Nebraska - The name of the state is derived from an
Omaha name meaning "flat water." In the
Omaha language the name is Nibthaska; ni, water, and bthaska, flat.
Counties
Red Willow - From the Dakota name "Caŋṡaṡa Wakpala", which literally means
Red Osier Dogwood Creek; this shrub being abundant along its banks.
Birdwood - A translation of the Dakota name Ziŋtka-c̣aŋ Wakpala (False Indigo Creek). False Indigo (
Amorpha fruticosa), commonly grows along the stream and in Dakota is literally called "birdwood."
Battle Creek - Named after a nearby stream where Nebraska volunteer militiamen were prepared to fight a battle against the Pawnee Indians that never happened.
Pohocco - A precinct in the northeastern part of Saunders county, the name derives from
Pahuk, meaning headland or promontory, the Pawnee name of a prominent hill in the vicinity.
Tekamah - Located on the site of a historic Pawnee village, the surrounding hills were used for burying grounds and the highest point was used as a fire signal station. The origin of the name is not definitely known.
^Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder A.M. (1925) Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p 140.
Bibliography
Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder A.M. (1925) Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p 140.
Fontenelle, Henry. (1885) Indian Names of Streams and Localities. Translations and reports of the
Nebraska State Historical Society, vol. 1, p. 76, 1885.
Gilmore, Melvin R. (1919) Some Indian Place Names in Nebraska. Nebraska State Historical Society, vol. 19, pp. 130–139.
Nebraska - The name of the state is derived from an
Omaha name meaning "flat water." In the
Omaha language the name is Nibthaska; ni, water, and bthaska, flat.
Counties
Red Willow - From the Dakota name "Caŋṡaṡa Wakpala", which literally means
Red Osier Dogwood Creek; this shrub being abundant along its banks.
Birdwood - A translation of the Dakota name Ziŋtka-c̣aŋ Wakpala (False Indigo Creek). False Indigo (
Amorpha fruticosa), commonly grows along the stream and in Dakota is literally called "birdwood."
Battle Creek - Named after a nearby stream where Nebraska volunteer militiamen were prepared to fight a battle against the Pawnee Indians that never happened.
Pohocco - A precinct in the northeastern part of Saunders county, the name derives from
Pahuk, meaning headland or promontory, the Pawnee name of a prominent hill in the vicinity.
Tekamah - Located on the site of a historic Pawnee village, the surrounding hills were used for burying grounds and the highest point was used as a fire signal station. The origin of the name is not definitely known.
^Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder A.M. (1925) Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p 140.
Bibliography
Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder A.M. (1925) Nebraska Place-Names. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism. p 140.
Fontenelle, Henry. (1885) Indian Names of Streams and Localities. Translations and reports of the
Nebraska State Historical Society, vol. 1, p. 76, 1885.
Gilmore, Melvin R. (1919) Some Indian Place Names in Nebraska. Nebraska State Historical Society, vol. 19, pp. 130–139.