 Wilamet was adopted by the Potawatomis, and his name, which meant "Catfish" in his native Eastern Algonquian language, was soon transformed into "Winamac", which means the same thing in the Potawatomi language.The Potawatomi version of the name has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Winnemac, Winamek, and Winnemeg.The Winamac name became associated with prominent members of the Fish clan of the Potawatomi tribe.