Mohawk
/ˈmoʊ.hɑːk/noun
A member of a Native American people of the northeastern United States and Canada; also, the Iroquoian language they speak.
Did you know?The English name Mohawk is an exonym, likely filtered through Algonquian-speaking neighbors and colonial spelling, while the people call themselves Kanienʼkehá꞉ka, meaning “People of the Flint.”
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Contact
Mohawk
Kanienʼkehá꞉ka
“The people’s own name, meaning “People of the Flint.””
17th Century
French/English
Mohawk
“A colonial name recorded for the people of the Mohawk Valley region.”
17th Century
French
Mohawk
“A spelling used by French writers for the group, reflecting an exonym rather than the people’s autonym.”
18th-19th Century
English
Mohawk
“The established English name for the Mohawk people and their language.”
20th Century
English
mohawk
“Also used for a hairstyle, by metaphorical extension from the people’s name.”