[1] The word "Apies" is Afrikaans for small monkeys and is a reference to the historical abundance of vervet monkeys on the Apies River banks.

[citation needed] Nguni-speaking people, who became known as the Ndebele, are thought to have been the first people to recognise the suitability of the Apies River valley as a place to put down roots.

It is also argued that they named the river after one of their chiefs "Tshwane" who is reputedly buried under the Wonderboom.

It is also proposed that 'Tshwane' is a corruption of 'tshwene' which is the Sotho and Tswana word for monkey.

The river reach between Wonderboom Poort and the Bon Accord Dam is, however, not canalised.