Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-11-27
NO. %.
NAMES OF THE STATES.


A correspondent inquiries why the states are
called BY their present names, and what arc
thelr deriYations and meaning. The results of
our investigation in this matter are the follow
ing 'O"O"-
Maine-So called from the province of Maine.
~ ~ france IN compliment Of Queen Henrietta, Of
England, who, 1t has been said. owned that
province. This is the commonly received
| opinion. -''''''N
neW Whampshire-Named by John Mason. in
| tooo' lWho with another obtained the grant
rom the CROWN from Hampshire county. in
England The former name Of the domain was
VernOnt-FrOm the French verdmOnt or green
mountains indicative Of the mountainous nature
OF the State. This name was first of6ciaIIv
recognized Jan. l6, 1877.
Massacnusetts-lndian name, signifying s,the
country about the great hills" i. G. The "Blue
Rhode Island-This name was adopted in
lo44, from the Island of Rhodes, in the Medi-
that island. ~
CSnnscticut-This is the English orthograpby
Oh the Indian ward Quonchta cut which signi6es
"the long river.p "-''A su'ne9
New York-Named by the Duke of York
undeF the color of title given him by the Crown
.. New New Jersey-so called in honor of Sir George
Tarteret, who was Governor of the island of
Jersey, in the British Channel. u
Penn5ylyania-From Admiral Penn the fo,bar
Woods" --ue henu
Delaware-In honor of Thomas West Lord
~ mare, who visited the bay and died there
Marylsnd-After HENRIETTA Marin. the oueen
OF Charles l. of England f@'S-
Virginia-So called in honor of ouean Elisa
0etn' ihe virgin queen" in whose reign Sir
nize that region. ~ '''O
North and South Carolina were originally in
s oSe tract called Caroline" after Charles TX,
y, Oa1 rranoe' IN IoO4. Subsequently, in 1865, the
name was altered to Carolina.
Florida-Ponce de Leon, who disonverod tbis
portion OF America in 1912, named il Fiorida in
commemoraton of the day he landed there
winch was the Pasquas de Flores of the snan,
ARDS or "Feast of Flowers" otherwise known
Alaoama-Formerly portion of Mississppi
Sa5'ViyS 600 auni1tea into the Union as State in
lozS' The name is Of Indian origin. signifving
there we rest"
- deorgla-So called in honor Of George II of
ly In 1882. - 'A0' 'O'o
MississipPi-FOrmerly a portion of the pro.
.lhe Oh Louisiana. So named in 1900, from the
s. ss9a' river on It's western border. The term is
'I indian origin, meaning clone liuer
Louisans-From Louis XIV Of France. WIN
0r some time prior to 1853 owned the territory.
Arkansas-From "Kansas," the Indian word
OF smoky water" with the French prefix
Tennessee--Indan for "river of the biv
'end, :. g., the Mississippi, which is its westorS
iVer." -1N VI 'ne
ohio-From the Indian, meaning "beautifuln
'revlously applied to the river.
Mohigan-PreViously applied to the lake.
ne Indian name for fsh-weir. So called
rom the resemblance of the lake to q tish tran.
Inalana-so called in 1902, from the Ameri-
llinois-From the Indian "illni." men. and
ne ne french Sufiix ''Ois," together signifyine
Hisconsin-lndan term for mwild.rushinr
hsnnel." 10 ning
Missouri-Named in 1921, from the great
ramon OF the Mississippi which flows througb
+ nulan term meaning Muddy"
loWa-From the Indian, sieni6ving ,.,ho
roWsy Ones" 'Ao
mmlnnesota-lndiana n for ''cloudy WATER
California-The name given bv Cortas ,ha
lscoVerer Of that region. He probablv obtained
mom an old spanish romance, in which on i'm
sinary island Of that name is described as
bounding in gold.
oregon-AccOrding to some from the Indian
Iegon, river Of the west" Others consider Il
srlvea from the Spanish ''oregano," wild ma.
orami which grows abundantly on the Pacific
oast -threHolOgical Journal