How did Toronto get its name?

Answer 1

It is generally agreed that the word 'Toronto' comes from the Indians. But there are two different theories. The majority opinion says Toronto is a Seneca word that simply means 'meeting place.' It's hardly an original theory, but it's plausible. The second theory (to which I subscribe) is that it is a Huron word meaning 'trees in the water.' Lake Simcoe was within Huron territory and was originally known by the French as 'Lac de Toronto' (sometimes spelled 'Taranto'). The Indian trail running from the mouth of the Humber River to Lake Simcoe was known as the Toronto Portage. These names were in use long before there was any settlement in the Toronto area. Lake Simcoe had many trees growing so close to the water's edge that they seemed to be growing out of the water. A second 'trees in the water' theory is that it refers to the fish weirs the Huron Indians built to catch fish in the narrows between Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching. Toronto Island also had trees that appeared to be growing out of the water.

Answer 2

The word "Toronto" originated with the First Nations, in particular with the Huron. Its original meaning has been said to be either "trees in the water" or "meeting place." While the majority opinion seems to prefer the simplistic "meeting place" as the origin of Toronto's name, "trees in the water" has a much firmer foundation.

The name originated in present-day Huronia as a description for either the trees that grew in the swampy shores of Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching, and therefore seemed to be growing out of the water, or as a reference to the fish weirs that the Huron built in "The Narrows" between the two lakes. Samuel de Champlain described the weirs as early as 1615.

The overland route from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe via today's Humber and Holland Rivers was known in the 1700s and early 1800s as the "Toronto Portage." French maps of the 1680s show today's Lake Simcoe as "Lac de Taranto," the Toronto Portage as "Passage de Taranto," and the Humber River as "Rivière Taranto." (The Toronto Portage actually began at Matchedash Bay, in Huronia, and continued to the mouth of the Humber River.)

The townsite of York was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe. On February 1, 1796, York became the capital of Upper Canada. While the river had been renamed Humber, the reference to the Toronto Portage continued. York's name was not changed until it was incorporated as a city on March 6, 1834, and renamed Toronto.

In recorded history, the name Taranto (or Toronto), referring to the Toronto Portage, was in continuous use from shortly after the days of Samuel de Champlain to shortly after the days of John Graves Simcoe. There is no record of Taranto having been in use for anything other than the lake, the river, or the portage. There is no reference to Toronto as being the name of a place of habitation, or a meeting place, until March 6, 1834.

The Seneca, who occupied the Bâby Point area of present-day Toronto after the Huron diaspora, have suggested that "Toronto" meant "meeting place." It is important to note, however, that their village, which overlooked the Humber River in the 1680s, was called Teiaiagon (also variously spelled as Taiaiako'n, Taiaiagon, Teyeyagon, and Toioiugon). There is no reference to any village or meeting place called Toronto.

Answer 3

The City of Toronto was incorporated on March 6 1834. Prior to that date, it had been known as "York." On August 26, 1793, Governor Simcoe had so named it after the Duke of York, second son of King George III.