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Can any oen tell me about the name Viroqua.It is my middle name and would like any information about the name. like where it came from what does it mean. I am a female
Thank you
Joyce Frederick
Thank you
Joyce Frederick
1
Replies
A likely (possible) history for the origins of the name Viroqua
There was a book published in 1848, about a native American Indian named Viroqua.
The Book is titled: Viroqua: Or, The Flower Of The Ottawas: A Tale Of The West, by Emma Carra
“In this gripping Western tale, Emma Carra spins a yarn about the Ottawas, a tribe of Native Americans in the Old West. When a young woman from the tribe is kidnapped, a group of warriors sets out to rescue her and bring her back home. Along the way, they encounter dangerous outlaws, harsh weather, and unexpected allies.”
My grand niece, Viroqua, was named after her second great grandmother (born about 1910), whose grandmother was also named Viroqua (born about 1862 — just 15 years before the book was published). Perhaps the name, Viroqua, was chosen based on the lead character of this book?
You can read the book online:
https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafT1a5TFvCkK0bb9zigFe0X7rDo1ePyy2d12Jdpc02hRCgggSTd9SN77XmMjfhFFg8aWXf7b6jlUnAeCbvwkk-PJUzBKTrtaudTn27ic4gA48kpHAzKsHWl-Zio-whs9sBX_awCCOdq4lqMvcOphAj5AQdDmHMsycP8ieWRapfmYx4l1h9U12blG3PZ77-MN9_smDtkbDa9pW3m7hhidDif5Gy0RKSLiTxmDiJuX1h0ITFoxWmnjuPpCfUCxfoPMR9f0qkx
There was a book published in 1848, about a native American Indian named Viroqua.
The Book is titled: Viroqua: Or, The Flower Of The Ottawas: A Tale Of The West, by Emma Carra
“In this gripping Western tale, Emma Carra spins a yarn about the Ottawas, a tribe of Native Americans in the Old West. When a young woman from the tribe is kidnapped, a group of warriors sets out to rescue her and bring her back home. Along the way, they encounter dangerous outlaws, harsh weather, and unexpected allies.”
My grand niece, Viroqua, was named after her second great grandmother (born about 1910), whose grandmother was also named Viroqua (born about 1862 — just 15 years before the book was published). Perhaps the name, Viroqua, was chosen based on the lead character of this book?
You can read the book online:
https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafT1a5TFvCkK0bb9zigFe0X7rDo1ePyy2d12Jdpc02hRCgggSTd9SN77XmMjfhFFg8aWXf7b6jlUnAeCbvwkk-PJUzBKTrtaudTn27ic4gA48kpHAzKsHWl-Zio-whs9sBX_awCCOdq4lqMvcOphAj5AQdDmHMsycP8ieWRapfmYx4l1h9U12blG3PZ77-MN9_smDtkbDa9pW3m7hhidDif5Gy0RKSLiTxmDiJuX1h0ITFoxWmnjuPpCfUCxfoPMR9f0qkx
1
Viroqua is a town in Wisconsin, created not by Indians of the area (everything exotic in America gets 'Indian' slapped on it sooner or later) but by a white settler. The name was suggested some time later, possibly from a riverboat in the area called Viroqua (which some of the settlers crossed on), possibly from a popular Spanish-set novel of the time. Both sources would lead back to the original Spanish, Veragua. Originally a place in Spain, transferred by Ferdinand's explorers to an area of Panama and thus to boats and girls in the new world. There are also links to breeds of bulls and horses, from the activities of the landholders in Spain.
Veragua/Viroqua would mean 'riverbank' - very pretty really.
Devon
Veragua/Viroqua would mean 'riverbank' - very pretty really.
Devon
1
Viroqua was my great-grandmother’s middle name. The family is Welsh going back more than a thousand years. My great-great grandparents immigrated to the United States in the mid 1800’s with their oldest son. My great-grandmother was born a few years later. No one in my family knows where the name originated, she is the only one in my family tree to have it as far as I have been able to find.All I know for sure is that she hated the name but not why. Personally, I think it’s a beautiful name and I wish I knew more about it. I wish I could be more helpful.
1
What a fascinating history! Devon, thanks for sharing.
I guess the -agua part means water (agua, aqua), then. Veragua... hmm... I like it!
Lass
I guess the -agua part means water (agua, aqua), then. Veragua... hmm... I like it!
Lass
1
You're right :o) vera (bank) + agua (water). I can't remember which breed of bulls it is but one of them was strengthened or hybridised with Varagua's. Breeds are very important in Spain and SA and I grew up with a bloody (literally LOL) painting of a matador hanging in the dining room so I *should* remember...maybe someone else will have a clue though - I'm drawing a blank.
Devon
Devon
1
Besides being a town up in Wisconsin, it may be a native American name.
1