Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Massabarkem (Gravesend Neck)

Massabarkem is a Gravesend Neck placename in Kings County, connected with a 1650 confirmatory deed and related forms later discussed as Maseebackhun or Massebackhun. The placename belongs to the Gravesend Neck landscape in present-day Brooklyn. Related scholarship connects Maseebackhun or Massebackhun with a land transaction involving Tomasurtum, Arree, Mackbans, Chippahicke, and Sywosson. Related forms include Massabarkem, Maseebackhun, Massebackhun, and the OCR-like Massabarkern. The etymology remains uncertain and should not be presented as a confirmed translation. Why Place Names Matter “Place names are tied to the past, but they are maintained through daily usage.” — Oregon Department of Education, Place and Remembrance: We Continue To Use Our Own Names (2024), Lesson text, PDF page 5