The meanings of some weird town names in New Jersey are quite obvious. Ocean City, for example, is so named for its location along the Atlantic Ocean. Other town names have more complex origins. Some were named for local heroes or businesses, while others reflect unique landmarks. The following are some of our favorite local neighborhood name stories, if you are visiting or living in New Jersey and spot any names that intrigue you, be sure to add them in the comments!
- Ho-Ho-Kus
Wikipedia/NHRHS2010 According to the town’s website, Ho-Ho-Kus got its name from the Delaware Indian term “Mah-Ho-Ho-Kus”, meaning “the red cedar.” Though it may have been HoHoKus, this town has two hyphens simply to make it more unique. Residents voted on the punctuation and are proud to be one-of-a-kind! Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423, USA
- Teterboro
Flickr/racky salzman One of the tiniest towns in New Jersey, Teterboro was named after Walter C. Teter, a New York investment banker. Once named Bendix Township, neighboring towns have tried to have Teterboro dissolved so that they might split its assets - numerous factories and a popular airport. Teterboro, NJ, USA
- Glen Rock
Flickr/Beatrice Murch Glen Rock was named for a 570-ton boulder, believed to have been deposited by a glacier. Residents are well aware, but many New Jerseyans are not. The boulder still sits in the center of town. Glen Rock, NJ 07452, USA
- Cape May Court House
Flickr/J. Stephen Conn It may not come as a surprise that Cape May Court House is home to the Cape May County Court House, though you may be interested to learn that it was named after Dutch explorer, Captain Mey and is one of only a handful of four word census designated places in the United States. Cape May Court House, Middle Township, NJ 08210, USA
- Shamong
Flickr/NeilFein Shamong got its name from a combination of Native American words, oschummo (“horn”) and onk (“place”). Once inhabited by Lenape Indians, the town has also been known as Indian Mills. Shamong, NJ, USA
- Hackensack
Wikipedia/KForce The county seat of Bergen County, the name Hackensack was derived from the Achkinheshcky Indian Tribe. The word means “mouth of a river.” Hackensack, NJ, USA
- Egg Harbor Township
Facebook/EggHarborTownship Egg Harbor is a charming little town, named as such for the prevalence of eggs seen on its shores when explorer Cornelious Lacobsen May landed here. He named it “Eyren Haven” which means Egg Harbor, and that is the root of the towns current name. Egg Harbor Township, NJ, USA
- Neptune City/Neptune Township
Facebook/NeptunePublicLibrary These adjoining towns in Monmouth County were named after the Roman Water God, Neptune and their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Neptune City, NJ, USA
- Tewksbury
WIkipedia/JaredKofsky The township is named after Tewkesbury, England, and the two established a sister city relationship in 2003. Tewksbury, NJ, USA
- Salem
Wikipedia/SmallBones The name “Salem”, in both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace”. Salem, NJ, USA
- Hardyston
Image/https://www.hardyston.com/ This town was named after Josiah Hardy, who was royal governor of New Jersey from 1761–1763. The original British spelling of Hardiston was Americanized to Hardyston after the American Revolutionary War. Hardyston, NJ, USA
- Cherry HIll
Wikipedia/Tinton5 Though the town has been around since the 1700’s, it didn’t officially get its current name until 1961. Cherry Hill was a 19th-century farm on Kaighn Avenue / Route 38, owned by Abraham Browning. Several local businesses adopted the name, but the town was Delaware, until a mailing issue forced the borough to be renamed. Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
- Roebling
Facebook/Roebling Museum Roebling, site of the Roebling Steel Mill, was founded by Charles Roebling, son of John A. Roebling. John A. Roebling & Sons company built and provided the steel for the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, among others. The town is also home to the famous Roebling Engineering and Design Museum. Roebling, Florence, NJ, USA
- Hi-Nella
Facebook/BoroughofHiNella The borough’s name derives from a Native American term meaning “high ground”, though it may have been named for Nella, the wife of Lucious Parker, who developed Hi-Nella Estates in the late 1920’s. Hi-Nella, NJ 08083, USA
- Tabernacle
Wikipedia/Mr. Matte Once inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Tribe, John and David Brainerd came to the area in 1778 and built a church to convert the local Native Americans to Christianity. The church was called Tabernacle in the Wilderness. While the church is long gone, the name remains. Tabernacle, NJ, USA
Isn’t the history of these weird town names in New Jersey fascinating? Which of these towns with weird names in New Jersey would you most like to visit? What other towns do you know of with interesting histories and names? Are there any towns you would like to know the meaning of? Let me know in the comments.
