🦬 Buffalo by the Niagara: A French Twist Behind the City’s Name

Buffalo, perched at the edge of the Niagara River, has a name that sparks both curiosity and debate. While its exact origin remains uncertain, one of the most beloved and enduring local theories is that it comes from the French phrase “Beau Fleuve”—meaning “beautiful river.”

The French were the first Europeans to explore and settle the region, establishing missions and trading posts near the mouth of Buffalo Creek in the 17th century. According to local legend, early French explorers, struck by the beauty of the waterway flowing into Lake Erie, referred to it as le beau fleuve. Over time, English speakers may have reshaped the term phonetically into “Buffalo.”

Though no written record confirms that exact phrase was used, the theory remains a romantic favorite—especially compared to more mundane alternatives.

Other explanations do exist. Some suggest the name refers to bison—commonly called buffalo—though there is no strong evidence that large herds ever lived in this part of New York. Others propose the name may have come from a misinterpretation or anglicization of Native American words, possibly from Iroquoian or Seneca origins.

Still, for many locals and lovers of the region, the idea that Buffalo was born from a French appreciation of Niagara’s natural beauty remains the most poetic—and fitting—origin story.

Because even if uncertain in fact, it’s absolutely true in spirit.