Many Texas rivers were named by the first Spanish explorers

If you have traveled throughout the state of Texas, and especially along the IH-35 corridor from Laredo to Dallas-Fort Worth, more than likely you crossed rivers that have Spanish names. Have you ever wondered how or why the river was named and by whom?

I was born in the Barrio El Azteca in Laredo, about six blocks from the Río Grande, and I never knew why and by whom it was named. And when we lived at 801 Zaragoza Street, from our small backyard, which was located on a very high cliff overlooking the Río Grande, we had a splendid view of this majestic and awesome river. 

Join me on this journey across the state, and hopefully at the end of the tour, you and I will know a little bit more about how some Texas rivers got their name.

Río Grande – Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca crossed this river between Brownsville and Laredo in 1535 or 1536 and was amazed at its size. Another Spanish explorer, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, crossed it in 1540. And, in 1598, Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate named it Río Grande because of its enormous size when he crossed it near El Paso.

Nueces River – Just before you get to the town of Cotulla you will cross the Nueces River. In the 1530s, Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca had referred to this river as “el Río de las Nueces for the abundance of pecan trees that lined the river banks. Another Spanish explorer and governor of Coahuila, Alonso de León, later also gave it the same name in 1689.

Frio River – Past the town of Dilley and before Pearsall we come to the Frio River, which in English translates as the Cold River. In my research, I could not find the Spanish explorer who named this river.

Atascosa River – This river is located just before coming to the town of Lytle. I could not find the Spanish explorer who named this river, but more than likely the name comes from the Spanish word, “atascar” or to be stuck in a deep, muddy place.  

Medina River – Once you have passed the town of Von Ormy, this river is located just to the north, in southwestern Bexar County. In 1689, the Spanish explorer, Alonso de León, named it in honor of Pedro Medina, an eminent engineer from Spain.

San Antonio River – The Spanish explorer, Domingo Terán de los Rios, named the river in honor of San Antonio de Padua on June 13, 1691.  He was leading an expedition with Father Damián Massanet as they were en route to the East Texas missions.

Guadalupe River – This river is located just north of the town of New Braunfels in Comal County. In 1689, Spanish explorer, Alonso de León, named this river in honor of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe).

San Marcos River – This river rises in the town of San Marcos at Aquarena Springs. Members of the Alonso de León expedition named the river San Marcos in 1689. The name of San Marcos was also applied to this river by Fray Isidro Félix de Espinosa and Fray Antonio de San Buenaventura Olivares in 1709.  

Blanco River – Just north of the town of San Marcos, the Blanco River joins the San Marcos River four miles downstream from Aquarena Springs. In 1721, it was named by members of the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo expedition for the white limestone along the banks of the river and in the riverbed.

Colorado River – This river is located south of Austin. Even though the name is Spanish for “red” or “reddish,” the river has always been clear according to the earliest records. The name is a misnomer. Nonetheless, the Spanish explorer Alonso de León first applied it in 1690. 

Brazos River – This river is located north of Waco and is considered the longest river in Texas. In the 1540s, Spanish explorer, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his expedition were exploring the Llano Estacado area and were about to perish for lack of water when they came across the Brazos, which he named “Brazos de Dios.” 

The following rivers do not cross the IH-35 corridor, but nonetheless, they also have an engaging and valuable Spanish history.

Comal River – The Comal is about 2.5 miles long and is thereby considered the shortest river in Texas. It originates in the northwestern part of New Braunfels in Comal County. The Spanish word  “comal” signifies a flat dish and was meant to describe the landscape along the riverbed. Credit for naming the river is given to Pedro de Rivera y Villalón, the Spanish explorers who discovered it.  

León River – This river is located in north-central Texas, close to Fort Worth in Eastland County. Members of the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo expedition named it “león,” a lion in English, perhaps because when they came upon it, the river was roaring like a lion and cresting due to flooding.

Trinity River – This river is located just south of Dallas.  In 1690, the Spanish explorer, Alonso de León, named the river “La Santísima Trinidad,” meaning the Most Holy Trinity.

Neches River – Located in East Texas in Van Zandt County, this river was named in 1689 by the Spanish explorer Alonso de León in honor of the Neches Indians who lived in villages along its banks.

Sabine River – This river is located in East Texas and north of the town of Greenville, the county seat of Hunt County. In 1716, the Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón named the river “Río de Sabinas,” probably because of the many cypress trees that were in the vicinity.

Lavaca River – Located in the southeastern part of Texas and rising in the northwestern corner of Gonzales County this river was named in the 1680s by the French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. He named it “Riviére de Les Veches,” or “Cow River,” because of the abundance of buffalo. When the Spanish explorers came upon the river, they translated the name to “la vaca.” 

