The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-07-14
THE STATES NAMES.

| bi4udIldu DOCleINs IhulliIOn Is. staple, EedQ
a paper concerning the origin of the names
| of the States Of the Union. From among
other facts are taken the following: The
name of California first originated in the i'm
agination OF the author of a Spanish romance,
LAS Sergus de Espandian." Here the
| ''island of California, where great abun-
| dance of gold and precious stones is found,
was described. The name was probably
given to the territory now embraced in this
State by some of the Spaniards with Cortez,
who, no doubt, had read this sensational TO
nance.
| Oregon was name formerly given to an
imaginary river of the West. Carver, an
American traveller, mentions it in 1853. In
describing the river, be evidently confound-
ed it with the. Missouri, but the name was
finally applied to the present State of that
name.
New Hampshire was named from Hamp-
shire county, of England by John Mason, of
the Plymouth Company, to whom the terri
tory was originally granted by the English
| Government.
The State Of Massachusetts was named
from the bay Of that name. The origin of
the word Massachusetts, is from the Indian
OF hills, and the sufix Get" meaning at OF
near.
There are many conflicting opinions con-
cerning the origin of the name Rhode Island.
/ Some believe it to be named from the an
cient Isle of Rhodes; others from the Dutch,
Rhode Eylandt, signifying red island. 1t
might also have been called Road Island or
Road stead Island, being near the harbor.
Connecticut, spelled in an Indian dialect,
is Quinneh-tuqut, signifying 'Gand-on long
tidal-river.''
New York is named from the Duke Of
York, the original grantee. In the charter
he was given all the land from the west
side of the Connecticut river to the east side
of the Delaware Bay"
The territory of New Jersey was given by
royal charter to Sir George Carteret and
/ Lord Berkeley. Carteret, in England's great
/ civil war, had bravely defended the Isle of
Jersey, in ihe British Channel, and his new
( possessions in America were named in com
memOration of this fact.
Pennsylvania was founded by William
Penn. and it is the only State named from
its founder. The sufix 'sylvania'. signify
1 ing forest land, . is descriptive of the gen
eral character of the country.
Three counties lying southeast Of Penn
sylvania were formerly territories of that
State. In 17O1 they we're granted a separate
charter, and named Delaware after Lord De
Lewar, who first explored the bay into which
the river empties.
Maryland was named from Queen Henri
eta Maria. In the charter the Rame in Latin
was Terra Marie, meaning land of Mary, OF
Mary's land.
Virginia was called in honor of Queen
Elizabeth, who was known as the Virgin
Queen.
The territory of the Carolinas was granted
to the French settlers in 1868, and was
named after Charles l. of France.
King George II. of England was the spOn-
sOr for the Southern State of Georgia.
/ The name Maine was given to that State
/ descriptvely, since in the original charter it
was considered "the Mayne land of New
/ England
! Vermont was also descriptive name, be-
/ ing formed from two French words ''verd"
/ and ''mont," meaning green mountains.
/ Kentucky is from Kentuckee, an Indian
/ ShawnOese word, signifying "the head of a
river or "long river
| Mississippi isfrom the Indian Meesyseepee,
meaning not the father of waters" but
"the great water"
! Colorado is named from the Rio Colorado
| river. The name is of Spanish origin and
means "ruddy'' OF ''red,' referring to the
| color of the water of that river.
Tennessee is supposed to have been named
! from Tanassee, one of the chief villages of
/ the Cherokee Indians, which was located on
/ the banks of the Tennessee river.
! The name Minnesota is from the Indian
MiniSotah, meaning 'colored water
! The State of Nevada is named from the
Sierra Nevada Mountains. which in turn are
said to have been named from the Sierra Ne
/ vadas of Granada, Spain.
Nebraska takes its name from the Nebras-
ka river The name is of Indian origin,
meaning shallow river
/ Kansas is also named from its principal
river. A tribe of Indians, formerly in that
( locality, were known as the Kansas OF Kows,
and the State is probably named from them.
The origin of the name of the peninsular
/ State of Florida is told by historians as fol-
/ lows In 1912 the Spaniard Ponce de Leon
/ sailed TO the west in search of the fountain
/ of youth" He first saw land on Easter
! day." and on account of the richness and
/ quantity of the flowers found on the new
/ possessions, be called it Florida.
! Alabama is named from an ancient Indian
/ tribe of the Mississippi Valley. The name
| itself signifies "here we rest"
! Ohio takes its name from the r1ver on the
/ southern boundary. The word is from the
/ wyandotte Indian dialect, oshe-zuh, and
means something great"
/ Iowa is named from river of that name
the river from the Ioway Indians.
Missouri was also named from a river
The word is from the Indian Min-ne-sho-
shay, signifying muddy water"
The name Wisconsin is of French-Indian
origin. 1t was formerly spelled G uis- consin,
meaning westward flowing"
Illinois is derived from the Delaware In
dian word, "Illin" or "LeDi, " meaning real
men :" and the soft French termination "ois -
The name Michigan comes from the Indian
words of Algonquin and Chippewa origin,
"Mitcha, " great and gan lake
Louisiana was called in honor of Louis
XIV. of France and was formerly applied 10
all the French possessions in the Mississippi
Valley.
Tho word Arkansas is Of Indian stock. A
tribe of Indians who had rebelled and separ-
ated from the Kansas nation, were celebra-
ted for the fine quality of their bows. From
this they were called Arcor Bow Indians,
and afterwards Arkansas
Few States have been named fl ON their