Wappo Indians (from Spanish guapo, ‘brave’). A small detached portion of the Yukian family of north California, separated from the Huchnom, the nearest Yuki division by 30 or 40 miles of Pomo territory. They lived chiefly in the mountains separating Sonoma from Lake and Napa Counties, between Geyers and Calistoga. A portion of them, called Rincons by Powers, occupied Russian River valley in the vicinity of Healdsburg.
Wappo. An Americanization of Spanish Guapo. “brave,” given them on account of their stubborn resistance to Spanish military aggression. Also called: Ash-o-chl-mi, a name given by Powers (1877). Soteomellos or Sotomieyos, names given by Taylor (1860-63). Wappo Connections. The Wappo language constituted a very divergent form of speech of the Yukian linguistic family. Wappo Location. On the headwaters of Napa River and Pope and Putah Creeks, and a stretch of Russian River. Wappo Subdivisions and Villages Following are their dialectic divisions and the villages in each, the names in italic being principal towns in as many village communities: Southern Wappo: … Read more