National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-03
THE STATES, NAMES.
The Statement OF Their Origin and sig,
nlncnnce-Intcreatlng IIIatoricnl Fnct..

nincnnce-Antcrcsting I1IatorfcnI Fnrts
Alta recent meeting Of tho American Antlquar-
ian Society Hamilton D. Staples read paper con.
ccrnng the origin of the names Of the States of
the Union. From among other facts nre taken the
following:
The name OF California first originated in tho
Imagination Of the author Of n Spanish romance,
&C. Las Sorgus do Esplaudian." Here tho " island
OF California, where great abundance Of gold and
precious stones Is found" was described. Tho
name wa probably given to the territory now en-
braccd IN this State by of the Spa niards with
Cortez, who, no doubt, had read this sensational
romance.
Oregon was a name formerly given TO an imagl-
nary river of the West Carver, an American
traveller, mentions II in 1903 In describing the
river he evidently COMPOUNDED 1t with the Mis-
sourl but tho name was finally applied to the
present State Of that name
New Hampshire was named fOm Hampshire
conn y, OF England by John Mason Of the Ply
or gtnally granted by tho English govern
The State of Massachusetts wns name from tho
tay OF that name, The origin OF The word Massa-
| chuset's is from the Indian "mis.a," great,
| "wndehuash, mountains or hills unG Q suihx
"et,' meaning ut or near.
There are many conflicting opinions concern-
ing the origin Of the name II ole Island. Some
| believe Il TO have been named ON the ancleni
Isle Of Rho 70; others, from the Duich RoodG
Eylandt, signiiying red island. II might so have
boen called Rca Island or Roadstead kland.
ConnectIcnt, spelled in an Indian dIa oct, Qnin-
nch.tnkqut, sgnifying "land long tidal
| river"
New York is named from the Duke Of York, the
original grantee In the charter ho was given all
The land " from the west side of the Connecticui
| River TO the east side Of the Delaware Bay"
| The territory of New Jersey was given by royal
charter to Sir George Carteret aud Lord Berkeley,
defended tho isio Of Jersey, in the british Chan.
mel, and his new possessions in America were
named In commemoraton Of this fact:
uufa N cd hv
and 1t Is the only State named m It's founder
The SUNK "sylvana," sgnifypg forest land"
Is descriptive Of tho general character Of the coun'
Three counties lying southeast OF Pcnn y,vanl
were formerly territories OF that State. In l7Ol
| lhey were granle1 separate charter and nnmed
Delaware, amer Lord Dc Lawar, VINO hrst explored
the bay Into which the river omptlcs.
| Maryland was named from Queen Uenrlettt
| Maria. In III charter the naino in Latin wal
Trra Mdride, meining land Of Mary, or Maryt
V,rg was called in honor Of Queen Elijah ,th
| who was known as the virgin Queen.
The tecitoiy Oft .e Carolinas was granted to the
FreLeh settlers in 1868 and was named aitei
King George II, Of England, wns the sponfo: foi
the Southern Sta o Of Georgin.
Tie nnmo Maine was given to that State descrip
lively, since in the original charter 1t was cUnsld
cred the Maync Lind OF New England"
= Vermont was also Descriptive name, belnt
fOimcd from two French wo;ds "yed" and
mont meaning green mountain.
X n.ucky Is from Kentuckee, an Indian shaw,
| ~
Mississippi is from Ii Q Indlan Moesyscedee
meaning n1t the father OF waters but "tht
Colorado is named for the Rio Colorado River
The name Is Of Spanish origin, aud meani
"ruddy" or red" referring to the color oil thu
water of that river
T,nnessce is supposed to have been namc1 from
Tanas ee, one of the chief villages of the Cheso;
, keee Indians. which was located OH the banks oi
( the Tennessee River.
) Tho name Minnesota is from the Indian Minis
| Otah meaning atpnlOrpl tor
Z 1he State of Nevada Is named f. ON the Sierrt
) Nevada mountains, which in turn are said tC
have been named from the Sierra Neyadas o
Grenada.
Nebraska takes its name from the Nebraskt
o 'shnllow river
$ Kansas is also named from its principal river
A tribe of Indians formerly in that locality, wcf
U probably ramed from them.
4 The origin OF the n name OF the peninsnar Stat
i5l2 Ponce de % Ieoa sailed from FraUee s"s to tn
c West in search of the fountain of youth" III
n first saw land on Easter day, and OH account 0
!, new possessions, lie called It Florida.
i Alabama is named from an ancient Indian trib,
ths Mississippi Valley The name itself sisni
9 Ohio takes It's name from tho river on III
q southern boundary. Tho word is from the wyan
!. Thing great"
a Iowa is named from the river OF that name; tn
u river from the Ioway Indians.
i Miss url was also named from q river. The wor
!, Is from the Indian Min-he-sho- o-shay, signifyin
u muddy water"
Ii The iame Wisconsin is OF French Indian orr
gin. 1t was formerly spelled ouis con-sin, mean
ing westward flowing"
d Illinois is derived from tho Delaware India
10 word, Hin" or "Leni" meaning "real men,
n and the soft French termination o!s"
s. The name Michigan comes from tho India
1. words of Algonquin and Chippewa origii
l. "Mitcha," great, AMI gan" lake.
Is Louisiana was called In honor OF Louis XIV, {
Is France, and was formerly applied to the Frenc
| Misgggipni
M The word Arkansas Is of Indian stock. A trh
10 of Indians, who iebeed and separated from III
NJ Kansa nation, were celebrated Tor the fine qualit
4. OF their bows. From this they were called Arc
er | Bow Indians and aiterw1rd Arkansas.
I'd Few States have been named from their origini
ls discoveries. 1he names of la Sale, Cabot, !
M Soto, Marquette, Coronado, and Fremont are wal
ing to lie Incorporated into history by the namiI
of some new State IN their honor.