Allamakee

English

Etymology

The origin of the name is uncertain, with local lore ascribing it to a Native American trader named Allan Makee^[1] and other sources suggesting that it derives from an Algonquian language term for the Thunder clan of the Sac/Fox people; compare Fox nenemehkiwa (“thunder”) and Ojibwe animikii (“thunderer”) (alternation of l and n is common in Algonquian languages and in words borrowed into or from them).^[2]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /æ.lə.mə.ki/, /ɑ.lə.mə.ki/

Proper noun

Allamakee

The northeastern-most county in the state of Iowa in the United States.

References

^ Henry Gannett, in The origin of certain place names in the United States, writes "the Iowa Historical Society says it was named for Allen Makee, an Indian trader"
^ William Bright, Native American Placenames of the United States

[1]
[2]

[1] Henry Gannett, in The origin of certain place names in the United States, writes "the Iowa Historical Society says it was named for Allen Makee, an Indian trader"

[2] William Bright, Native American Placenames of the United States

[1]

[2]