The Delaware (as the English called them), also known as the Lenni Lenape, are a tribe the Northeastern Woodlands. The Delaware people have a rich cultural heritage that is seen in the many names that have defined their social and geographic distribution.
Origins of the Delaware Name
The Delaware River, so named in honor of Virginia's second governor, Lord Delaware, is where the name "Delaware" originates. The Delaware people are known by a variety of other names, though, which are a reflection of their varied contacts as well as the viewpoints of nearby tribes and settlers:
Abnaki (Wabanaki): Meaning "Easterners," this term refers to the Delaware’s position relative to other Algonquian tribes. It’s essential to differentiate this from the Abnaki of Maine.
A-ko-tca-ka'nea: The Mohawk term meaning "One who stammers in his speech," with similar names used by the Oneida and Tuscarora.
Delua (Delaas): A Spanish adaptation used in Texas.
Anakwanoki: A Cherokee attempt at the Wabanaki name.
Lenni Lenape: Their self-designation meaning "true men" or "standard men," highlighting their identity as "original people."
Loup: French for "wolf," a name given by French settlers.
Mattawa (Matha, Mathwa): The Nanticoke term for the Delaware.
Nar-wah-ro: The Wichita name for the Delaware.
Tca-ka'-nea: A shortened form of the Mohawk name mentioned above.
Historical Location of the Delaware
The Delaware people lived in a large territorial region that included several of the modern states and locations:
New Jersey: The entire state was originally part of Delaware territory.
Long Island: Specifically, the western end.
Staten Island and Manhattan: Included in their traditional lands.
New York: Parts west of the Hudson River.
Pennsylvania: Eastern sections.
Delaware: Northern parts.
Neighbor Tribes in History
Munsee (Minassiniu, Minisink, Minsi, et al.)
Meaning "people of the stoney country," the Munsee subtribe had a somewhat independent identity and included groups such as Catskill, Mamekoting, and Waoranec. Four Munsee tribes were collectively known as the Esopus.
Unami (Wename)
Known as "people down river," the Unami subtribe's name first appeared in records from 1757. Before their resettlement to Oklahoma, they were known for groups like Aquackanonk, Assunpink, and Hackensack.
Unalachtigo
The name translates to "people near the ocean." Some sources conflate this subtribe with the Nanticoke due to cultural similarities. They included groups like Amimenipaty and Hopokohacking.
The Lenape, whose roots trace back over 11,000 years, inhabited and controlled a sprawling territory that extended from present-day upstate New York down to Delaware. Their named the territory Lenapehoking, which translates to "land of the Lenape." This name, of course, reflects their deep historic connection to the land.
