Manhattan etymology

Etymology

The name "Manhattan" comes from the Munsee Lenape word "Mannahatta," which variously means:

• "Place of many hills"
• "Island of many hills"
• "Island of hills"

Meaning

The Munsee Lenape who inhabited the island named it Mannahatta because of its hilly terrain, which consisted of numerous small, rocky hills.

Origin

• Pre-Colonial Period: The Munsee Lenape were the original inhabitants of Manhattan, and the name "Mannahatta" was their designation for the island.
• Dutch Colonization (1624-1664): When the Dutch established New Amsterdam on the southern tip of Manhattan in 1624, they adopted the name "Mannahatta" and spelled it "Manhattes."
• English Colonization (1664-1776): After the English took over New York from the Dutch in 1664, they anglicized the spelling of "Manhattes" to "Manhattan."
• Present Day: "Manhattan" is now the official name for the island, which is part of the New York City borough of the same name.

Manhattan relate terms

• Harlem

  Etymology The name Harlem originates from the Dutch phrase Haarlem or Haerlem whi

• rotisserie

  Etymology The word rotisserie is derived from the French word rôtir meaning to roa

• promethium

  Etymology Promethium is named after Prometheus a Titan from Greek mythology who stole f

• e mail

  Etymology The term email is an abbreviation of electronic mail It was coined in the

• Madison

  Etymology The name Madison is derived from the Old English words maden meeting plac

• Algonquin

  Etymology The word Algonquin is derived from the Algonquian language which was spoken

• chowder

  Etymology The word chowder likely derives from the French word chaudière which mean

• whiskey

  Etymology Whiskey is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic word uisce beatha prono

• bowery

  Etymology The word bowery comes from the Dutch bouwerij meaning farm or plantatio