How did the Ohio river get its name?

Answer 1

One of the earliest native tribes called themselves the "Onguiaahra". It is a name from which the "Niagara River" originated.

The French explorers that came to Niagara gave this Indian tribe the name "Neutrals" because of their position and status as peace keepers between the two warring Indian nations - the Huron's and the Iroquois.

The Neutral Indians were the leaders of a group of ten tribes of the Iroquois Nation. Other tribes included the Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Huron, Petun, Erie and the Susquehannock.

Niagara originates from the Neutral Indian name "Ongniaahra"

meaning "Thunder of Waters".

The relative position of the Falls was correctly indicated on the maps of 1612 and 1632 printed upon the authority of French Explorer, Samuel de Champlain, but no record of their name is found until 1656 when they appear on Sanson's map as "Onigiara"

Hennepin's map of 1683 was the first to give the falls their present name "Niagara", while a map of 1692 published in Willard's history of the United States shows them with the title of "Jagara".

In 1892, Brigadier General Ely S. Parker stated that the name [Niagara] was originally applied to the whole of the river from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The Seneca Indian name of "Near-Gar" was modified to the word "Ni-a-ga-ra" by the early French Explorers. The Seneca translation of this word was "the strait"

In 1641 the Onguiaahra Indians were the predominant tribe along the Niagara River. The French modified this tribe name to the word "Neutral" because it was easier to translate. The name "Onguiaahra" appears on maps as early as 1641. A French map dated 1680 refers to a destroyed Neutral Indian village situated close to the Niagara River as "Niagagerega"

Other modifications of this Neutral Indian name throughout the years included "Ongiarah", Ouinagarah" and "Ongniaraha".

The Neutral tribe was governed by a "Queen of Peace" named "Jikonsaseh". She preserved the peace and neutrality of the Neutral tribe as well as maintaining a separation between the Huron's in the West and the Iroquois in the East. Jikonsaseh lived in a village called "Keinuka" which was located just east of the Niagara River.

In the early 1600's, the Neutrals had a population of 20,000 - 40,000. The Neutrals were well structured and had a developed hierarchy both politically and economically. The Neutrals brought with them many skills. In addition to being peace keepers and fierce warriors, they were also traders, farmers and business people. The Neutrals brought the humble beginnings of industry to the Niagara Frontier.

In 1626, the first European, Etienne Brule arrived in Niagara. This signaled the beginning of the onslaught of European explorers coming to the "New World" (North America) including Niagara. Brule may have the first of the white missionaries to visit the Neutral Indians.

The Seneca Indians occupied the east bank of the Niagara River near Lake Ontario.

In 1639, fearing the Seneca Indians, the Wenroe Indians, a transient tribe who lived in villages along the east side of the Niagara River, escaped to Huron territory with the aid of the Neutral Indians.

In 1640, the state of war broke out among the Seneca and Huron Indians. This war began when a Seneca warrior was killed by a Huron Indian while attempting to take refuge in a Neutral Indian village. The warrior was an Onondaga Indian Chief, Annenraes.

The Seneca blamed the Neutral for their part in the killing of the chief.

The Seneca planned to avenge his death by attacking the Huron and Neutral Indians.

In 1647, the Seneca continued with their plan to wage war against the Huron and the Neutral Indians.

In 1649, the Seneca and other members of the Iroquois Nation attacked the Wenroe and Huron Indians.

As the Indian wars continued over the next six years and soon the Huron Nation in the north was in ruins and scattered throughout the country.

In 1652, the Iroquois moved into the Niagara area, forcing the Neutral Indians eastward to the area of Albany, New York.

By 1653, the Neutral Indians had all but ceased to exist as an Indian Nation. Some of the remaining Neutrals were adopted by the Seneca while others joined the Huron's at Mackinac.

It comes from the Indians. Niagara means split land and of course falls come from it being a water fall.

Answer 2

The Board on Geographic Names settled on "Ohio River" as the river's official name in 1931.

Answer 3

The Cuyahoga Falls River Got Its Name From the cuyahoga falls river.

Answer 4

Ohio and the Ohio river got there names by Slavery..... I think

Answer 5

"Niagara" is a transliteration of the Mohawk word ohnyá:kara' (neck). This perhaps comes from the falls being a neck of water between the upper and lower river.