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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