Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-20
THE STATES.
Origin and SigniacatiOn Of Their

Origin and SignincatiOn Of Their
a Names.
There Is much that is interesting in the
study Of the origin of the names of the
States Of the Union, as they are derived
from . variety Of sources. To begin In the
geographical order, says an exchange, we
first have Maine, which takes its name
from the province of Maine, In France, and
was so called in compliment to the Queen
of Charles l., Henrietta, who owned that
province. New Hampshire, FIRST called
Laconia, from Hampshire, England. Yer
mont from the Green Mountains (Frenoh
uerdm0ft.) MASSACHUSETTS from the indian
language, signifying "the country about
the great hill" Rhode Island gets its name
from the fancied resemblance Of the island
to that of Rhodes in the ancient LeVant.
Connecticut's name was Mahegan, spelled
originally Quon-eh.ta-cut, signifyiDg "a
long river" New York was so named as
a compliment to the Duke of York, whose
brother Charles III. granted him that terri
tory. New Jersey was named by one of
its original proprietors, Sir George Carteret,
after the island of Jersey in the British
caannsl, Of which he was Governor. PEN
sylyania, as is generally known, takes its
AdlUC AOA4 " luA0I4 4 CAAf1f buC uOlQ
vanian meaning woods. Delaware derived
its name from Thomas West, Lord De La
ware, Governor of Virginia. Maryland ae-
ceived its name from the Queen Of Charles
III. Henrietta Marie. Virginia got its
name from Queen Elizabeth the unmar-
risd or Virgin Queen. The Carolinas we're
named in honor of Charles IL, and Geor-
gis in honor of George III. Florida gets
its name from Pasquas de Flores, or
Feast of Flowers. Alabama comes from
Greek word signifying "The Land OF Rest"
Mississippi derives its name from that
great river, and in the Matches tongue, tie
Father of Waters. Louisiana was so nam
ed in honor of Louis XIV. Arkansas is
derived from the Indian word Kansas
sssmoky water" with the French prefix Of
Ark, ga bow Tennessee is an Indian
name, meaning s'the river with the big
bend" Kentucky also is an Indian name,
',Kain-tuck-ee" signifying sat the head of
the river" Ohio, the Shawenese name for
sFThe Beautiful River" Michigan's name
was derived from the lake, the Indian name
for a fish weir or trap, which the shape of
the lake suggested. Indiana's name comes
from that of the Indians. Illinois Daue
is derived from the Indian word illini,
''men," and the French affix 'eis," max
ing it sstribe of men," Wiseonsin's name
is said to be the Indian one for a wild,
rushing channel. Missour's is also an Iu-
dian one for muddy, having reference to
the muddiness of the Missouri river. Kan
sas is the Indian word for smoky water.
The derivation of the names Of Nebraska
and Nevada is not known. Iowa signifies
in the Indian language the drowsY ones,
and Minnesota cloudy water. The origin
of the name of California is uncertain.
Oregon, according to some, comes from Ore
gana, the Indian name of wild marjoram,
which grows sbundanly on the Pacific
coast, and according to others from, Oregon,
'sthe river of the West" in allusion to the
Columbia river. West Virginia gets its
name from having been formed from the
western part of old Virginia.