Names of Eastern Cherokee Individuals in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century

From Robert F. Jarrett’s 1916 "Occoneechee, the Maid of the Mystic Lake"

This compilation copyrighted by Don Chesnut, ©1998

[glossary entries verbatim from Jarrett]

A’gansta’ta

• "groundhog-sausage," from a’gana, groundhog, and tsista’u, "I am pounding it," understood to refer to pounding meat, etc., in a mortar, after having first crisped it before the fire. A war chief, noted in the Cherokee war of 1760, and prominent until about the close of the Revolution, known to the whites as Oconostota. Also the Cherokee name for Colonel Gideon Morgan of the war of 1812, for Washington Morgan, his son, of the Civil war, and now for a full-blood upon the reservation, known to the whites as Morgan Calhoun.

Agin’-agi’li

• "Rising-fawn." Major George Lowrey, cousin of Sequoya, and assistant chief of the Cherokee Nation about 1840. Stanley incorrectly makes it "Keeth-la, or Dog" for gi’li’.

Ahu’lude’gi

• "He throws away the drum" (habitual), from ahu’li, drum, and akwade’gu, "I am throwing it away" (round object). The Cherokee name of John Jolly, a noted chief and adopted father of Samuel Houston, about 1800.

Alkini’

• the last woman known to be of Natchez decent [sic] and peculiarity [sic] among the East Cherokee; died about 1890. The name has no apparent meaning.

Annie Ax—see Sadayi’.

Arch, John—see Atsi.

Astu’gata’ga

• A Cherokee lieutenant in the Confederate service killed in 1862. The name may be rendered, "Standing in the doorway," but implies that the man himself is the door or shutter; it has no first person; gata’ga, "he is standing"; stuti, a door or shutter; stuhu, a closed door or passage; stugi’sti, a key, i.e., something with which to open the door.

Ata’-gul kalu’

• a noted Cherokee chief, recognized by the British government as the head chief or "emperor" of the Nation, about 1760 and later, and commonly known to the whites as the Little Carpenter (Little Cornplanter, by mistake, in Haywood). The name is frequently spelled Atta-kulla-kulla, Ata-kullakulla or Ata-culculla. It may be rendered "Leaning wood," from ata’, "Wood" and gul kalu, a verb implying that something long is leaning, without sufficient support, against some other object; it has no first person form. Bartram describes him as "A man of remarkably small stature, slender and of a delicate frame, the only instance I saw in the Nation; but he is a man of superior abilities."

Ata-Kullakulla—see Ata’-gul kalu’.

Ata’lunti’ski

• a chief of the Arkansas Cherokee about 1818, who had originally emigrated from Tennessee. The name, commonly spelled Tollunteeskee, Taluntiski, Tallotiskee, Tallotuskee, etc., denotes one who throws some living object from a place, as an enemy from a precipice.

A’tsi

• the Cherokee name of John Arch, one of the earliest native writers in the Sequoya characters. The word is simply an attempt at the English name Arch.

Attakullakulla—see Ata-gul kalu’.

Ax, Annie—see Sadayi’.

Ax, John—see Itagu’nahi.

Ays’sta

• "The Spoiler," from tsiya’stihu, "I spoil it"’ cf. Uya’i, bad. A prominent woman and informant on the East Cherokee reservation.

Ayun’ini

• "Swimmer"; literally, "he is swimming," from gayunini’, "I am swimming." A principal priest and informant of the East Cherokee, died in 1899.

Big-Witch—see Tskil-e’gwa.

Bloody-Fellow—see Iskagua.

Blythe—see Diskwani.

Black-fox—see Ina’li.

Boudinot, Elias—see Galgi’na.

Bowl, The; Bowles, Colonel—see Diwali.

Breadth, The—see Unli’ta.

Butler, John—see Tsan’-uga’sita.

Canacaught

• "Canacaught, the great Conjurer," mentioned as a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; possibly kanegwa’ti, the water-moccasin snake.

Caunasaita

• given as the name of a Lower Chief in 1684; possibly for Kanunsi’ta, "dogwood."

Clear-sky—see Iskagua.

Colanneh, Colona—see Ka’lanu.

Cooweescoowe—see Gu’wisguwi’.

Cuhtahlatah

• a Cherokee woman noted in the Wahnenauhi manuscript as having distinguished herself by bravery in battle. The proper form may have some connection with gatun’lati, "wild hemp."

Da nagasta

• for Da’nawa-gasta’ya, "Sharp-war," i.e., "Eager-warrior"; a Cherokee woman’s name.

