In a deed of 1650 the region was known as Massabarkem.31 This name applied to the west part of Gravesend neck, lying between Gravesend creek and the inlet which extends north from Sheepshead INDIAN PATHS bay on the line of East 12th street and Homecrest avenue. The name was mishandled by the scribe who engrossed the conveyance, but can be identified as Massa, "large," and peauke, "water-land," or land at the many waters, which aptly describes its situation, surrounded as it was by the meandering streams in three marshy tracts.

The eastern part of Gravesend neck was the native Narrioch (69), naiag, "a neck," auke, "land," or "a point of land." Upon this tract is the Coney Island Jockey Club's racing ground. It was bounded on the east by Shellbank creek, a name strongly indicative of native residence. The neck was probably an appurtenance of the natives of the Gerritsen Basin station, and its grantor, Guttaquoh, was perhaps the sachem of that settlement.

Through these tracts the Gravesend Neck road connected the early settlements of Lady Moody and her companions, with the home and mill of Hugh Gerritsen at the Strome beach.