Names Categorized "indigenous American chiefs"

Ahtahkakoop is a Cree name from Atâhkakohp meaning "star blanket", derived from atâhk "star" and akohp "blanket". This name was borne by a prominent 19th-century Head Chief of the Plains Cree people.EtymologyThe name com...

Ahuludegi is a Cherokee masculine name that means “he throws away the drum,” derived from the Cherokee words ahuli (ᎠᎱᎵ, “drum”) and udega (ᎤᏕᎦ, “throw”). This name was borne by a prominent 19th-century Cherokee chief, a...

Baishan is a masculine given name of Apache origin, meaning "knife" in the Apache language. It is notably associated with a 19th-century chief of the Tchihende Apache, a band of the Chiricahua Apache. The name reflects a...

Catahecassa (also spelled Ca-ta-he-cas-sa), meaning "black hoof" in Shawnee, is the name of an 18th-century Shawnee warrior and chief, more commonly known as Black Hoof. He served as the head civil chief of the Shawnee I...

EtymologyCochise is a name strongly associated with the 19th-century Chiricahua Apache chief. Its exact meaning is uncertain, but it is thought to derive from Apache words such as go-chizh meaning "his firewood" or go-ch...

Cowessess is an Anglo-American recording of an Ojibwe or Cree name originally written as Kiwisance, meaning “little child.” The name is likely derived from Ojibwe gwiiwizens (“boy”) or Cree awâsis (“child”), reflecting a...

Dasoda-hae is an Apache name meaning "he just sits there", belonging to a 19th-century chief of the Tchihende (Mimbreño) Apache, widely known by the Spanish nickname Mangas Coloradas ("red sleeves"). Born around 1793, Da...

Degataga is a Cherokee masculine name, derived from the Cherokee word ᎦᏙᎦ (gadoga), meaning "standing" or "firm." This name is historically associated with Stand Watie (1806–1871), a prominent Cherokee leader and the onl...

Gian-nah-tah is a male name of Apache origin, meaning "always ready" in the Apache language. This name was borne by a notable 19th-century chief of the Mescalero Apache tribe, who was a contemporary of other famous Apach...

Hokolesqua is a Shawnee masculine name meaning "cornstalk" in the Shawnee language. The name is historically associated with an 18th-century Shawnee chief also known as Cornstalk, who led the Shawnee during the Ohio Vall...

Isapo-Muxika is the Romanized form of the Blackfoot name Issapóómahksika, meaning "Crow-big-foot" or literally "big Crow foot." It derives from Issapó "Crow (tribe)," ómahk "big," and ika "foot." This name is historicall...

Kaneonuskatew is a masculine name of Cree origin, meaning "he who walks on four claws". Derived from the Cree elements newo ("four") and askasiy ("claw"), the name reflects the deep connection to the natural world centra...

Kawacatoose is a Cree masculine name derived from the Cree word Kawâhkatos (ᑲᐋᐧᐦᑲᑐᐢ), meaning "poor man, weak from hunger". The name reflects the harsh realities of life on the Plains, where periods of scarcity could wea...

Kisecawchuck is the Anglicized form of the Cree name ᑮᓯᑳᐊᐧᒑᕁ (Kîsikâawcâhk), meaning "day star" or "star of the day." It derives from the Cree elements kîsikâw "day" and atâhk "star". This name was borne by a prominent 1...

Mahpiya is a Sioux name that finds its origins in the Dakota and Lakota languages, where the word maȟpíya means "cloud, sky". This evocative name connects deeply with the natural world, reflecting the importance of the s...

Maquinna (also transliterated as Muquinna, Macuina, or Maquilla) is a masculine name derived from the Nuu-chah-nulth language of the Pacific Northwest Coast. It originates from the term Mukwina (modern Nuu-chah-nulth: m̓...

Mistawasis is a Cree name meaning "big child", derived from mistahi ("big, great") and awâsis ("child"). This name was borne by a prominent 19th-century Chief of the Sak-kaw-wen-o-wak Plains Cree, also known in English a...

Muscowequan is a masculine given name of Ojibwe origin, derived from the Ojibwe word Maskawigwan, meaning "hard quill." The name is composed of two elements: mashkawaa ("hard") and gaaway ("quill"). It is a traditional n...

Naiche (pronounced NYE-chee) is an Apache name meaning "mischief maker" in the Apache language. This name was borne by a prominent 19th-century Chiricahua Apache chief, the son of Cochise. Alternate spellings include Nac...

Nonhelema is a Shawnee feminine name that possibly means "not a man" in the Shawnee language. This name was borne by an influential 18th-century Shawnee chief and leader, Nonhelema Hokolesqua (c. 1718–1786), who was a si...

Meaning & HistoryOdeserundiye is a name of Mohawk origin, possibly meaning "lightning has struck". It belonged to an 18th-century Mohawk chief, also known as John Deseronto, who played an active role during the American...

Onangwatgo is the Oneida name of the notable chief and priest Cornelius Hill (1834-1907). The name derives from the Oneida language, meaning "big medicine," composed of the word onúhkwaht ("medicine") and the suffix -koó...