Da’si giya’gi

• an old masculine personal name, of doubtful etymology, but commonly rendered by the traders "Shoe-boots," possibly referring to some peculiar style of moccasin or leggin. A chief known to the whites as Shoe-boots is mentioned in the Revolutionary records. Chief Lloyd Welch,, of the eastern band, was known in the tribe as Da’si giya’gi, and the same name is now used by the East Cherokee as the equivalent of the name Lloyd.

De’gata’ga

• The Cherokee name of General Stand Watie and of a prominent early western chief known to the whites as Takatoka. The word is derived from tsita’ga, "I am standing," da nita’ga "they are standing together," and conveys the subtle meaning of two persons standing together and so closely united in sympathy as to form but one human body.

Digane’ski

• "he picks them up" (habitually), from tsine’u, "I am picking it up." A Cherokee Union soldier in the Civil War.

Dihyun’dula’

• "sheaths," or "scabbards"; singular ahyun’dula’, "a gun-sheath," or other scabbard. The probably correct form of a name which appears in Revolutionary documents as "Untoola, or Gum Rod."

Diskwa ni

• "chestnut bread," i.e., a variety of bread having chestnuts, mixed with it. The Cherokee name of James Blythe, interpreter and agency clerk.

Diwa’li

• "Bowl," a prominent chief of the western Cherokee, known to the whites as The Bowl, or Colonel Bowles, killed by the Texans in 1839. The chief mentioned may have been another of the same name.

Double-Head—see Tal-tsu’ska’.

Dragging-Canoe—see Tsi’yu-gunsi’ni.

Du’stu’

• a species of frog, appearing very early in spring; the name is intended for an onomatope. It is the correct form of the name of the chief noted by McKenney and Hall as "Tooantuh or Spring Frog."

Eskaqua—see Iskagua.

Flax-toter—see Tale’danigi’ski.

Flying-squirrel—see Ka’lahu’.

Galagi’na

• a male deer (buck) or turkey (gobbler); in the first sense the name is sometimes used also for the large horned beetle (Dynastes tityus). The Indian name of Elias Boudinot, first Cherokee editor.

Gans’ti’yi

• "robbing place," from tsina’sahunsku, "I am robbing him." ...The name vengeance was originally a white man’s nickname for an old Cherokee woman, of forbidding aspect, who lived there before the Removal.

Gatun’wal’li

• a noted western Cherokee, about 1842, known to the whites as Hardmush or Big-Mush. Gatun’wali, from ga’tu’, "bread," and unwa’li, "made into balls or lumps," is a sort of mush or parched corn meal, made very thick, so that it can be dipped out in lumps almost of the consistency of bread.

Glass, The—see Ta’gwadihi’.

Gohoma

• A Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.

Going-snake—see I’naduna’i.

Gorhaleka

• a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.

Gunun’da’le’gi—see Nunna-hi’dihi.

Gu’wisguwi’

• The Cherokee name of the chief John Ross, and for the district named in his honor, commonly spelled Cooweescoowee. Properly an onomatope for a large bird said to have been seen formerly at infrequent intervals in the old Cherokee country, accompanying the migratory wild geese, and described as resembling a large snipe, with yellow legs and unwebbed feet. In boyhood John Ross was known as Tsan’usdi, "Little John."

Hanging-maw—see Uskwa’li-gu’ta.

Hard-mush—see Gatun’wali.

Hemp-carrier—see Tale’danigi’ski.

Houston, Samuel—see Ka’lanu.

I’nadu-na’i

• "Going snake," a Cherokee chief prominet about eighty years ago [ca 1836]. The name properly signifies that the person is "going along in company with a snake," the verbal part being from the irregular verb asta’i, "I am going along with him."

Ina’li

• Black-fox; the common red fox in tsu’la (in Muscogee, chula). Black-fox was principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1810.

Iskagua

• Name for "Clear Sky," formerly "Nenetooyah or the Bloody Fellow." The name appears thus in a document of 1791 as that of a Cherokee chief frequently mentioned about that period under the name of "Bloody Fellow." In one treaty it is given as "Eskaqua or Bloody Fellow." Both forms and etymologies are doubtful, neither form seeming to have any reference either to "sky" (galun’lahi) or "blood" (gi’ga). The first may be intended for Ik-e’gwa, "Great day."

Itagu’nahi

• the Cherokee name of John Ax.

Jackson—see Tsek’sini’.

