List of Mississippi placenames of Native American origin

The following list includes settlements, geographic features, and political subdivisions of Mississippi whose names are derived from Native American languages.

Listings State Mississippi – from an Algonquian language, probably Ojibwe, meaning "big river" (Ojibwe misiziibi).

Counties

Amite County – either from French amitié ("friendship"), or Choctaw himmita ("young") Attala County Chickasaw County Choctaw County Choctaw, Bolivar County, Mississippi Choctaw, Neshoba County, Mississippi Coahoma County Coahoma Copiah County Issaquena County Issaquena Itawamba County Neshoba County Neshoba Noxubee County Oktibbeha County Panola County Pontotoc County Pontotoc Tallahatchie County Tippah County Tishomingo County Tunica County Yalobusha County Yazoo County Yazoo City Little Yazoo

Settlements

Acona – uncertain etymology Alamucha Arcola Arkabutla Bigbee and Bigbee Valley – shortened from Tombigbee Biloxi Bogue Chitto Bogue Chitto, Lincoln County Bogue Chitto River and several creeks named Bogue Chitto with headwaters in Hinds, Kemper, Noxubee, and Clarke Counties – from Choctaw bok (creek) and chito (big) Bolatusha Buckatunna Byhalia – uncertain etymology Bywy By-Wy Creek Bywy Creek Cayuga – named for the Cayuga, an Iroquois nation from New York Chatawa Cheraw – named for the Cheraw people of North Carolina Chiwapa Chulahoma Chunky Cohay Coila Conehatta Coosa Eastabuchie Escatawpa Eucutta Hiwannee Homochitto Hopoca – uncertain etymology Hushpuckena Itta Bena Ituma Iuka – uncertain etymology Kewanee – uncertain Choctaw etymology; uncertain relationship to Kewanee, Illinois as an anatopism Kokomo – named after Kokomo, Indiana, itself of uncertain etymology Kolola Springs Looxahoma Mantachie Mashulaville Michigan City – named after Michigan Mingo – named after the Chickasaw word for chief, not the Mingo tribe Mississippi City Muskegon – named after Muskegon, Michigan Nanachehaw (Allen) Napanee – uncertain etymology Natchez New Houlka Nitta Yuma Noxapater Ocobla Ofahoma Okahola Oklahoma Okolona Oktoc Oswego – named for Oswego, New York Osyka Pachuta Pascagoula Pelahatchie Pocahontas – named after a Powhatan individual from Virginia Poticaw Landing – uncertain etymology Quofaloma Sabougla Sapa – very uncertain etymology Saratoga – named for Saratoga, New York Satartia Scooba Senatobia Shoccoe – named for Shocco Creek, North Carolina, itself of Catawba etymology Shongelo Shubuta Shuqualak Sipsey Fork Skuna Sucarnoochee Suqualena Tallahala Tallula Talowah Tamola Tawanta – very uncertain etymology Tchula Teoc Texas – named for Texas, which has Caddoan etymology Tibbee Tillatoba Tippo Tishomingo Toccopola Tocowa Toomsuba Topeka – named for Topeka, Kansas Topisaw Tougaloo – likely derived from Choctaw for "two creeks" or "second creek" and unrelated to the Cherokee Tugaloo Tula Tunica and North Tunica Tupelo Tuscola Wahalak Wautubbee Wenasoga – very uncertain etymology Winona – named Winona, Minnesota, itself named after a Dakota individual Yokena

