In 1607 there was an Algonquian town at the falls called Powhatan. The paramount chief of the Algonquians of tidewater Virginia, whose name was Wahunsenacawh, was from that town. The local custom was to call a chief by the name of his or her town. Thus Wahunsenacawh was called Powhatan, and the people under his rule have come to be known as the Powhatans.
Powhatan began as the Werowance (often translated by the English as King) of the Powhatan Tribes which lived south of the falls of the James River. Through marriages between noble families of the pervious generation, Powhatan had inherited power over eight tribes. These were the Arrohateck, Appamatuck, Orapaks, Youghtanund, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Werowocomoce, and Kiskiack. In the 30 or so years after Powhatan assumed rule over these tribes, he had conquered about 20 more tribes. His title at that point was that of Mamanatowick (often translated by the British as Emperor) of the Powhatan Confederacey
Powhatan
