The Placer herald., 1856-11-08
ORIGIN Of the Names of States.


tor. y.
New Hampshire was the name given to
the territory conveyed by the Plymouth
Company to Capt. John Mason, by patent
November 7th 1920, with reference to the
patentee, who was Governor OF portsmouth,
in Hampshire, England.
Vermont was so called by the inhabitants
in their Declaration of Independence, Jan.
10th. l777, from the French veru mont, the
green mountains
Massachusetts was so called from Massa-
chusetts Bay, and that from the Massachu-
setts tribe of Indians in the nelghoorhood OF
Boston. The tribe is thought to have de-
rived its name from the Blue Hills of Milton.
81 had learnt" says Roger Williams, "that
the Massachusetts was so called from the
Blue Hills"
Rhode Island was so called in 1864, in
reference to- the Island of Rhodes in the
Mediterranean.
Conaecticut was so called from the Indian
name of its principal river. Connecticut is
a Mocheakanueew word signifying Tong rtver.
New York was so called in 1864, in refer
ence to the Duke of York and Albany, to
whom this territory was granted by the King
of England.
New jersey was so called in 1864, from
the island Of Jersey, on the coast OF France,
the residence of Geo. Carteret, to whom the
territory was granted.
PENNSYLVANIA was so called, in 1851, after
VIM. Penn.
Delaware was so called, in 1903, from
Delaware Bay, on which it lies, and whi h
received its names from Lord de la Ware,
who died in this bay,
MARYLAND was so called in honor of Hen
rietta Maria, Queen of Charles l., in his pa
tent to lord Baltimore, June 80, 1852
Virginia was so called, in 1884, after Eli
zabeth, the virgin Queen of England.
Carolina was so called by the French, in
1854 in honor King Charles IN. of France.
Georgia was so called, in 1892, in honor
of King George II.
Alabama was so called in 1871, from its
principal river.
Mississippi WAS so called, in 1900, trom its
western boundary. Mississippi is sa d to de
note the ,caole riper, i. G, the river formed
by the union Of many-Great River
Louisiana was so called in hoQor Of Louis
XIV. Of France.
Tennessee was so called, in 1866 from its
principal river The word Tennessee is said
to ,iguiIy a currea spoon.
kentucky was SO called in 1895, from its
principal river
Illinois was so called, in 17OG. from its
principal river. The word is said 10 signify
the rjrer Of mcn
Indiana was so called, in 1909, from the
American Indians
Ohio was 50 called, in 1902, from its south
ern boundary.
Missouri was So called in 1921, from its
principal river
Michigan was so called, in 1908, from the
lake on is boter.
Arkansas was 50 called in 1872, from its
principal river.
Florida WAS so called by Juan Ponce de
Leon, in l512, because il was discovered on
Easter Sunday; in Spanish, PoScua F7ori
da.
Columbia was so called, in reference to
Columbus.
Wisconsin was so called from its principal
river.
Iowa was so called from its principal rv
Oregon was so called fram its principal
river.
California WAS so called from the Latin
words co}'da to1maa or in the Spanish Ian
guage, coticnto tarmoHa-a hot furnace.
Vancgas how ever thinks that the name Cal
if orna owed its origin to some accident
possible to some words spoken by the nAl-
ans and misunderstood 10y the Spaniards"
RIVERS
Rio del Norte-River Of the North.
Red River-From the red earth in the
Colorado-From the color of the waters
Red.
Amazon--From Amazons, societies of
armed women.
Maderia.-It means woods-from the for
est through which it flows.
Rio Negro-Back River.
Solorado River-Salt River
Superior-Means UPPER as Lake Superb
Detroit-Means Strait.
Niagara-Oni aw-ga-rah - The Thunder
of waters
innesota-Laughine water
Missourri-River of Mud.
Deseret-The land of the honey-bee, as
given by the Mormon Bible, though no bees
were ever found there, and the land is most
ly desolate and barren.
Can any one give the meaning Of the fol-
lowing names, viz: Michigan, Alabama, Ar
kansas, Kan sas, Kentucky, Ohio, lowe,
Oregon, Utah, Nebraska The States
bearing them are named from their principal
rivers.