Orleans became notable during World War I as the only town in North America to be fired upon by the Germans. A German submarine attacked a group of commercial barges off the coast (four of which sank). One shell struck land. The town was originally known as Nausett, "sett" being the Native American word for "near the water." The town broke away from what is now Eastham, and was named Orleans after the Duke of Orleans, who later became King of France.