09/23/2026
🌿 Honoring Native American Heritage — Chocowinity, NC 🌿
In recognition of Native American Day, we take a moment to remember the Native peoples whose history is woven into the story of Eastern North Carolina.
Did you know the name Chocowinity has Native American roots?
The community was originally known as Godley’s Crossroads, but by the late 1800s the name Chocowinity had come into use, taken from the nearby creek.
Historical sources identify the name as likely having Tuscarora origins. (Stock photo attached). The traditional local interpretation of “Chocowinity” is “fish from many waters.” According to a story dating to 1928, Rev. N.C. Hughes was told this meaning by a Native American man he met in South Carolina.
There is also a later linguistic interpretation that connects the name to the Tuscarora word “chackauene,” meaning “otter.”
Whatever interpretation you follow, the name serves as a reminder that Chocowinity's story reaches back long before the community we know today.
Today, we honor the Native peoples who lived on and cared for these lands and recognize the enduring influence of their history and culture. 🌿❤️
Happy Native American Day!