Marquesas Islands names
Encyclopedia
The Marquesas Islands
were the first of the island
groups discovered by European
ist of explorerin the Pacific. Over the centuries, these Polynesia
n islands have been variously known by a number of names.
The islands are known in Marquesan
variously as Te Henua Kenana or Te Henua ‘Enana in North Marquesan and Te Fenua ‘Enata in South Marquesan.
The name "Islas de la Marquesa de Mendoza" was given them by the first European visitor, the Spanish
explorer and navigator
, Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira
, in honor of the wife of the Viceroy of Perú
, upon his discovery thereof, in 1595. She was the patron of the voyage.
The islands are divided roughly into two groups, along geographical, linguistic
, and cultural
lines, into the Northern Marquesas and Southern Marquesas, each comprising an approximately equal number of islands and shoals.
While there is no native Marquesan name to differentiate between the northern and southern groups, they have been differentiated as such, at least by American
navigators, historically, by the names "Washington Islands" to refer to the northern Marquesas, and "Mendaña Islands" to refer to the southern Marquesas.
Following is a list of the islands, giving first their most widely-accepted Marquesan names, followed by variants:
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
were the first of the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
groups discovered by European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
ist of explorerin the Pacific. Over the centuries, these Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n islands have been variously known by a number of names.
The islands are known in Marquesan
Marquesan language
Marquesan is a collection of East-Central Polynesian dialects, of the Marquesic group, spoken in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. They are usually classified into two groups, North Marquesan and South Marquesan, roughly along geographic lines....
variously as Te Henua Kenana or Te Henua ‘Enana in North Marquesan and Te Fenua ‘Enata in South Marquesan.
The name "Islas de la Marquesa de Mendoza" was given them by the first European visitor, the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
explorer and navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
, Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira
Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira
Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira was a Spanish navigator. Born in Congosto, in León, he was the nephew of Lope García de Castro, viceroy of Peru...
, in honor of the wife of the Viceroy of Perú
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
, upon his discovery thereof, in 1595. She was the patron of the voyage.
The islands are divided roughly into two groups, along geographical, linguistic
Marquesan language
Marquesan is a collection of East-Central Polynesian dialects, of the Marquesic group, spoken in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. They are usually classified into two groups, North Marquesan and South Marquesan, roughly along geographic lines....
, and cultural
Marquesan culture
The Marquesas Islands were colonized by sea-faring Polynesians as early as 300 A.D., thought to originate from Samoa. The dense population was concentrated in the narrow valleys, and consisted of warring tribes, who sometimes cannibalized their enemies....
lines, into the Northern Marquesas and Southern Marquesas, each comprising an approximately equal number of islands and shoals.
While there is no native Marquesan name to differentiate between the northern and southern groups, they have been differentiated as such, at least by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
navigators, historically, by the names "Washington Islands" to refer to the northern Marquesas, and "Mendaña Islands" to refer to the southern Marquesas.
Following is a list of the islands, giving first their most widely-accepted Marquesan names, followed by variants:
- EiaoEiaoEiao is the largest of the extreme northwestern Marquesas Islands. The island was discovered in 1791 by the American navigator Joseph Ingraham, who named it Knox Island in honor of the then-current United States Secretary of War, Henry Knox...
- Fremantle
- Knox
- Masse
- Robert
- Hiaou
- Iau
- HatutuHatutuHatutu is a small island approximately 3 km northeast of Eiao in the northern Marquesas Islands....
- Hatutaa
- Hatoutou
- Chanal
- Hancock
- Langdon
- Motu One
- Sable
- Îlot de Sable
- Lincoln
- Motu Iti
- Hatu Iti
- Nuku HivaNuku HivaNuku Hiva is the largest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It was formerly also known as Île Marchand and Madison Island....
- Nukuhiva
- Nukahiva
- Adams
- Baux
- Marchand
- Ua HukaUa HukaUa Huka is one of the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is situated in the northern group of the archipelago, approximately . to the east of Nuku Hiva, at .-Name:...
(including Motu Papa and Epiti)- Uahuka
- Huahuna
- Riou
- Roahonga
- Solide
- Ua PuUa PuUa Pu is the third largest of the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 50 km south of Nuku Hiva, in the northern Marquesas...
(including Motu Mohoke and Motu ‘OaMotu OaMotu Oa is a small island, southeast of Ua Pu, in the northern Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia....
)- Ua Pou
- Uapou
- Uapu
- Huapu
- Adams
- Marchand
- Fatu Uku
- Fatuhuku
- Fatuuku
- Fatou Houkou
- Hiva ‘OaHiva OaHiva Oa is the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest island of the Southern Marquesas group. According to local religion, the gods created the islands as their home. Therefore all islands have...
(including HanakeeHanakeeHanakee is the name of a small rocky islet lying off the southern coast of Hiva Oa, separating Atuona Bay from Ta‘a Oa.The island's only vegetation is some small shrubs and grasses.-See also:*Marquesas Islands*French Polynesia...
)- Hivaoa
- Hiva Hoa
- Hiavaoa
- Dominica
- TahuataTahuataTahuata is the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is located 4 km to the south of the western end of Hiva Oa, across the Canal du Bordelais, called Ha‘ava in Marquesan.-Administration:Administratively,...
- Taahuata
- Tuhuata
- Santa Christina
- Moho TaniMoho TaniMohotani is an uninhabited island southeast of Hiva Oa and east of Tahuata in the southern Marquesas Islands. It has an area of 15 km². Much of the island's sparse vegetation has been destroyed by feral goats and sheep, to the extent that following its rare rains, the sea around it is stained...
- Motane
- Mohotane
- San Pedro
- Fatu HivaFatu HivaFatu Hiva is the southernmost of the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean...
- Fatu Iva
- Fatouhiva
- Magdalena
- Motu NaoMotu NaoMotu Nao is the Marquesan name for a small rock island in the southeastern Marquesas Islands, approximately northeast of Fatu Hiva. The French name for the island is Rocher Thomasset, which in English is Thomasset Rock....
- Thomasset Rock
- Rocher Thomasset
- Ariane Rock