My daughter used to sing the folk song
Shenandoah when she took voice lessons several years ago. The word is indeed melodic and suggestive of beautiful scenery.
Interesting info from Wikipedia:
Etymology
The word
Shenandoah is of unknown
Native American origin. It has been described as being derived from the Anglicization of Native American terms, resulting in words such as Gerando, Gerundo, Genantua, Shendo and Sherando. The meaning of these words is of some question.
Schin-han-dowi, the "River Through the Spruces";
On-an-da-goa, the "River of High Mountains" or "Silver-Water"; and an Iroquois word for "Big Meadow", have all been proposed by Native American
etymologists. The most popular, romanticized belief is that the name comes from a Native American expression for "Beautiful Daughter of the Stars".
[1]
Another legend relates that the name is derived from the name of the
Iroquoian chief Sherando (Sherando was also the name of his people), who fought against the
Algonquian Chief
Opechancanough, ruler of the
Powhatan Confederacy (1618–1644). Opechancanough liked the interior country so much that he sent his son
Sheewa-a-nee from the
Tidewater with a large party to colonize the valley. Sheewa-a-nee drove Sherando back to his former territory near the
Great Lakes. According to this account, descendants of Sheewanee's party became the
Shawnee. According to tradition, another branch of Iroquoians, the
Senedo, lived in present-day Shenandoah County. They were exterminated by "Southern Indians" (
Catawba or
Cherokee) before the arrival of white settlers.
[2][3]
Another story dates to the
American Revolutionary War. Throughout the war, Chief
Oskanondonha (also known as
Skenando, whose name means "deer") of the
Oneida, an Iroquois nation based in
New York, persuaded many of the tribe to side with the colonials against the British. Four Iroquois nations became British allies, and caused many fatalities and damage in the frontier settlements west of
Albany. Oskanondonha led 250 warriors against the British and Iroquois allies. According to Oneida oral tradition, during the harsh winter of 1777-1778 at
Valley Forge, where the colonials suffered, Chief Skenando provided aid to the soldiers. The Oneida delivered bushels of dry corn to the troops to help them survive. Polly Cooper, an Oneida woman, stayed some time with the troops to teach them how to cook the corn properly and care for the sick. General Washington gave her a shawl in thanks, which is displayed at
Shako:wi, the museum of the
Oneida Nation near
Syracuse, New York. Many Oneida believe that after the war, George Washington named the Shenandoah River and valley after his ally.
[4][5]