Raritan is a Dutch pronunciation of wawitan or rarachons, meaning "forked river" or "stream overflows".

[4] A second group, known as the Wiechquaeskecks,[1] Wisquaskecks, Roaton, Raritanghe,[5] and Raritanoos settled the Raritan watershed area after the first departed.

Van Theihoven's group killed several of the Wisquaskecks and took their chief's brother as a hostage.

[5] Van Theihoven tortured the prisoner, and the Americans Indians responded to the attack by killing several Dutch settlers.

The attack against the American Indians was a contributing event to the bands' allying in Kieft's War (1643-45) against the settlements of New Netherland.