The Origins of US State Names

I was always fascinated by the origins of any name - people, animals, things, cities, nations, states and so on.

So, coming to the USA, it was inevitable that sooner or later, I would look into the origins of the States' names. During some recent rainy days, I invested time investigating this topic.

Here are the fascinating results of my curiosity - I'm sure many of these will surprise you! ☺

Alabama

From Native American tribe "Alabamas" or "Alibamos".

Alaska

Derived from the Aleut word "alyeska" meaning "great land" or from Eskimo word "alakshak", meaning "peninsula"; also said to mean "great lands".

Arizona

The origin is disputed. It may come from:

• The Basque phrase "aritz onak" meaning "good oaks"
• The O'odham phrase "ali shonak" meaning "small spring"
• The Spanish "Arisona/Arissona" named after the Pima natives
• The Aztec "arizuma" meaning "silver bearing"
• The Papagos word "Arizonac" meaning "site of the small springs"

Arkansas

Origin uncertain, with various spellings including Alkansia, Alkansas, and Akamsea. Possible origins include:

• Algonquin origin with unknown meaning
• French version of "Kansas" (Sioux for "south wind people")
• From the Quapaws tribe (UGAKHOPAG - "people who live downstream")

California

Named after the mythical island of California from the 1510 fictional story "The Adventures of Esplandián" by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. Spanish explorers named the peninsula thinking it was an island like the one in the novel.

Colorado

From the Spanish word "colorado" meaning "reddish-brown" or "colored red." Named as a Territory in 1861 and became a state in 1876.

Connecticut

From Native Americans Mohegan and Algonquian word "quinatucquet", meaning "beside the long tidal river" or "Long river place", referring to the Connecticut River.

Delaware

Named in 1610 by explorer Samuel Argall for the governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord De La Warr.

Florida

Named by Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he landed there on Easter Sunday - "Pascua de Flores" (Feast of Flowers) in Spanish.

Georgia

Named for King George II of England.

Hawaii

May reference either the original Polynesian homeland "Hawaiki" or the legendary fisherman "Hawai'iloa" who, according to tradition, discovered the islands.

Idaho

Either an invented word by George M. Willing or from the Coeur d'Alene phrase "ah-d'hoo" (greeting by surprise). Another possible origin is the Shoshone "Edah hoe" meaning "light on the mountains."

Illinois

From the French version of Algonquian "ilenweewa" meaning "he/she speaks normally", or from "Illini" ("men" or "warriors") with French suffix "ois".

Indiana

Simply means "Land of Indians", named for the land purchased from Native Americans along the Ohio River.

Iowa

Likely from a Native American word meaning "this is the place" or "the beautiful land". Alternatively from "Ah-hee-oo-ba" meaning "sleepy ones".

Kansas

From Sioux word referring to the Kansas/Kanza tribe, meaning "people of the south wind".

Kentucky

Several possible origins:

• From "kentake" meaning "meadowland"
• Shawnee word meaning "at the head of a river"
• Wyandot "Ken-tah-ten" meaning "land of tomorrow"

Louisiana

Named to honor King Louis XIV of France.

Maine

Likely from "mainland", used by fishermen to distinguish from islands. Alternatively named after the French province of Maine.

Maryland

Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of England's Charles I.

Massachusetts

From Algonquin "Massadchu-es-et" meaning "great-hill-small-place", possibly referring to the hills around Boston.

Michigan

From Algonquin "Mishigamaw" meaning "big lake" or "great water". Also possibly from "Michi" (great) and "Gama" (water).

Minnesota

From Dakota "minisota" (sky-tinted waters) or Sioux word for "cloudy water".

Mississippi

From Native American words meaning "great river" or "gathering of water".

Missouri

From Miami-Illinois language name "wimihsoonta" meaning "those who dugout canoes".

Montana

From Spanish "montaña" meaning "mountain".

Nebraska

From Oto Indian "nebratka" meaning "flat water".

Nevada

Spanish for "snow-covered", named after the Sierra Nevada mountains.

New Hampshire

Named after the English county of Hampshire.

New Jersey

Named after the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel by George Carteret.

New Mexico

Named after Mexico City (Aztec Mexico-Tenochtitlan). May derive from Aztec war god "Mexitli" or mean "habitation of the god of war."

New York

Originally New Netherlands, renamed in 1664 to honor the Duke of York.

North and South Carolina

Named for King Charles I of England.

North and South Dakota

From Santee Sioux "Dakota" meaning "allies", with variations Lakota, Nakota, Lahkota in different dialects.

Ohio

From Iroquois word meaning "something great" or "great water".

Oklahoma

From Choctaw words "okla" (red) and "humma" (people).

Oregon

Origin disputed. Possibilities include:

• Misspelled "ouricon-sint" from "Ouisiconsink" (Wisconsin)
• From "origanum" (wild sage)
• Spanish "Oregones" meaning "big-eared men"

Pennsylvania

Literally "Penn's Woodland", named for William Penn's father. The only state named for its founder.

Rhode Island

Named by Dutch explorer Adrian Block as "Roodt Eylandt" (red island) for its red clay shores. Later anglicized.

Tennessee

From Cherokee town "Tanasi" or "Tanasse" along Little Tennessee River, possibly meaning "bend in the river".

Texas

From Caddo word "tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies".

Utah

From Ute tribe name meaning "people of the mountains".

Vermont

Named by Samuel de Champlain from French "vert" (green) and "mont" (mountain).

Virginia

From "virgin", referencing Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen.

Washington and Washington, D.C.

Named for first President George Washington.

West Virginia

Same origin as Virginia.

Wisconsin

From Ojibwa meaning "gathering of the waters".

Wyoming

From Delaware Indian "mecheweami-ing" meaning "on the great plain".

Thank you for reading!

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