 The Thumb of Michigan, which also includes Huron and Salinac Counties, was originally called by Iroquois speaking people "Skenchioe" in the 17th century, which may be related to the Onondaga word "uschwuntschios" meaning a champaign or large extended plain.In the early 18th century, the French called the Thumb of Michigan "Le Pays Plat" that means The Flat Country.The French word "pays" means country while "plat" means flat.