Newfoundland has, perhaps, the most unusual collection of place names of any country in the world.
The hackneyed manner in which other New World settlers identified their communities and natural landmarks did not appeal to the rugged types who settled in Newfoundland. Early day Newfoundlanders were, obviously, men of imagination and wit who were at their best when leaving place names to posterity.
Consider their humourous side. There must have been a twinkle in many an eye when such gems as these were bestowed:
| Jerry's Nose | Nick's Nose Cove | Come-by-Chance | Blow-me-down |
| Lushes Bight | Ha Ha Bay | Run-by-guess | Right-in-the-Run Island |
| Bleak Joke Cove | Calves Nose | Nancy Oh | Snake's Bight |
| Joe Batt's Arm | Little Hooping Harbour |
On the other hand, it is not at all difficult to appreciate the depths of despair of those who experienced hardship or disaster on the
rugged coastline. They gave to us such place names as:
| Gripe Point | Bad Bay | Bleak Island | Misery Point | Famine Point |
| Wild Bight | Breakheart Point | Famish Gut | Savage Cove | Confusion Bay |
| Wreck Cove | Bareneed | Empty Basket |
Then there were the happy contented settlers, whose satisfaction is reflected in such classics as:
| Heart's Desire | Heart's Content | Heart's Delight | Safe Harbour |
| Comfort Cove | Little Heart's Ease | Sweet Bay | Too Good Arm |
| Little Paradise | Harbour Grace | Angel's Cove | Cupids |
Although, there are no Londons, Parises or Birminghams in Newfoundland, there are place names which reflect the varied origins of the adventures, colonists, soldiers, and traders who played a part in the Island's development:
| English Harbour | Portugal Cove | Harbour Breton | Turk's Island |
| Frenchman's Cove | Jersey Harbour | Canada Bay | Ireland's Eye |
The French who colonized a part of the Island and, later, held fishing rights for centuries, left a host of place names, some of which have lasted throught the years of mispronunciation by settlersof British origin:
| François | Bay de Vieux | Chaleaur Bay | Cinq Cerf Bay | Beaubois |
| L'anse a l'Eau | La Hune | Bay D'Espoir | Port aux Basques |
Were the early settlers good housekeepers? They may have been, if the following place names have significance:
| Plate Cove | Grate's Cove | Ladle Cove | Spout Cove | Chimney Cove |
| Table Cove | Spoon Cove | Rooms | Bread Island | Cheese Island |
| Butter Cove | Tea Cove | Sugar Loaf | Cape Onion | Turnip Cove |
| Mutton Bay | Broom Point | Doughfig Point | Bacon Cove | Baker's Cove |
| Cook's Harbour | Traytown |
The animal world gets more than its fair share of mention in:
| Lion's Den | Bear's Cove | Horse Chops | Hare's Ears Point | Cow Head |
| Dog Cove | Cat Gut | Little Cat Arm | Seal's Nest Island | Boar Point |
| Otter Point | Dragon Bay | Fox Roost | Muskrat Brook | Goat Island |
| Pigeon Island | Penguin Island | Turr Island | Black Duck | Gull Island |
| Goose Bay | Gander Bay | Swan Island | Eagle Island |
Of course, the fishermen who formed the bulk of early settlers could be depended upon to name:
| Caplin Cove | Trout River | Fishing Ship's Harbour | Herring Neck | Dog Fish Point |
| Boat Harbour | Steering Island | Schooner Island | Spudgels Cove | Rope Cove |
| Salmon Cove | Ship Cove | Mooring Cove |
Other interesting names include:
| Button Island | Shoe Cove | Stocking Harbour | Goblin | Petticoat Island |
| Doctor's Harbour | Hatchet Cove | Sitdown Pond | False Cape | Mistaken Point |
| God Bay | Sacred Bay | Devil Cove | Goobies | Gun Point |
When all emotions and all imagination failed, even then early Newfoundlanders rose to the occasion. What better terms could be
found than: Nameless Cove and Harbour Harbour.
It is, of course, impossible to list all of the unusual place names in Newfoundland in a publication of this type. There are literally
thousands of other names which are just as attractive (and some even more unusual) as those contained here. Many are in local usage
only and cannot be found on any existing map.
The origin of many Newfoundland place names is a fascinating study in itself, and, at some time or other, nearly all her historians have
devoted considerable time and research in an attempt to explain just some of them.
Whether interest is academic or merely casual, however, the unique quality of out Provincial place names must fire the imagination of
everyone, resident and visitor alike.
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