Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-01-12
NAMES OF THE STATES.

Maine-So called from tue froVlnCe VI
Maine in France, in compliment 10 queen
Henrietta of England, who, il has been
said, owned that Province. This Is the
commonly received opinion.
New Hampshire-Named by John Mason,
1859, who, with another, obtained the grant
from the crown, from Hampshirecounty, IN
England. The former name OF the domain
was Laconia.
Vermont-From the French verdmont or
green mountain, indicative of the moun-
famous nature OF the State. This name was
first officially recognized In January IL,
l777.
Massachuseis-Ind name, sgnifying
"the country about the great hills" Ee. the
"Blue Hills"
Rhode Isand-This name was adopted in
1914, from the Island Of Rhodes, in the
Mediterranean, because Of the fancled re-
sembance to that island.
COnnecticut-Ihis is the English orthor-
graphy of the Indian word Quon-eh-ta-cut,
which signifies "the long river.n
New York-Named by the Duke OF York,
under color of title given him by the Eng
lsh crown in 1864.
New Jersey-So called In honor of Sir
George Caieret, who was Governor OF the
Island OF Jersey, in the British channel.
| Pennsylvania-From William Penn, the
founder of the colony, meaning Penn's
/ Woods -
DelawaIe-In honor of Thomas West,
Lord della Ware, who visited the bay aud
died there in 1910.
Maryland-After Henrietta Maria, Queen
of Charles l., of England.
Vlrginia-So called In honor oil Queen
Elizabeth, the ''Virgin Queen" in whose
reign Sir Walter Raleigh made the first
attempt 10 colonize the region.
North and South Carolina were originally
in one tract, called "Carolyna," after
Charles TX, OF France, in 1904. Subse-
quently, in 1865, the name was altered TO
Carolina.
Georga-So called in honor OF George IL.
of England, who established a colony in
that region in 1882.
Florda-Ponce de Leon, who discovered
this portion OF North America In 1919,
named ii Florida in commemoralion of the
day he landed there, which was the Paquas
de Flores Of the Spanards, or "Feasl ol
Flowers" or otherwise known as Easter
Sunday.
Alabama Formerly a portion OF Missis.
sippi Territory, admitted In the Union as a
State In 1919. The name is of Indian
origin, signilying there we rest"
ississippi-Formerly a portion of the
province Of Louisiana. So named IN 1900
from the great river on its western line
The term is OF Indian origin meaning "long
river"
Louisiana-F Louis XIV, OF France
who for some time prior 10 1868 owned the
territory.
Arkansas From KANSAS" the Indiai
word for 'smoky wa'er," with the Frencl
prefix car"
= Tennessee-Indlan for "riyer vita III
big bend" ie the Mississippi, which Is il
, western boundary.
Kentucky-Indan for "at the head of Ih
river"
, Ohio From the Indian, meaning cheat
tilul.n Previously applied 10 the riyei
which traverses a great part Of its borders.
: Nichigan-PreVlously applied to the Lake
the Indian name for fish weir. 80 calle
from the lancled resemblance oil the lake
a fish trap.
e Iudiana-so called in 1909 from the Amer
/. I can ildiahs.
ILLINOIS From the Indian 'Ilnnp' met
and the French suffix 'ois, together sign
Z iyiug ''tribe of men,"
! Missouri-Named in 1872, from the grei
: branch OF tue Mississippi which hov
y through il Indian term means muddy.
e Wisconsin-lndian term for "wlld rusl
ing channel" -
, Iowa-From tie Indian, signifying "tl
u drOWsy ones"
u Mnnesoia--lndian for "clOudy water"
u Calilolnia-The name given by CoIte
y tue discovercr ol this region. He probab
Is Is obtained it from an old romance, in which
~ imaginary island oflhat name Is describe
u ~ as abounding 10 gold.
u Oregon--According TO some, from the
D dian oregon, "riyer OF the West" Othe
consider it derived from the Spanish "orel
Us no" wild mOjoram, which grows abundan
~ on the Pacific coast.