Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-31
The Names Of the States.

Inc Names OF the States.
From American Notes aud Queries
The origin of the names Of the various states
are, rs near as we can find out, as follows:
Arkansas-The name is of Indian origin. but
has no known meaning. In 1881 the legisla-
ture declared the pronunciation to be Ar-kan-
saw.
Alabama takes its name from its principal
river, and is supposed to mean Here we rest :"
which words are the motto of the state The
name was FIRST given to the river by the French,
in the form "Alibamon," from the name of a
Muscogee tribe that lived upon the banks,
California-This name as first applied. be-
tween 1885 and 1889, to a portion of Lower
California, was derived from an old printed
romance, the one which Mr.. Edward Everett
Hale rediscovered in 1862, and from which he
drew this now accepted conclusion. For in
this romance the name California" was al
ready before 1870 applied to a fabulous island,
described as near the Indies, and also VERY
near the terrestrial paradise" Colonists whom
Cortez brought to the ewly-discovered penin-
sula In 1885, and who returned the next year,
may have been the first to apply the name TO
the supposed island on which they had been for
time resident.
Colorado.-Past participle of the Spanish
Colorar, to color. So-called probably from its
tinted peaks, or from its vegetation, rich in
many-colored flowers.
Connecticut.-Takes its name from its prin-
cipal river, an Indian word meaning ''long
river"
Delaware.-Takes its name from the river
and bay, named after Lord DE la War;, one of
the early governors of Virginia. and an ances-
tor OF Lord Sackville, present British minister
at Washington.
Florida.-This name was given to a larger
territory than the present state by Ponce de
Leon in 1872, from the Spanish name of Easter
Sunday, Pdscud Florida (fowery pssture), the
day upon which it was discovered.
Georgia-Named as a colony in honor of
George IL
river, which is named from the Indian tribe of
the lillni, supposed to mean superior men.
ndiana.-Called from the word Indian.
Iowa.-Named from Its principal river; the
meaning of the word in the Indian tongue is
variously stated to be s'the beautiful land, ("
''the sleepy Ones" ''this is the place"
Kansas.-Named after the river; the word in
the Indian tongue means smoky water"
Kentucky.-Derived from the Indian tongue
and means clark and bloody ground" abiding
to the many battles of the Indian tribes
Louisiana.-Named after Louis XIV of
France, in 1914, by its discoverer, La Sale.
Maine.-Named after a district in France.
Maryland--Named after Henrietta Maria,
wife of Charles l.
Massachusetts-AnI Indian chiefs name.
Michigan-Named after the lake; the word
Indian, and means ''great lake."
Minnesota-Named from the river In In
dian means ''sky-tinted water"
Mississippi-In Indian means ''father of
waters"
Missouri-Named after the river and mean
ing in Indian muddy water"
Nebraska-Name is of Indian origin and is
supposed to mean shallow water"
Nevads-Name is of Spanish origin, and
means "snow-covered."
New ampshire-Named for Hampshire
New Jersey-Named after the Island Of
Jersey.
New York-Named in honor Of the duke OF
York.
North Carolina South Carolina-Named after
Charles (Carolus) III.
Ohio-Named from the river. The word in
Indian means beautiful river"
Oregon-Name is of Spanish origin and
means wild thyme"
Pennsylvania-Named by VIM. Penn, and
means 1.-The woody country of Penn"
Rhode Island-The state perhaps was named
after the Rhoades family, one of whom, Zach
airy Rhodes, was commissioner for Providence
in 1858.
Tennessee - In Indian it means "spoon-
shaped" The state is named from the river.
TeXas-How and when Texas received its
name has been a subject of much controversy.
Some assert that it is so called because the
original inhabitants had roofs over their dwell
ings, which in the Spanish language are called
teas or tepds; others derive it from tecds which
III we rang uaSe Oh the aDorlglnes meant lrlenus,
and still others from tecds which was used as an
affix to the names of many Indian provinces
to denote their inhabitants. The territory now
called Texas was known to the Spanish mission
aries in 1924 as Mixtecapan, and its inhabitants
as Mixtecas; these were the sons of Mixtecatl
the fifth of the six sons of Iztac, and the re-
puted projenitor of the inhabitants of Mexico
at the time of its conquest by Cortez. Texas
is supposed by some to be a corruption of Mix
tecas.
Vermont-Name is Of French origin, and
means green mountains"
Virginia-West Virginia. Named in honor of
Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen"
Wisconsin-Named after the principal river,
which in Indian is said to mean wild rushing