Wikipedia/NHRHS2010
According to the town’s website, Ho-Ho-Kus got its name from the Delaware Indian term “Mah-Ho-Ho-Kus”, meaning “the red cedar.” Though it may have been HoHoKus, this town has two hyphens simply to make it more unique. Residents voted on the punctuation and are proud to be one-of-a-kind!
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423, USA
Flickr/racky salzman
One of the tiniest towns in New Jersey, Teterboro was named after Walter C. Teter, a New York investment banker. Once named Bendix Township, neighboring towns have tried to have Teterboro dissolved so that they might split its assets - numerous factories and a popular airport.
Teterboro, NJ, USA
Flickr/Beatrice Murch
Glen Rock was named for a 570-ton boulder, believed to have been deposited by a glacier. Residents are well aware, but many New Jerseyans are not. The boulder still sits in the center of town.
Glen Rock, NJ 07452, USA
Flickr/J. Stephen Conn
It may not come as a surprise that Cape May Court House is home to the Cape May County Court House, though you may be interested to learn that it was named after Dutch explorer, Captain Mey and is one of only a handful of four word census designated places in the United States.
Cape May Court House, Middle Township, NJ 08210, USA
Flickr/NeilFein
Shamong got its name from a combination of Native American words, oschummo (“horn”) and onk (“place”). Once inhabited by Lenape Indians, the town has also been known as Indian Mills.
Shamong, NJ, USA
Wikipedia/KForce
The county seat of Bergen County, the name Hackensack was derived from the Achkinheshcky Indian Tribe. The word means “mouth of a river.”
Hackensack, NJ, USA
Facebook/EggHarborTownship
Egg Harbor is a charming little town, named as such for the prevalence of eggs seen on its shores when explorer Cornelious Lacobsen May landed here. He named it “Eyren Haven” which means Egg Harbor, and that is the root of the towns current name.
Egg Harbor Township, NJ, USA
Facebook/NeptunePublicLibrary
These adjoining towns in Monmouth County were named after the Roman Water God, Neptune and their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
Neptune City, NJ, USA
WIkipedia/JaredKofsky
The township is named after Tewkesbury, England, and the two established a sister city relationship in 2003.
Tewksbury, NJ, USA
Wikipedia/SmallBones
The name “Salem”, in both the city and county, is derived from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace”.
Salem, NJ, USA
Image/https://www.hardyston.com/
This town was named after Josiah Hardy, who was royal governor of New Jersey from 1761–1763. The original British spelling of Hardiston was Americanized to Hardyston after the American Revolutionary War.
Hardyston, NJ, USA
Wikipedia/Tinton5
Though the town has been around since the 1700’s, it didn’t officially get its current name until 1961. Cherry Hill was a 19th-century farm on Kaighn Avenue / Route 38, owned by Abraham Browning. Several local businesses adopted the name, but the town was Delaware, until a mailing issue forced the borough to be renamed.
Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
Facebook/Roebling Museum
Roebling, site of the Roebling Steel Mill, was founded by Charles Roebling, son of John A. Roebling. John A. Roebling & Sons company built and provided the steel for the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, among others. The town is also home to the famous Roebling Engineering and Design Museum.