Bodies of water

Abiaca Creek Abotcaputa Creek Alampa Creek Alamuchee Creek Amite River Apookta Creek Archusa Creek Arkabutla Creek and Arkabutla Lake Lake Atchafalaya (Atchafalaya Bayou, Silver City, Mississippi) Bagasha Creek Bahala Creek Bala Chitto Creek Balucta Creek Batupan Bogue Bayou Costapia Bayou Talla (Hancock County) and Bayou Talla (Jackson County) Beasha Creek Besa Chitto Creek Bibalucta Creek Biba Wila Creek Biloxi River and Biloxi Bay Bodka Creek Big Bogue Big Scooba Creek, Little Scooba Creek, and Flat Scooba Creek Bogue Cheely Bogue Culley Bogue Ealiah Creek, Boguefala Creek, Boque Falia Creek, Bogue Faliah, Bogue Fallah, Bogue Flower (Lauderdale County), Bogue Flower (Clarke County), and Bogue Phalia – from Choctaw bok (creek) and falaa (long) Bogue Falema Creek Bogue Hasty Bogue Homo, Bogue Homo & Bogue Homo Lake, and Bogue Homa – from Choctaw bok (creek) and homma (red) Bogue Statinea Boguegaba Creek Bokshenya Creek Bolatusha Creek Bolingchessa Creek Bollybusha Creek Bophumpa Creek Bose Nukse Creek Boughenia Creek Buckatunna Creek and Buckatunna Lake Busfaloba Creek Butputter Creek – uncertain etymology Buttahatchee River Byhalia Creek Calabrella Creek Canna Creek Castaffa Creek Catahoula Creek Catalpa Creek Chautauqua Lake & Lake Chautauqua – named after Chautauqua Lake in New York, which has Iroquoian origin. Chenokaby Creek, an older name for Scotchenflipper Creek Chewalla Creek and Chewalla Lake – from Chickasaw chowaala (cedar); Chewawah Creek is possibly a corrupted form of that same etymology Chicago Branch – named for Chicago, itself derived from a Great Lakes Algonquian language. Chickasaw Bayou and Chickasaw Hill Chickasawhay River and Chickasawhay Creek Chicopa Creek Chicwillasaw Creek Chief Chisca Lake Chilli Creek Chinchahoma Creek Chittobochiah Creek and its historic name, Ittobechi Creek. Chiwapa Creek Chubby Creek (Itawamba County) and Chubby Creek (Benton County) Chunky Creek and Chunky River Chuquatonchee Creek Coffadeliah Creek Coffee Bogue Coila Creek Comite Creek – very uncertain etymology Concobona Creek Conehatta Creek Conehoma Creek Coonewah Creek Coonipper Creek Coonshuck Creek Copiah Creek and Copiah Lake Cuffawa Creek Cushtusia Creek Escatawpa River Etehomo Creek Euclautubba Creek Eucutta Creek and Eutacutachee Creek Fannegusha Creek, Fannegusha Creek, and Old Fannegusha Creek Funny Creek and Funny Yockana Creek Hashuqua Creek Hatchapaloo Creek Hatchie River – related to the common root word for "river" in Muscogean languages, such as Choctaw hvcha or hacha and Creek hvtce; however, the river is located within traditional Chickasaw homeland of North Mississippi, and the modern Chickasaw word for river is abookoshi’, suggesting that either the name is a more recent appellation or that the Chickasaw language has diverged from Choctaw. Hickahala Creek Hobolochitto Creek Hobuck Creek Hollicar Creek Homochitto River Hontokalo Creek Hornolucka Creek Hotopha Creek Houlka Creek Hushpuckena River and Hushpuckena Creek Ichusa Creek Ishitubba Creek Jofuska Creek Kentawka Canal Kentuctah Creek Kenty Creek Kickapoo Lake – named after the Kickapoo people originally of the Illinois Country Kinterbish Creek Kittahutty Creek Lafomby Creek Lake Itawamba Lake Mohawk – named for the Mohawk, an Iroquois nation from New York Lake Monocnoc Lake Piomingo Lake Pushmataha Lake Sequoyah Lake Tallaha Lake Tangipahoa Lake Tiak-O'Khata Lappatubby Creek Little Bogue Loakfoma Creek and Loakfoma Lake Lobutcha Creek Lonsilocher Canal Lucknuck Creek Lukfapa