Hauppauge's Origins: Sweet Water or Overflowed Land?

Hauppauge residents are familiar with the question, "Hauppauge? What does that mean?"

The word "Hauppauge" is of Algonquian, a Native American language, origin. Through the centuries there have been two interpretations. One is the popular "Land of Sweet Water" and the other is "Overflowed Land".

In his manuscript "A History of Hauppauge, Long Island, N.Y." published in 1920, Simeon Wood wrote, "In the poetic language of a race famed for its eloquence, the place was called Hauppauge (the land of sweet waters)." 

However, Christoper D'Antonio, a student of Hauppauge history, said when Jack Marr republished Wood's work, he added a footnote referencing William Wallace (W.W.) Tooker's interpretation. In Tooker's "The Indian Place-Names on Long Island and Islands Adjacent, With Their Probable Significations" published in 1911, he claimed the strict translation was "Overflowed Land".

Local historian Noel Gish said the Algonquians had two different dialects, and the language was pretty much lost by the time the books were written. Even an expert such as Tooker could only give what he thought was his best interpretation.

"Our definition is what we think they meant by it," said Gish.

Hauppauge's numerous bodies of water probably backed up those who believed in the "Overflowed Land" translation. The area is at the headwaters of the Nissequogue River, and Hidden Pond and Stump Pond exist in the vicinity as well as others bodies of water. There is also water running between the county buildings, and at one point on the same site, Sanford's pond existed.

However, when these bodies of water overflowed, they provided sweet water to the area's settlers. There were also numerous springs in the area during earlier times.

"To a Native American surrounded by salt water there was a difference between salt and fresh. And fresh was sweet, especially if it came from the underground springs tasting cold and pure after running through the vast sand layers that make up Long Island," Gish said.

Imagine if another name stuck. For a short period, Hauppauge was actually called "The Wheelers". Thomas Wheeler was the first resident in the area, and around 1740 he built his house at the intersection of Route 111 and Townline Road. According to Wood's book, his brother Timothy built his home a mile away.

Gish said "The Wheelers" caught on simply because when people were headed for the area they would say, "We're going to the Wheelers." According to him, once more people moved to the area, the town's name reverted back to Hauppauge.

Maybe the answer to the question is simply what Wood wrote a hundred years ago, "The name is unique, and so is this place."