Roebling, Florence, NJ, USA
Facebook/BoroughofHiNella
The borough’s name derives from a Native American term meaning “high ground”, though it may have been named for Nella, the wife of Lucious Parker, who developed Hi-Nella Estates in the late 1920’s.
Hi-Nella, NJ 08083, USA
Wikipedia/Mr. Matte
Once inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Tribe, John and David Brainerd came to the area in 1778 and built a church to convert the local Native Americans to Christianity. The church was called Tabernacle in the Wilderness. While the church is long gone, the name remains.
Tabernacle, NJ, USA
If you’re looking for somewhere cozy to take a trip to, we recommend taking a look at our road trip through the best small towns in New Jersey.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
What Makes New Jersey Special December 28, 2022 Sara Dager What are the best road trips in New Jersey that I can take? Time of gas up the car, grab some loved ones, and get out on the wide open road! Some of the best road trips in New Jersey that you can take are:
The New Jersey waterfalls road trip The haunted New Jersey road trip The New Jersey ghost towns road trip The New Jersey natural wonders road trip The abandoned places in New Jersey road trip
Does New Jersey have any strange roadside attractions to check out? While some may call them tourist traps, a roadside attraction can be a cultural milestone, and luckily there are lots of fun and funny roadside attractions in New Jersey to marvel at, such as:
Frank Sinatra’s towel in Atlantic City Giant saltwater taffy in Brant Beach Worlds Largest Lightbulb in Edison Lucy the Elephant in Margate City Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
What are some things you can only do in New Jersey? What DOESN’T make New Jersey unique? Here in the Garden State we pride ourselves on being one-of-a-kind, and for good reason! Some of the awesome things you can only do in New Jersey include:
Visit Tripod Rock See the Worlds Largest Model Railroad Play pinball at the Silverball Museum
The OIYS Visitor Center
What Makes New Jersey Special
December 28, 2022
Sara Dager
What are the best road trips in New Jersey that I can take? Time of gas up the car, grab some loved ones, and get out on the wide open road! Some of the best road trips in New Jersey that you can take are:
The New Jersey waterfalls road trip The haunted New Jersey road trip The New Jersey ghost towns road trip The New Jersey natural wonders road trip The abandoned places in New Jersey road trip
Does New Jersey have any strange roadside attractions to check out? While some may call them tourist traps, a roadside attraction can be a cultural milestone, and luckily there are lots of fun and funny roadside attractions in New Jersey to marvel at, such as:
Frank Sinatra’s towel in Atlantic City Giant saltwater taffy in Brant Beach Worlds Largest Lightbulb in Edison Lucy the Elephant in Margate City Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
What are some things you can only do in New Jersey? What DOESN’T make New Jersey unique? Here in the Garden State we pride ourselves on being one-of-a-kind, and for good reason! Some of the awesome things you can only do in New Jersey include:
Visit Tripod Rock See the Worlds Largest Model Railroad Play pinball at the Silverball Museum
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Time of gas up the car, grab some loved ones, and get out on the wide open road! Some of the best road trips in New Jersey that you can take are:
- The New Jersey waterfalls road trip
- The haunted New Jersey road trip
- The New Jersey ghost towns road trip
- The New Jersey natural wonders road trip
- The abandoned places in New Jersey road trip
Does New Jersey have any strange roadside attractions to check out?
While some may call them tourist traps, a roadside attraction can be a cultural milestone, and luckily there are lots of fun and funny roadside attractions in New Jersey to marvel at, such as:
- Frank Sinatra’s towel in Atlantic City
- Giant saltwater taffy in Brant Beach
- Worlds Largest Lightbulb in Edison
- Lucy the Elephant in Margate City
- Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge
What are some things you can only do in New Jersey?
What DOESN’T make New Jersey unique? Here in the Garden State we pride ourselves on being one-of-a-kind, and for good reason! Some of the awesome things you can only do in New Jersey include:
- Visit Tripod Rock
- See the Worlds Largest Model Railroad
- Play pinball at the Silverball Museum
