Marshall McClung
Although Graham County was named for William Alexander Graham – who was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly – it was the Cherokees who named many sections of this area, long before white settlers arrived here.
Visitors to Graham County might find the names to be unusual – but when you find what the names means in the Cherokee language, there is nothing unusual about it:
* Atoah: “Aqua” is said to mean “big,” as in referring to big-game animals such as bear and deer;
* Cheoah: is said to mean “otter;”
* Santeetlah: Some of the Cherokees say that the word Santeetlah is not in their language. Some declare that it means “Blue Water.” The closest word the Cherokee have in their language would be “Nayuhi Geyuni,” or “Sand Place Stream;”
* Snowbird: “Tutiiyi,” means “Snowbird Place;”
* Squally: Squally Creek was said to be named for a Cherokee family by that name that was living there when white settlers arrived;
* Stecoah: “Steekaoah” means “Little Fat,” or small game;
* Tallulah: “Talulu,” the noise one species of frog makes;
* Teyahalee Bald: The Cherokee name for Joanna Bald means “Lizard;”
* Tuskeegee: The Cherokees say that this word is not in their language. The closest word from their language would be “Tu Ski Gi,” which would refer to the settlement there. The Cherokees say the word is from the Taskigi tribe that once lived near the present-day Tuskeegee community.
* Wauchecha: The actual correct spelling is “Wachacha,” said to mean the sound a grasshopper makes.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs@email.com.