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When I was a child, I was told a variation of this story about the name "Sheboygan".

"Many different explanations have been made regarding the origin and meaning of the name ‘Sheboygan.’ Tradition says that an Indian chief resided at Sheboygan in the early part of the 19th century who was the father of a large number of daughters. Fortune, however, had not yet graced his household with a son. One day after returning from the hunt his wife ran forth from the wigwam to greet him and present him with a newly born babe. The stalwart chief looked at it sharply and (so the story goes) replied in a disgusted manner – ‘She-boy-(a)-ga(i)n!’ Although this tradition is very interesting, still it has no historic basis and must be discarded as the true explanation of origin of the name.

Most authorities agree that Sheboygan is a Chippewa word, but differ as to its exact meaning. Rev. E. P. Wheeler in an article on the 'Origin and Meaning of Wisconsin Place Names,’ declares that ‘Sheboygan’ is derived from Zhee-bo-I-gun, that which perforates or pierces; hence Zha-bun-I-gun, a needle. Joshua Hataway, an authority of some note, says ‘Sheboygan or Cheboigan of the early maps is from the Indian name Shawb-wa-way-kum, half accent on first ands full accent on the third syllable. The word or sentence, most likely Chippewa, expresses a tradition that a great noise, coming under ground from the region of Lake Superior, was heard at this river. Father Chrysostom Verwyst, a Franciscan missionary among the Chippewas of Wisconsin and Minnesota, aided by Vincent Roy, a Chippewa merchant, and Antione Gaudin and M. Gurnoe, two very intelligent Chippewa scholars, agree that Sheboygan is derived from jibaigan, meaning any perforated object, as a pipe stem. Louis M. Moran, a Chippewa interpreter, asserts that the term means a hollow bone or perforated object.’ This is the generally accepted meaning."

Source: Sheboygan City Directory, 1920.

Another view of the same topic:

"This word has an Indian origin. There are a number of words of two principal meanings from which it may have been derived. One series is said to mean any hollow object such as a pipe stem, reed, cane stalk, or hollow bone; or that with which one perforates or pierces through, hence a needle or awl. The other meaning refers to a passage away by water, or a river disappearing underground, or a noise underground. One authority claims that Indian word meant ‘send through’ and ‘drum,’ and referred to festive tribal occasions when the Indians carried their drums between Sheboygan Falls and Sheboygan and beat the cadence most properly suited to the event. There is also a tradition that a great noise coming underground from the region of Lake Superior was heard at this river. Other explanations offered are that on quiet days sound carried an unusual distance if originated at the mouth of the river, and one Indian chief said the name referred to the sound heard if one placed an ear to the ground near the mouth of the river. The Sheboygan River was named first, and the county and city were named after it."

Source: The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names.

http://www.sheboygan.lib.wi.us/pages/shebfaq.html

BTW, thanx for the ping. :o)