San Jacinto River – This river is located in Harris County and north of Houston. According to historical accounts, the Spanish explorers came upon the area that was full of jacintes, Spanish for hyacinths, during the years from 1751 to 1772. Credit for the name is given to Captain Joaquín Orobio y Basterra, commandant of the Spanish garrison at La Bahía, who explored the area for the governor of the Province of Texas in 1746.  

Angelina River- This river is located in East Texas in Rusk County. The Spanish missionaries named the river, “Angelina,” (Little Angel) for an Hasinai Indian girl who had converted to Christianity during the 1700s.

Sabinal River – This river is located in the northwestern part of Bandera County and joins the Frio River in the southeastern corner of Uvalde County. It was also named by Spanish explorers for the abundance of Cypress trees along the banks of the river.  It was originally called, “el Arroyo de la Soledad,” (Creek of Solitude). On early Spanish maps, their is a trail that follows the river and is listed as the Comanche Trail because it was well-known among the Indians.  Most of the river now flows through the Edwards Underground Water District. 

Bosque River – This river is located in central Texas in McLennan County and close to Waco. In 1719, the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo named it for the abundance of woods or woody lands along the river. 

Concho River – Located in the San Angelo area in north-central Texas, this river was discovered by two Spanish explorers, Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo, in 1650. Historians believe that the river was named “concho” for the plentiful amount of mussel shells (conchas) found in the riverbed.  

Pecos River – This river is a major tributary of the Río Grande in West Texas. The Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado named it in 1541 for the Pecos Pueblo Indians who were living in the area.

Brazos River – This river is located north of Waco and is considered the longest river in Texas.  In the 1540s, Spanish explorer, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his expedition were exploring the Llano Estacado area and were about to perish for lack of water when they came across this river which he named “Brazos de Dios.” 

Now, this concludes our trip from Laredo to the Dallas-Fort Worth areas along IH 35 and there are eleven rivers that have a rich and interesting Spanish heritage.  And, the following rivers do not cross the IH 35 corridor, but nonetheless, they also have an engaging and valuable Spanish history.

Comal River – This river is about 2.5 miles long and is thereby considered the shortest river in Texas.  It originates in the northwestern part of New Braunfels in Comal County.  The Spanish “comal” signifies a flat dish and was meant to describe the landscape along the riverbed.  Credit for naming the river is given to Pedro de Rivera y Villalón, a Spanish explorers who discovered it.  

León River – This north central Texas river is close to Fort Worth in Eastland County. Members of the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo expedition named it “león,” a lion in English, perhaps because when they came upon it, the river was roaring like a lion and cresting due to flooding.

Trinity River – In 1690, the Spanish explorer, Alonso de León, named the river, “La Santísima Trinidad,” meaning the Most Holy Trinity.

Neches River – This East Texas river is in Van Zandt County. In 1689 the Spanish explorer, Alonso de León, named the river in honor of the Neches Indians who lived in villages along its banks.

Sabine River – The Sabine is located in East Texas north of Greenville, the county seat of Hunt County.  In 1716, the Spanish explorer, Domingo Ramón, named it “Río de Sabinas,” probably for the cypress trees that were in the vicinity.

Lavaca River – In the 1680s, the French explorer, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, named it “Riviére de Les Veches,” or “Cow River,” because of the abundance of buffalo.  When the Spanish explorers came upon the river, they translated the name to “la vaca.” It is located in the southeastern part of Texas and rises in the northwestern corner of Gonzales County. 

San Jacinto River – This river is located in Harris County north of Houston.  The Spanish explorers came upon the area that was full of jacintes, Spanish for hyacinths, during the years from 1751 to 1772.  Credit is given to Captain Joaquín Orobio y Basterra, commandant of the Spanish garrison at La Bahía, who explored the area for the governor of the Province of Texas in 1746.  

Angelina River – Located in East Texas in Rusk County, the river was named by Spanish missionaries for an Hasinai Indian girl who had converted to Christianity during the 1700s.

Sabinal River – Located in the northwestern part of Bandera County, the Sabinal joins the Frio River in the southeastern corner of Uvalde County.  It was named by Spanish explorers for the abundance of Cypress trees along its banks. The river was originally called, “el Arroyo de la Soledad,” (Creek of Solitude).  On early Spanish maps, there is a trail that follows the river and is listed as the Comanche Trail. Now, most of the river flows through the Edwards Underground Water District. 

Bosque River – This river is located in central Texas in McLennan County and close to Waco.  In 1719, the Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo named it for the abundance of woods or woody lands along the river. 

Concho River – This river is located in the San Angelo area in north central Texas. It was discovered by two Spanish explorers, Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo, in 1650. Historians believe that the river was named “concho” for the plentiful amount of mussel shells (conchas) found in the riverbed.  

Pecos River – This river is a major tributary of the Río Grande in West Texas.  The Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado named the river when he crossed it in 1541 for the Pecos Pueblo Indians who  lived in the area.

That’s the end of the journey across Texas. I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Spanish named rivers as much as I did putting this essay together.