a member of a North American Indian people living on the California coast near Monterey

The Esselen were the Native American inhabitants of what is now known as Big Sur on the Central Coast of California. Archaeological and linguistic evidence indicates that their territory extended much further north, into the San Francisco Bay Area, until they were displaced by the entrance of Ohlone speakers some 2,500-4,500 years ago.

the Hokan language spoken by the Esselen people