Jesse Reid—see Tse’si-Ska’tsi.

John Ax—see Itagu’nahi.

Jolly, John—see Anu’lude’gi.

Ka’lahu’

• "All-bones," from ka’lu, bone. A former chief of the East Cherokee, also known in the tribe as Sawanu’gi.

Ka’lanu

• "The Raven"; the name was used as a war title in the tribe and appears in the old documents as Corani (Lower dialect, Ka’ranu) Colonneh, Colona, etc. It is the Cherokee name for General Samuel Houston or for any person named Houston.

Ka’lanu Ahyeli’ski

• the Raven Mocker.

Katal’sta

• an East Cherokee woman potter, the daughter of the chief Yanagun’ski. The name conveys the idea of lending, from tsiyatal’sta, "I lend it"; agatal’sta, "it is lent to him."

Ke’si-ka’gamu

• a woman’s name, a Cherokee corruption of Cassie Cockran; ka’gamu is also the Cherokee corruption for "cucumber."

Little Carpenter, Little Cornplanter—see Ata’-gul kalu’.

Long-hair

• a Cherokee chief living with his band in Ohio in 1795. The literal Cherokee translation of "Long-hair" is Gitlu’gunahi’ta, but it is not certain that the English name is a correct rendering of the Indian form. Cf. Ani’-Gila’hi.

Lowrey, Major George—see Agili.

Mayes, J.B.—see Tsa’wa Gak’ski.

Moytoy

• a Cherokee chief recognized by the English as "emperor" in 1730. Both the correct form and the meaning of the name are uncertain; the name occurs again as Moyatoy in a document of 1793; a boy upon the East Cherokee reservation a few years ago bore the name of Ma’tayi, for which no meaning can be found or given.

Nellawgitehi

• given as the name of a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684. The correct form and meaning are both uncertain, but the final part seems to be the common suffix didi’, "killer." Cf. Ta’gwadiahi’.

Nenetooyah—see Iskagua.

Nettle-carrier—see Tale’danigi’ski.

Nunna’hi-dihi’

• (abbreviated Nun’na-dihi’) "Pathkiller," literally, "he kills (habitually) in the path," from nun’nahi, path, and ahihi’, "he kills" (habitually); "I am killing," tsi’ihu’. A principal chief, about the year 1813. Major John Ridge was originally known by the same name, but afterward took the name, Gunun’da le’gi, "One who follows the ridge," which the whites made simply Ridge.

Nunna’hi-tsune’ga

• (abbreviated) Nunna-tsune’ga "white path," from nunna’hi, path, and tsune’ga, plural of une’ga, white; the form is the plural, as is common in Indian names, and has probably a symbolic reference to the "white" or peaceful paths spoken of in the opening invocation at the green corn dance. A noted chief who led the conservative party about 1828.

Oconostota—see Agansta’ta.

Old Tassel—see Utsi’dsata’.

Otacite, Otassite—see Outacity.

Owasta

• given as the name of a Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.

Outacity

• given in documents as the name or title of a prominent Cherokee chief about 1720. It appears also as Otacite, Ottassite, Outassatah, Wootassite and Wrosetasatow(!), but the form cannot be identified, although it seems to contain the personal name suffix diha’, "killer." Timberlake says: "There are some other honorary titles among them, conferred in reward of great actions; the first of which is Outacity or "Man-killer," and the second Colona or "The Raven."

Path-killer—see Nuna’hi-dihi’.

Reid, Jesse—see Tse’si-Ska’tsi.

Ridge, Major John—see Nunna’hi-dihi’.

Ross, John—see Gu’wisguwi’.

Sadayi’

• a feminine name, the proper name of the woman known to the whites as Annie Ax; it cannot be translated.

Sala’li

• squirrel; the common gray squirrel; other varieties are kiyu ga, the ground squirrel, and tewa, the flying squirrel; Sala’li was also the name of an East Cherokee inventor who died a few years ago; Sala’lani’ta "Young-squirrels," is a masculine personal name on the reservation.

Sawanu’gi

• "Shawano" (Indian); a masculine personal name upon the East Cherokee reservation and prominent in the history of the band. See Ani’-Sawanu’gi and Ka’lahu’.

Sawnook—see Ka’lahu’.

Sequoya—see Sikwayi.

Sevier—see Tsan’-usdi’ [Tsan uga sita].

Shoe-boots—see Da’si giya’gi.

