Coney Island's name - 1837

Found an older story so we're heading back in time for a day. No, even in the 1830s, people didn't know the origin of the name Coney Island.

DUTCH NAMES OF PLACES.....

Coney island. This name is generally supposed to be a corruption of Conyn's island; so called in honor of its original proprietor. Sed quere. May not Coney island have been so called in consequence of its abounding in coneys, or rabbits?



--Niles' Weekly Register by Wm. Ogden Niles, From September, 1836, to March, 1837

I believe Sed quere means "But is it so?" Though if you Google it, they spell it Sed quaere.