1863: “Oregon” is ‘gold bottom’ in Irish!?
Just to add to the confusing mix of theories about where the name “Oregon” came from…
Image credit: Ode A La Rose
Here’s an early claim that both “Oregon” & “California” are from the Irish Gaelic language!
ANOTHER DERIVATION . — The Leavenworth
Bulletin, of Oct. 7th. publishes an extract from
a letter written by an Irish resident of Kansas
to his friends in Ireland, in which he notices
the similar sounds existing in common Irish
words with those found in the Indian language ;
from which the writer concludes that the an-
cient Gaelic race formerly had possession of
this continent and left evident traces of their
language. Among other words instanced, is
Oregon, which, in the Gaelic, was Or eagan.
and signified, Gold Bottom. In like manner.
California was in the Gaelic, Cailiv or, and sig-
nified Gold Woods.
— from the Oregon City (OR) Oregon Statesman of November 23, 1863, page 2, column 6
There are many competing suggestions about the etymology of ‘Oregon’, including one that it might reflect the Chinook Jargon word ooligan ‘candlefish’.
The best known candidate, though, is some Eastern Algonquian language, far from the place itself.
