the root of the name "tomotley" is unknown, although it is generally believed to have originated before the cherokee occupation. ethnologist james mooney suggested a possible creek origin, pointing out the phonetic similarity to the creek town of "tama'li", which was located on the chattahoochee river in georgia. others have theorized that tomotley was formed by lower and valley town refugees fleeing warfare with the creek in the mid-18th century, noting that the town name also appears among lower and valley cherokee towns in south carolina and north carolina.