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]

Bell

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Site Image Namesake Location Notes
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

Boren

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Site Image Namesake Location Notes
Boren Avenue Carson Boren Example Example
Louisa Boren Park   Louisa Boren Example Example
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 School Louisa Boren Example Example

Denny

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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
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
Boren
Carson Boren
Louisa Boren
  • Boren Avenue
  • Louisa Boren STEM K-8 School
  • Louisa Boren Park
  • Bell
    William Nathaniel Bell
  • Belltown (neighborhood)
  • Bell Street
  • Olive Way[a]
  • 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
  • Doc Maynard's Night Club (defunct)
  • Doc Maynard's Public House
  • Maynard Avenue
  • Maynard Building
  • Maynard Hospital (defunct)
  • Mercer
    Thomas Mercer
    Asa Shinn Mercer
  • Mercer Court
  • Mercer Island
  • Mercer Street
  • Example
    Low
    John Low
    Example
    Seattle
    Chief Seattle
    Princess Angeline
    Terry
    Charles Terry, Lee Terry
    Example
  • Terry Avenue
  • Terry Hall
  • Terry, Scurry and Scurry Scholarship Fund[d][6]
  • Example
    Yesler
    Henry Yesler
    Example

      "the five families"   others

    Notes

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    1. ^ Olive Way is named for William Bell's daughter, Olive Stewart (née Bell).
    2. ^ The Brewster C. Denny Fellowship is a fellowship maintained at the University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance[4].
    3. ^ Lenora Street is named after Lenora Denny.[5]
    4. ^ The Charles C. Terry, John G. Scurry, and John Brace Scurry Endowed Scholarship Fund is maintained by the University of Washington; the fund's benefactors, John Scurry and John Scurry, were descendants of Charles C. Terry.[6]

    References

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    1. ^ a b c McNichols, Joshua (October 19, 2014). "Who Are The Descendants Of Seattle's Early Families?". KUOW-FM. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
    2. ^ "IV. The Buildings". UW Special Collections. University of Washington. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
    3. ^ Friedman, Spike (August 1, 2016). "How Seattle's Neighborhoods Got Their Names". Mental Floss. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
    4. ^ a b "Fellowship Awards". Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. University of Washington. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
    5. ^ a b c Eskenazi, Stuart (June 17, 2001). "Denny Party progeny live quietly among us". Seattle Times. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
    6. ^ a b "Gift From Four Generations Helps Students in Law, Medicine, Engineering". Columns. University of Washington. Retrieved December 23, 2016.