To examine the place names of Atlantic Canada is to recognize that they encompass, in the broadest of outlines, a history of the region. It is also to conclude that they shed valuable light on the cultural evolution of the people who, during the far, middle, and nearer horizons of history, wrested a living from a sometimes inhospitable landscape. As windows reflect the passing scene, so, too, do the place names assigned by those who once inhabited these shores.

The first place names on the far horizon were bestowed by the original inhabitants, the Amerindian and Inuit peoples. It is...

Aboujagane River (Westmorland) Flows into the northumberland strait, east of shediac. William Francis Ganong attributes the name to unknown Mi’kmaq sources; it appears asNaboujaganin the 1812 journal of Bishop Joseph-Octave Plessis (1763–1825). Highway 930, which roughly parallels the lower section of the river, is known locally as ‘the Aboujagane Trail.’ Haute-Aboujagane and Basse-Aboujagane, on the east and west sides of the river, respectively, were adopted as post-office names in 1953. See also beaubassin east.

Acadians Range (Northumberland) South of the nepisiguit river. The name was first put forward in 1899 by William Francis Ganong as a means...

Abrahams Cove (Western) On the south side of the port au port peninsula. The baptismal name of an early Acadian settler is probably the derivation. The surname Abraham is also found in Newfoundland. See also abrams village, Prince Edward Island.

Adlavik; Adlavik Bay; Adlavik Islands (Labrador) Northwest of cape harrison. Applied first to the bay and harbour, and later to the offshore islands. The name is of Inuit origin and has been translated by E.P. Wheeler as the ‘place of killing Indians.’

Adlavik BaySeeAdlavik.

Adlavik IslandsSeeAdlavik.

Admirals Cove (Avalon) North of ferryland. This place name and...

Aalder IslandSeeAldersville.

Aalders Lang MeadowSeeAldersville.

Abercrombie (Pictou) On a point jutting into PICTOU harbour. This district was settled in the late eighteenth century by emigrants from Scotland. The name, of Scottish origin, commemorates the career of Captain James Abercrombie of the 42nd Regiment of the Royal Highlanders. This regiment was later to be popularly known as the Black Watch, so called because of the dark colour of its tartan. Abercrombie served as aide-de-camp to General Jeffrey Amherst during the American Revolution and was killed in action at the battle of Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775.

Aconi...

Abegweit PassageSeechapter 1, page 33.

Abells Cape (Kings) Extends into ROLLO BAY, between Howe Point and Rollo Point. First named in the Samuel Holland survey of 1765Eglington[sic]Point,for Alexander Montgomerie (1723–1769), tenth Earl of Eglinton. It was renamed Abells Cape in the early nineteenth century, as a historical reminder of an incident involving a land agent, Edward Abell, and a tenant farmer, Patrick Pearce. According to a contemporary newspaper account, Pearce owned a fine carriage horse, coveted by Mrs. Abell. When Pearce refused to sell the horse, Abell demanded immediate payment of the annual...