Sikwa’yi

• a masculine name, commonly written Sequoya, made famous as that of the inventor of the Cherokee alphabet. The name, which cannot be translated, is still in use upon the East Cherokee reservation.

Sikwi’a

• a masculine name, the Cherokee corruption for Sevier. See also Tsan-usdi’ [Tsan uga sita].

Spray, H. W.—see Wilsini’.

Stand Watie—see De’gataga.

Stringfield—see Tlage’si.

Suye’ta

• "the Chosen One," from asuye’ta, "he is chosen," gasu’yeu, "I am choosing"; the same form, suye’ta, could also mean mixed, from gasu’yahu, "I am mixing it." A masculine name at present borne by a prominent ex-chief and informant upon the East Cherokee reservation.

Swimmer—see Ayun’ini.

Ta’gwadihi’

• (abbreviated Ta’gwadi’) "Catawba-killer," from Ata’gwa or Ta’gwa, Cattawba Indian, and dihihi’, "he kills them" (habitually), from tsi’ihu’, "I kill." An old masculine name, still in use upon the East Cherokee reservation. It was the proper name of the chief known to the whites about 1790 as "The Glass," from a confusion of this name with adake’ti, glass, or mirror.

Takatoka—see De’gata’ga.

Tale’danigi’ski

• (Utale’danigi’si in a dialectic form) variously rendered by the whites "Hemp-carrier," "Nettle-carrier" or "flax-toter," from tale’ta or utale’ta, flax (Linum) or richweed (Pilea pumila), and danigi’ski, "he carries them" (habitually). A former prominent chief on Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.

Talihina

• given as the name of the Cherokee wife of Samuel Houston; the form cannot be identified.

Tal-tsu’ska’

• "Two-heads," fro ta’li, two, and tsu’ska’, plural of uska’, (his) head. A Cherokee chief about the year 1800, known to the whites as Doublehead.

Taluntiski—see Ata’lunti’ski.

Tassel, Old—see Utsi’dsata’.

Tatsi’

• "Dutch," also written Tahchee, a western Cherokee chief about 1830.

Tawa’li-ukwanun’ti

• "Punk-plugged-in," from tawa’li, punk; the Cherokee name of a traditional Shawano chief.

Terrapin—see Tuksi’.

Thomas, W.H.—see Wil-usdi’.

Tlage’si

• "Field"; the Cherokee name for Lieutenant-Colonel W.W. Stringfield of Waynesville, NC, one of the officers of the Cherokee contingent in the Thomas Legion. It is an abbreviated rendering of his proper name.

Tollunteeskee—see Ata’lunti’ski.

Tooantuh—see Du’stu’.

Tas’ladihi’

• Chief N.J. Smith of the East Cherokee. The name might be rendered "Charley-killer," from Tsali, "Charley," and dihi’, "killer" (in composition), but is really a Cherokee equivalent for Jarrett (Tsaladi’), his middle name, by which he was frequently addressed. Cf. Tagwadihi.

Tsa’li

• Charley; a Cherokee shot for resisting the troops at the time of Removal.

Tsan-uga’sita

• "Sour John"; the Cherokee name for General John Sevier, and also the boy name of the Chief John ross, afterward known as Gu’wis-guwi’, q.v. Sikwi’a, a Cherokee attempt at "Sevier," is a masculine name upon the East Cherokee reservation.

Tsasta’wi

• a noted hunter formerly living upon Nantahala river, in Macon county, North Carolina; the meaning of the name is doubtful.

Tsa’wa Gakski

• Joe Smoker, from Tsawa, "Joe," and gakski, "smoker," from ga’gisku, "I am smoking." The Cherokee name for Chief Joel B. Mayes, of the Cherokee Nation west.

Tsek’sini’

• a Cherokee form for the name of General Andrew Jackson.

Tse’si-Ska’tsi

• "Scotch Jesse"; Jesse Reid, present chief of the East Cherokee, so-called because of mixed Scotch ancestry.

Tsi’nawi

• a Cherokee wheelwright, perhaps the first in the Nation to make a spinning-wheel and loom. The name cannot be analyzed.

Tsi’yi-gunsi’ni

• "He is dragging a canoe," from tsi’yu, canoe (cf. Tsi’yu) otter, and gunsi’ni, "he is dragging it." "Dragging Canoe," a prominent leader of the hostile Cherokee in the Revolution. The name appears in documents as Cheucunsene and Kunnesee.

