Walamette
/wəˈlæmət/noun
A historical variant spelling of Willamette, the name of a river, valley, and region in Oregon.
Did you know?The name was recorded in several competing spellings, including Wallamet, Walamet, and Walamette, reflecting attempts by French and English speakers to represent an Indigenous pronunciation.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-19th Century
Indigenous source
Uncertain oral form
“The name likely originated in an Indigenous language of the lower Willamette Valley, but its original form and meaning are disputed.”
19th Century
French/English records
Wallamet
“An early colonial spelling used for the river and surrounding region.”
19th Century
English
Walamet
“A shortened historical spelling of the same regional name.”
19th Century
English
Walamette
“A variant spelling appearing in historical maps and written records.”
Modern English
English
Willamette
“The standardized modern spelling for the river, valley, and related Oregon place-names.”
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