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wclancy09 t1_j0dz84d wrote

Reply to comment by dankmeeeem in Devil's Bathtub in Duffield, Virginia. 7/4/21. [4032x3024] [OC] by Berryfly04

While I don't doubt there is some element of this going on, I would point out that there is a "Devil's Cauldron" in Lydford Gorge, Devon, UK - one that to anybody familiar with the area, the above image could be very reminiscent of.

Now, that doesn't detract from your later comment, and that there absolutely should be an effort to reinstate/formally adopt the native names where they existed in the US...but it may be an explanation as to where some of those places may have got names that aren't rooted in colonialist bigotry.

In some cases it could be as simple as the people finding these places (particularly in the eastern US/older states) were reminded of something from 'home' and named it as such (and that pattern would hold as you expand west, with the next example being named after it's eastern US counterpart). It's why you have so many towns and cities sharing names with European (and especially English) towns and cities too.

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whatimjustsaying t1_j0h9j2s wrote

It's very common in Ireland too. In Celtic/Pictish legend, they often attributed strange geologies to battles between gods, or heroes. For example, the giants causeway in Northern Ireland. There is also a mountain somewhere around Louth where Cu Chulainn took the top off a mountain fighting another warrior with a sling.

In later years, Christian folklore replaced the pagans with Saints and the devil. There is a mountain in the midlands somewhere with a big dip in the middle if two peaks, and it's named after st. Patrick, because the devil there tried to jump on him and kill him, but he missed and took out the mountain instead.

So I would agree with your sentiment that settlers named them like they would places back home - but through the lens that abnormal natural features are made by devils when they battle saints/god/Jesus.

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