santa Clara Valley :
Alson – low marshlands at southern end of
San Francisco Bay , present-Day
Newark ,
Milpitas and
Alviso
Asirin – Coast Ranges east of Santa Clara Valley
Aulintac (also spelled Auxentac ) – along
Coyote Creek
Churistac – cover term for cluster of villages in the mountains east of
Morgan Hill
Matalan – Santa Clara Valley from Coyote to Morgan Hill
Pala (also known as Palenos ) – mountains of Hall's Valley between Santa Clara Valley and
Mount Hamilton
Ritocsi – Santa Clara Valley at Upper
Guadalupe River and central
Coyote Creek
San Bernardino Group – Santa Clara Valley unknown location; see Partacsi
Lamaytu (tribe) – Santa Clara Valley
Muyson (tribe) – Santa Clara Valley
Pornen (tribe) – Santa Clara Valley
Solchequis (tribe) – Santa Clara Valley
So-co-is-u-ka (village) – the original site of the
Mission Santa Clara (Mission Santa Clara de Thamien) on the Guadalupe River, 1777
"Santa Ysabel" – eastern Santa Clara Valley and Upper
Calaveras Creek
Somontac (also called Santa Clara ) – tentatively
Los Gatos region of Santa Clara Valley, and/or a village of the Matalan
Thamien (village or locality) – the original site of the
Mission Santa Clara (Mission Santa Clara de Thamien) on the Guadalupe River, 1777
Tayssen – large area of eastern
Coast Ranges east and southeast of Santa Clara Valley
In vicinity:
Junas – probably in
Hospital Creek drainage or
San Antonio Valley of
Diablo Range
Werwersen – vicinity of
Mount Hamilton , Diablo Range
[7]
*See also: Chitactac, Partacsi, possibly in this valley.
East Bay area
Languages spoken:
Chochenyo ,
Karkin in the north
Tribes and villages of the
East Bay area:
Causen (aka Patlans ) –
Sunol Valley
Huchiun – large area of East Bay shore, from
Temescal Creek to present-day
Richmond
Huchiun-Aguasto – East Bay on southeast shores of
San Pablo Bay
Karkin (aka Los Carquines in Spanish) – on both sides of
Carquinez Strait , present-day
Crockett ,
Port Costa ,
Martinez and
Benicia
Luecha – southeast of
Livermore
Jalquin/Yrgen – present day
Hayward ,
Castro Valley
Pelnen – western part of
Livermore Valley , from
Pleasanton to
Dublin
Seunen – northwest side of Livermore Valley
Souyen – marshland of Livermore Valley and up
Tassajara Creek into southern foothills of
Mount Diablo
Ssaoam – around
Brushy Peak and
Altamont Pass , between Livermore Valley and
San Joaquin Valley
Yulian (either a subgroup or alias name of Ssaoams)
Taunan – mountainous parts of
Alameda Creek and
Arroyo del Valle south to
Alameda –
Contra Costa County line
Tuibun – mouth of Alameda Creek and
Coyote Hills area, eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Site is preserved in
Coyote Hills Regional Park .
Saclan – a former group or division of the
Costanoan family inhabiting the shore at or south of
Oakland
[5]
Santa Cruz Mountains
Languages spoken:
Awaswas , Tamyen on eastern border
Tribes and villages of the
Santa Cruz Mountains :
Achista (tentatively included Acsaggis
[1] ) – Santa Cruz Mountains, present-day
Boulder Creek , and
Riverside Grove
Chalumu – current location of city of
Santa Cruz
[7]
Chaloctac – around
Loma Prieta Creek on crest of Santa Cruz Mountains
Chitactac – Santa Cruz Mountains and/or Santa Clara Valley
Cotoni – Pacific Coast at present-day
Davenport
Olpen (also known as Guemelentos ) – interior hills and valleys in Santa Cruz Mountains,
La Honda Creek ,
Corte de Madera Creek
Partacsi (also known as "Paltrastach") –
Saratoga Gap mountainous area, upper
Pescadero Creek ,
Stevens Creek , and
Saratoga Creek watersheds; tentatively the village and center of San Bernardino tribal groups
Sayanta –
Scotts Valley ,
Glenwood , and
Laurel areas (part of
Mexican grant
Arrollo de Sayante )
Sokel – present-day
Aptos
[7]
Monterey Bay area
Languages spoken:
Awaswas north coast,
Rumsen south coast,
Mutsun inland
Tribes and villages of the
Monterey Bay area:
Aptos – Shores of Monterey Bay from
Aptos east, halfway up
Pajaro River
Cajastaca – north or northeast of
Watsonville , near the Pajaro River
Ichxenta – at San Jose Creek, near
Point Lobos State Reserve
Kalindaruk (Calendaruc)-
Monterey County
[8]
Rumsien (village) –
Carmel River , roughly 5 miles inland from
San Carlos Mission and Pacific Coast
[7]
Uypi – present-day
City of Santa Cruz
Wacharon – near present-day
Moss Landing
[9]
Salinas Valley
Languages spoken:
Rumsen ,
Mutsun ,
Chalon
[10]
Tribes and villages of
Salinas Valley :
Ansaime (also spelled Ausaima ) – east side of San Felipe sink on
Pacheco Creek
Chipuctac –
Cañada de los Osos area northeast of
Gilroy
Mutsun (village) – at the
Mission San Juan Bautista , on
San Benito River , west of present-day city of
Hollister .
[7]
Pitac – possibly
San Martin area or else part of Unijama in the Gilroy area
Tomoi – in the general area of
Pacheco Pass
Unijaima (also spelled Unijaimas ) –
Gilroy and
Carnadero areas
Wachero-n – at site of
Mission Soledad on
Salinas River
[7]
Notes
References
Kroeber, Alfred L. 1925. Handbook of the Indians of California . Washington, D.C: Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin No. 78. (map of villages, page 465)
Milliken, Randall. A Time of Little Choice: The Disintegration of Tribal Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area 1769-1810 Menlo Park, CA: Ballena Press Publication, 1995.
ISBN
0-87919-132-5 (alk. paper)
Further reading
Beeler, Madison S. Northern Costanoan , International Journal of American Linguistics, 1961. 27: 191–197.
Brown, Alan K. Indians of San Mateo County , La Peninsula:Journal of the San Mateo County Historical Association , Vol. XVII No. 4, Winter 1973–1974.
Brown, Alan K. Place Names of San Mateo County , published San Mateo County Historical Association, 1975.
Teixeira, Lauren. The Costanoan/Ohlone Indians of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area, A Research Guide . Menlo Park, CA: Ballena Press Publication, 1997.
ISBN
0-87919-141-4 .
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico Part 2 – Edited by Frederick Webb Hodge 1910