Sorry about the misunderstanding - it underlines the importance of people asking PRECISE questions. If I take the French words "des moines" and translate them into English, they just mean "monks". That this meaning may have nothing to do with the place
This is the first time I've used this and I couldn't be more impressed!!!!! Thank you all for all this wonderful information!!!! My last name, "Butt", is British. As you might guess, I don't like the British and I have to spit everytime I say either Britsh or Butt. My Britsh ancestors, if there really were any, came to this continent in the late 1600's. All my Red ancestors declared themselves "White" after about 1830 when Red people were stripped from the right to own property. I forget the Act that made that so. Anyway, my mother is part French ("Guyer" was her maiden name - a corruption of the French/Swiss Cheese)so I've taken to calling myself Derriere. Everything sounds better when you're saying it in French!!!! In fact I live on 40 acres that I call "Chateau de Derriere"! I'm sure you all will understand that! I live near a town called Maquoketa, Iowa. Some say that's an Indigenous (Red) word the meaning of which has to do with Bear's. Do any of you know what the word "Maquoketa" really means??? Thanks again for all this wonderful information! I couldn't be more appreciative.
Thank you Brigitte for adding your comment. As you see, things may not be as obvious as they seem. Historians are still debating the origin of the name.
Hi Dennis, sorry for writing my comment partly in French. Des Moines doesn't mean "I'm a monk". I was just saying that for joking because my family name is Moine (my dad's French). Maybe the name originates from "city of monks"??? La ville des moines? :-)
I'm what you would probably refer to as an American Indian. Really, I'm a Shawnee. I live in East Iowa where my great grandfather came from Ohio as the Red people were pushed West. I liver where my grandfather and father grew up. The French frequently this area prior to the British invasion and there are many places with French names including Des Moines. The meanings of these names is fascinating to me. I try to get as many translated as I can. As I understand it, Des Moines means "I'm a Monk". I wonder how that name was bestowed on that place. Thanks for your interest.
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