Tskil-e’gwa

• "Big-witch," from atsikili’, or tskilu’, witch, owl, and e’gwa, big; an old man of the East Cherokee, who died in 1896. Although translated Big-witch by the whites, the name is understood by the Indians to mean Big-owl, having been originally applied to a white man living on the same clearing, and noted for his large staring eyes.

Tsunu’lahun’ski

• "He tries, but fails" (habitually), from detsinu’lahun’ski (q.v.), "I tried, but failed." A former noted chief among the East Cherokee, commonly known to the whites as Junaluska. In early life he was called Gulkala’ski, a name which denotes something habitually falling from a leaning position (cf. Ata-gul kalu’ and Tsul kalu’).

Tuksi’

• the terrapin or land tortoise; also the name of a Cherokee chief about the close of the Revolution. Saligu’gi, common turtle; soft-shell turtle, U’lana’wa.

Tuna’i

• a traditional warrior and medicine man of old Itsa’ti; the name cannot be analyzed.

Unacala—see Une’gadihi’.

Une’ga-dihi’

• "White-man killer"; from une’ga, "white," for yun’wune’ga, "white person," and dihi’, a noun suffix denoting "killer" ("he kills them" (habitually)). A Cherokee chief, whose name appears on the documents about 1790.

Unli’ta

• "(He is) long-winded," an archaic form for the regular word, gunli’ta; an old masculine name. A chief about the year 1790, known to the whites as "The Breath."

Untoola—see Dihyun’dula’.

Uskwale’na

• "Big-Head," from uska’, head; a masculine name, perhaps the original of the "Bull-head," given by Haywood as the name of a former noted Cherokee warrior.

Uskwa’li-gu’ta

• "His stomach hangs down," from uskwa’li, his stomach, and gu’ta, "it hangs down." A prominent chief of the Revolutionary period, known to the whites as Hanging-maw.

U’tsala

• "Lichen"; another form of utsale’ta. A Cherokee chief of Removal period in 1838.

Utsi’dsata’

• "Corn-tassel," "Thistle-head," etc. It is used as a masculine name, and was probably the Cherokee name of the chief of Revolutionary times, known as "Old Tassel."

Washesa—see Watsi’su.

Wasi’yahi

• a feminine name of doubtful etymology. An expert basket-making woman among the East Cherokee, who died in 1895. She was known to the whites as Mrs. Bushyhead.

Wafford—see Tsuskwanun’ta. Entry not found

Wahnenauhi—see Wani’nahi (below).

Wani’nahi’

• a feminine name of uncertain etymology; the Wahnenauhi of the Wahnenauhi manuscript.

Washington—see Wa’situ’na.

Wa’si

• the Cherokee form for Moses.

Wa’situ’na, Wa’suntu’na (different dialect forms)

• a Cherokee known to the whites as Washington, the sole survivor of a Removal tragedy. The name denotes a hollow log (or other cylindrical object) lying on the ground at a distance; the root of the word is asi’ta, log, and the w prefix indicates distance.

Watsi’sa

• a prominent old Cherokee, known to the whites as Wachesa, a name which cannot be translated, who formerly lived on Beaverdam creek of Hiwassee river, below Murphy, in Cherokee county, N.C. From the fact that the Unicoi turnpike passed near his place, it was locally known as Wachesa trail.

Welch, Lloyd—see Da’si’giya’gi.

White-path—see Nunna’hi-tsune’ga.

Wilsini’

• The Cherokee name for H.W. Spray, agent and superintendent for the East Cherokee reservation; an adaptation of his middle name, Wilson.

Wil-usdi’

• "Little Will," from Wili’, Will and usdi’ga or usdi’, little. The Cherokee name for Colonel W. H. Thomas, for many years the recognized chief of the eastern band.

Wootassite—see Outacity.

Wrosetasatow—see Outacity.

Yan-e’gwa

• "Big-Bear," from yanu, bear, and egwa, great, large. A prominent chief about the year 1800; the name occurs in treaties as Yonah, Yohanaqua and Yonahequah.

Yanugun’ski

• "the bear drowns him" (habitually), from yanu, bear, and tsigun’iska’, "I am drowning him." A noted East Cherokee chief, known to the whites as Yonaguska or Drowning-bear.

Yohanaqua—see Yan-e’gwa.

Yonaguska—see Ya’nugun’ski.

Yonah

• 2. An abbreviated treaty form for the name of the chief Yana’gwa.

Yonahequah—see Yan-e’gwa.

Yun’wi-usga’se’ti

• "dangerous man, terrible man"; a traditional leader in the wesward migration of Cherokee.