The Hamptons are renowned for their captivating coastlines and vibrant communities. But beyond the contemporary allure lies a rich tapestry of history, woven into the very names of its towns and villages. At Our House Property Management, we believe that understanding this past enriches the experience of these special places. Join us as we journey chronologically through the founding and naming of the Hamptons, uncovering intriguing facts and historic gems along the way.
Our story begins with Southampton, the first English settlement in New York State, established in 1640. A group of colonists from Lynn, Massachusetts, courageously founded this new community, naming it after the British Earl of Southampton. A little-known fact is that Southampton established one of America’s earliest public schoolhouses around 1712. Today, you can step back in time at the Halsey House (c. 1680), one of the oldest English-style frame houses in the state, or explore the extensive collections at the Southampton History Museum.
Just a few years later, in 1648, settlers established East Hampton. Initially, they called it “Maidstone,” a nod to their hometown in Kent, England. Its current name logically arose from its location east of Southampton. East Hampton uniquely maintained a system of town trustees to manage common lands, a tradition that remarkably continues today. Visit the “Home Sweet Home” Museum (c. 1720), believed to be the inspiration for John Howard Payne’s famous song, or experience colonial farm life at the Mulford Farm (c. 1680).
Around the same period, the area known as Water Mill saw its genesis. While part of Southampton, its distinct identity emerged with Edward Howell’s construction of a vital water-powered grist mill in 1644. This mill, later rebuilt in the early 1700s, not only ground grain but also fulled cloth, crucial for the early agricultural economy. The beautifully preserved Water Mill Museum stands on this historic site today, offering a tangible link to this industrious past.
Settlers founded Sagaponack around 1653. Its evocative name comes from the Algonquin language, meaning “land of the big ground nuts,” referring to a native edible tuber similar to a potato. While now known for its luxurious homes, Sagaponack fiercely protects its historic character. You can glimpse this past in its designated Historic District and at the charming, continuously operated Sagaponack General Store.
By 1659, colonists had settled Quogue. Its name also has Native American origins, derived from “Quaquanantuck” or “Quawquannantuck,” meaning “a place where the land trembles” or “shaking marsh,” a vivid descriptor of its landscape. Quogue is home to the oldest public library on Long Island, founded in 1797. The Old Schoolhouse Museum, built in 1822, offers another portal into its educational heritage.
Bridgehampton earned its name from a pivotal piece of infrastructure. Though settled in the mid-1600s, its distinct identity solidified when Ezekiel Sandford built a bridge over Sagg Pond in 1686. Interestingly, the notorious and charismatic counterfeiter Stephen Burroughs paradoxically helped establish Bridgehampton’s first library in 1793. The iconic Beebe Windmill (1820) and the Bridgehampton Museum within the Nathaniel Rogers House are must-see historic sites.
European settlers established Amagansett around 1680. The name is believed to be an Algonquin term for “place of good water.” A dramatic, little-known event occurred here in June 1942 when four Nazi saboteurs landed from a U-boat, though they were quickly apprehended. Explore this and other local history at the Amagansett U.S. Life-Saving Station (1902) or Miss Amelia’s Cottage (c. 1725).
Sag Harbor began its ascent as a significant port around 1707, though its major growth as a whaling center came later. Named partly from the Algonquin “Sagaponack” and its defining harbor, it was famously designated the first official Port of Entry into New York State by George Washington. Herman Melville even mentioned its hardy whalers in Moby Dick. The Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum, the majestic Old Whaler’s Church (1844), and the historic Custom House (c. 1789) vividly recall its maritime glory.
The Westhampton area, including Westhampton Beach (incorporated 1928), saw more widespread settlement in the later 18th and early 19th centuries. Its name straightforwardly denotes its geographical position west of Southampton. The devastating 1938 “Long Island Express” hurricane dramatically reshaped its coastline, creating the Shinnecock Inlet. The Foster-Meeker House (c. 1735) in Westhampton stands as a testament to its early colonial architecture.
Our chronological tour takes us eastward again to Montauk, whose identity was significantly shaped by the construction of the Montauk Point Lighthouse, commissioned in 1792 and completed in 1796. Named for the Montaukett tribe, it means “high land.” In the 1920s, developer Carl Fisher envisioned Montauk as the “Miami Beach of the North,” leaving landmarks like the Montauk Manor. Explore earlier history at the Second House Museum (c. 1746).
Finally, Hampton Bays, comprising earlier hamlets like “Good Ground,” received its current, more marketable name in 1922. This area, settled in the 1700s, was valued for its fertile soil. The Canoe Place Inn here boasts a history as one of America’s oldest continuously operated inns, with parts dating to 1697.
The names and histories of the Hamptons are as captivating as their landscapes. At Our House Property Management, we delight in sharing these stories that make our communities so uniquely rich.
References Cited
- “Amagansett History.” Amagansett Life-Saving Station, amagansettlss.org/history/. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- Bailey, Paul. Long Island: A History of Two Great Counties, Nassau and Suffolk. Lewis Historical Publishing, 1949.
- “Beebe Windmill.” Southampton Town Historic Resources, southamptontownny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/109/Beebe-Windmill-PDF. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “History.” Bridgehampton Museum, bridgehamptonmuseum.org/history. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “History of Canoe Place.” Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, canoeplace.com/about/history/. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “History of Montauk.” Montauk Chamber of Commerce, www.montaukchamber.com/history-of-montauk/. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “History of the Halsey House.” Southampton History Museum, southamptonhistory.org/halsey-house. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “Mulford Farm.” East Hampton Historical Society, easthamptonhistory.org/museums/mulford-farm/. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “Our History & Mission.” Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum, www.sagharborwhalingmuseum.org/our-history-mission. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- Rattray, Jeannette Edwards. Up and Down Main Street: An Informal History of East Hampton. East Hampton Star, 1968.
- “Sagaponack History.” Village of Sagaponack, sagaponackvillage.org/history/. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- Tooker, William Wallace. The Indian Place-Names on Long Island and Islands Adjacent. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1911.
- “Village History.” Incorporated Village of Quogue, www.villageofquogueny.gov/history. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “Water Mill Museum History.” Water Mill Museum, watermillmuseum.org/history. Accessed 31 May 2025.
- “Westhampton Area History.” Westhampton Beach Historical Society, whbhistorical.org/local-history. Accessed 31 May 2025.
