Sinnikens, or any of the variations thereof in the mss is
not a Dutch word. Rather it represents the Dutch use of one
of the Iroquois tribal names to designate all Iroquois
tribes west of the Mohawks, i.e., Oneida, Cayuga, Onnandaga,
and, of course, the Seneca.

Charles Gehring
New Netherland Project

On Sun, 6 Sep 1998, David Minor wrote:

> I've been told that the non-Clsasical origin of the tribal designation
> "Seneca" was a Dutch word "sinniker" (variant spelling very possible, I
> heard the explanation orally) referring to "people west of the Mohawks").
> Can anyone on the list provide the correct spelling and translation of the
> Dutch word?
>
> TIA for any help,
> David Minor
>
> David Minor
> Eagles Byte Historical Research
> Rochester, New York
> 716 264-0423
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>
> http://home.eznet.net/~dminor
>