Swan (V.) Corruption of wabisi, the Chippewa word for swan. Wau-bih-zee = swan wau-bih-sa = white bird or "thing flies along" (W.) Named by Dr. Lyman C. Draper about 1855, and legalized by Legislature Feb. 14, 1855.  Before that, the body of water was called Sa-hoo-cha-te-la, meaning "lake of the rushes". 

Learn More

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

[Source: Wis. Hist. Collections, v.10, p. 67; Milwaukee Sentinel, Jun. 29, 1953.]