Early Native American Names for Long Island
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK HISTORY
OF COLONIAL TIMES.
The names by which Long Island was called
by the Indians were various. Among them
were Mattanwake, Meitowax, Sewanhacky
(Island of Shells), Paumanake, etc. By rea-
son of its form the early settlers applied to
the island its present name. The colonial Legis-
lature in 1693 changed it to Nassau, in honor of
William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and required that
all legal instruments should recognize that name. It
never acquired more than a partial use, and though the
act is unrepealed the name is obsolete. 