Creek Luneluah Creek Luxapallila Creek Magowah Creek Mantachie Creek Mattubby Creek Minga Branch (Monroe County), Mingo Branch (Tishomingo County), and Mingo Creek (Clarke County) – named after the Chickasaw minko’ (chief), not the Mingo people Minnehaha River (Magnolia, Mississippi) – named after the Minnehaha Falls in Minnesota Mississippi River and Mississippi Sound – from the Ojibwe 'Great River' Mubby Creek Nanabe Creek Nanih Waiya Creek Natchez Island and Natchez Lake Neshoba County Lake Nita Lake Nonconnah Creek, in Tennessee and slightly within Marshall County, Mississippi Noxapater Creek Noxubee River Nuakfuppa Creek Nusichiya Creek, an older name for Line Creek Oaklimeter Creek Oakohay Creek Oak Slush Creek, previously Okshash Creek Ocobla Creek Okachickima Creek Okahatta Creek Okannatie Creek Okatibbee Creek and Okatibbee Lake Okatoma Creek Okatuppa Creek Okeelala Creek Okhissa Lake Oktibbeha County Lake Oktibee Creek Oktoc Creek Okwakee Creek Otak Creek Otoucalofa Creek Pachuta Creek Palusha Creek Canal Pascagoula River and Pascagoula Bay Pawticfaw Creek Peachahala Creek Pechahalee Creek Pee Dee Creek – named after the Pee Dee River in South Carolina Pelahatchie Creek and Pelahatchie Bay Pellaphalia Creek Pelucia Creek and Pelucia Bayou Penantly Creek Pinishook Creek Ponta Creek Pontotoc Ridge Potacocowa Creek Poticaw Bayou Potlockney Creek Potterchitto Creek Pottock Creek Puchshinnubie Creek Pushacoona Creek Pushepatapa Creek Puskus Creek and Puskus Lake Quarterliah Creek Quilby Creek Sabougla Creek Sanoosee Creek, historical name of Snoody Creek; also Sanooda Creek Santee Branch – either from Choctaw santi (snake) or named after the Santee River in South Carolina, which was itself named after the Santee tribe Scoobachita Creek Scutchalo Creek and Scutchalo Falls Senatobia Creek Seneasha Creek Sewayiah Creek Shackaloa Creek Shaui Koli Creek Shiola Creek Shockaloo Creek Shongelo Creek and Shongelo Lake Shubuta Creek Shutispear Creek Sipsey Creek Skillikalia Bayou Skuna River Socki Creek Soctahoma Creek Souenlovie Creek Sowashee Creek Sucarnoochee River Sucatolba Creek Sugar Bogue Suqualena Creek Tallabinnela Creek Tallabogue Creek (Clarke County), Tallabogue (northern Scott County), and Tallabogue (southern Scott County) Tallachula Creek Tallahaga Creek Tallahala Creek and Tallahalla Creek Tallahatchie River Tallahatta Creek and Tallahattah Creek Tallahoma Creek Tallashua Creek Tampa Creek Tangipahoa River Tarlechia Creek Tarlow Creek Tchoutacabouffa River Tchula Lake Tennessee River Teoc Creek (Kemper County), Teoc Creek (Carroll County), and Teock Creek Teoctalia Creek Tesheva Creek Tibbee Creek, Tibbee Lake, Tibby Creek Attala County, and Tibby Creek Tibbehoy Creek Tickfaw River Tifallili Creek Tilda Bogue Tillatoba Creek and Tillatoba Lake Tippah River Tippo Bayou Tishkill Creek Tishomingo Creek Tishtony Creek Toby Tubby Creek Toccopola Creek Tokeba Bayou Tombigbee River Tonacana Creek Toomsuba Creek Topashaw Creek Topisaw Creek Tubbalubba Creek Tubby Creek Tuckabum Creek Tumbaloo Creek Tunica Hills and Tunica Lake Tuscolameta Creek Tuscahoma Formation Tuscumbia River Tuxachanie Creek Upper Bogue Wahalak Creek Walkiah Bluff Waukomis Lake Wautubbee Formation Wingo Branch Yalobusha River Yamacrow Creek Yanubbee Creek Yazoo River Yockanookany River Yocona River Yoda Creek Yonaba Creek Yonkapin Lake

See also List of place names in the United States of Native American origin

References Citations

Sources

Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. .