Native American roots and British tradition tell the tale.
Steeped in legend, their origins often lost in time, the names of the of the towns of the Outer Banks trace their roots back hundreds of years. Tim Funk writing for the Charlotte Observer tells the story.
“From the Wright Brothers’ first flight to Blackbeard the pirate’s last stand, the story of North Carolina’s Outer Banks is rich in history.
But, over the centuries, some legends masquerading as facts have also taken root in these sandy islands so popular with tourists.
But the legend about how Ocracoke got its name is much more entertaining. In this tale, the word came from something uttered on the eve of battle by Edward Teach — better known as Blackbeard, a pirate infamous for raiding ships off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts. Until he lost his head (literally).”
Read the full story of how Outer Banks towns got their names in the Charlotte Observer.