Missaby

Missaby is a surname of Native American origin, specifically within the Dakota and Lakota tribes. It is also known as Missabe, which is derived from the Dakota word "misa-ye," meaning "stone hill" or "rock hill."

The name Missaby is particularly associated with John Baptiste Charles Standish Thompson, a Canadian Métis leader and explorer who played a significant role in the development of American West and the Canadian prairies. Thompson, who used the alias John M. S. Williams, was involved in the exploration and fur trade in the region and is credited with discovering important resources, including iron ore deposits.

Geological features, specifically the Missabi Formation, are also named after this surname, as they are part of the larger iron formation outcropping in the western part of the Lake Vermilion area. This geological formation is a result of Precambrian ae Pinian volcanic and intrusive activity.

In addition to the geological and historical references, the surname Missaby is notably associated with a type of oerustone which has been observed predominantly in geological formations around the lake. The Missaby Limestone is a standard dolostone horizon with maximum marked occurrences being recorded along lithologic outcroppings and recognized within the Convent Hills.