What Does “Shenandoah” Mean?

IT’S HISTORY. IT’S MYTH.

Our community is located at a northern edge of the famed Shenandoah Valley. Named for the river that runs almost its entire length, the Valley is known for its natural wonders – thick forested mountains, lush valleys, rivers, streams, and wide, colorful caverns. Its historical and cultural importance is derived in part from its many Revolutionary War and Civil War sites.

The name “Shenandoah” is of Native American origin. This is undisputed, but theories about its direct source are many. Did it evolve from the name of Iroquoian chief Sherando, or was it named for Sheewa-a-nee, the son of Sherando’s Algonquian enemy, Opechencanough?  Is its inspiration Oneida Chief Skenando, who aided George Washington’s army at Valley Forge? Does it come from the word schin-han-dowi (“river through the spruces”), or from on-an-da-goa (“river of high mountains”)?

Scientific speculations such as these continue to engage historians and etymologists, but romantics are drawn to this Native American myth:

“After the Great Spirit had made the world, the morning stars came together on the shores of a quiet silver lake bordered with blue mountains — the most beautiful place they could see. Hovering above the quiet waters and lighting the mountain top with their robes of fire, the stars sang their songs of joy and,,,placed the brightest jewels from their crowns there in the water where they still lie and sparkle.”  

According to this myth, Shenandoah means “Daughter of the Stars.” We must confess that we love to watch the stars shimmer over Lake Frederick, and we don’t mind thinking sometimes in magical terms of our place here in the Valley.