The first settlement that would become the American city of Seattle was established in 1852 by members of the "five founding families", a group of pioneers led out of Cherry Grove, Illinois by Arthur A. Denny. Though originally named Duwamps, the settlement's name was changed to Seattle in 1853, in honor of Chief Seattle, the ruler of the nearby Suquamish and Duwamish tribes.
A number of buildings, locations, businesses, and other things in and around Seattle are currently named for members of the five families. The patriarchs of all of the founding families, and many of their descendants, are buried in Lake View Cemetery, a prestigious cemetery in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood where almost all people of importance in the city's history are interred. [1]
Site | Image | Namesake | Location | Notes |
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Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Belltown (neighborhood) | Example | Example | Example | |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Example | Example | Example | Example | Example |
Site | Image | Namesake | Location | Notes |
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Boren Avenue | Carson Boren | Example | Example | |
Louisa Boren Park | Louisa Boren | Example | Example | |
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 School | Louisa Boren | Example | Example |
Known as "Seattle's first family", in 1851 Denny family patriarch Arthur A. Denny led the five founding families from Cherry Grove, Illinois to the site of what would become Seattle. As of 2014, family scion Zach Cook was Market Master at the Pike Place Market. [1]
Site | Image | Namesake | Location | Notes |
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Brewster C. Denny Fellowship | Example | Brewster Denny | Example | Example |
Denny Hall | Arthur A. Denny | Example | Located on the University of Washington campus, and originally known as the Administration Building, in 1910 this building was renamed in honor of Arthur A. Denny. Construction on it began in 1894. [2] | |
Denny International Middle School | David Denny | Example | Example | |
Denny Park | David Denny | Example | Example | |
Denny School (defunct) | Example | Example | The Denny School was razed during the Denny Regrade project in 1908. Its cupola was salvaged and, as of 2016, is displayed in Denny Park. | |
Denny Triangle (neighborhood) | The Denny Family | Example | The Denny Triangle adapted its name from Denny Hill, which was previously located here and was named after the Denny family. [3] | |
Denny-Blaine (neighborhood) | Charles Denny | Example | Example | |
Denny-Blaine Park | Charles Denny | Example | Example | |
Denny Way | Example | The Denny Family | Example | Example |
James Street | Example | James Marion Denny | Example | Example |
Lenora Street | Example | Lenora Denny | Example | Example |
Marion Street | Example | James Marion Denny | Example | Example |
Family and Patriarch(s) |
Notable scions | Sites named after family members | Notes |
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Boren Carson Boren |
Louisa Boren | ||
Bell William Nathaniel Bell |
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Denny Arthur A. Denny (1822-1899) David Denny |
Brewster Denny (1924-2013) |
As of 2014, Denny descendant Zack Cook was Market Master at the Pike Place Market. [1] | |
Maynard Doc Maynard |
Example | ||
Mercer Thomas Mercer Asa Shinn Mercer |
Example | ||
Low John Low |
Example | ||
Seattle Chief Seattle |
Princess Angeline | ||
Terry Charles Terry, Lee Terry |
Example | Example | |
Yesler Henry Yesler |
Example |
"the five families" others