How did the Atlanta Hawks get there name?

Answer 1

The franchise was formed in 1946 and known as the Buffalo Bisons. After only 13 games in its inaugural season, owner Ben Kerner moved the team to Moline, Illinois. (At that time, the area was known as the "Tri-Cities" (Moline, Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa.), though today it is called the Quad Cities). Kerner renamed the team the Tri-Cities Blackhawks; the Blackhawks were named after the Black Hawk War that was mostly fought in Illinois.

In 1951, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shortened their nickname to simply "Hawks"

Answer 2

The name was selected from a fan poll. It is named after the Brown Thrasher, the state bird of Georgia.