proto-iroquoian is the name given to the hypothetical proto-language of the iroquoian languages. lounsbury (1961) estimated from glottochronology a time depth of 3,500 to 3,800 years for the split of south and north iroquoian. at the time of first european contact, speakers of iroquoian languages ranged from the cherokee in the great smoky mountains, to the tuscarora and nottoway near the modern virginia/north carolina border, then further north the five nations in upstate new york and the huron and neutral in modern-day ontario.