How a Frustrating Mistake Named the Zumbro River

The Zumbro River is a beloved fixture of southeast Minnesota, but its majestic waters hide a rather awkward past. Long before Rochester was built, a group of frustrated travelers gave the waterway a name that has been lost in translation but was rooted in pure aggravation.

The mighty Zumbro River winds its way through downtown Rochester and, thanks to its various branches, across much of southeast Minnesota. But the story of how it got its name is kind of embarrassing. Literally.

I'm fascinated by local history, so I've always been curious about the name 'Zumbro,' and how this river became known by this unique moniker. And as it turns out, the Zumbro River's name dates back to well before the Med City ever appeared on a map.

The French Roots of a Minnesota Waterway

A Treacherous Journey for Early Traders

According to the Minnesota Historical Society, the river we today know as the Zumbro wasn't initially known by that now-familiar name. But like many things in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, French explorers and trappers are responsible for the Zumbro's name.

The story says the Zumbro was originally called 'Riviere des Embarrass,' from the word 'embarrasser,' which means obstruction or difficulty, likely because back then (and even today, in some places) the Zumbro was filled with shallows and snags that could quickly capsize a trader's canoe. And back then, like now, that would be pretty embarrassing.

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How "Embarrass" Became "Zumbro"

Of course, over the years, the French pronunciation for 'des Embarrass,' (which would be something like "deh-ZUM-BEHRRR-OSS," the story said) was rounded off and shortened until it sounded much more like the current title of Zumbro. Or so the story goes.

This origin story doesn't say when the river officially became known as the Zumbro. But at least it's a glimpse into how this familiar Minnesota river acquired its unique name-- even if it was kind of embarrassing.