The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-27
NAMES OF STATES.


Some SN~nge Origins and Interesting
FA ~ of state Nomenclature.
The origin of the names of the various
States are, as near as we can find out, as
follows:
Artansas-The name is of Indian origin,
but has no known meaning. In 1881 the
Legislature declared the pronunciation to be
Arkan-saw.
Alabama takes its name from its principal
river, and is supposed to mean ''llcro we
rest" which words are the motto of the State.
The name was first given TO the river by the
French in the form Of "Alibamon," from the
name Of Il Muscogee tribe that lived upon the
banks.
California.-This name as first applied, be-
tween 1885 and 1899, TO a portion OF Lower
California. was derived from an old printed
romance, the one which Mr., Edward Everett
Hale redscovered in 1862, and from which he
drew this now accepted conclusion. For in
this romance the uamc "C0lifornia" was al
| ready before 1920 applied to fabulous island,
described as near the Indies, and also Every
near the terrestrial paradise" Colonists
whom Cortez brought to the newly-discoyered
peninsula in 1885, and who returned the next
| year. may have been the first TO apply the
name to the supposed island Oh which they
had been for a time resident
Colorado-Past participlc of the Spanish
| Colorar, TO color. SO called propably from
| its tinted peaks, or from its vegetation, rich
In many colored flowers.
Connectcut-Takes It's name from its Drin-
clpal river, an Indian word meaning "long
| river.h
Deaware-1akes its name from the river
and bay named after Lord De la War;, one
Of the early Governors Of Virginia and an an
cestor of Lord Sackville, recently British Min
lister 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, Pascua Florida (tlowery pasture), the
| day upon which It was discovered.
Georgia-Named as colony In honor of
| George H.
Illnois--Derives its name from It's principal
| river, which is named from the Indian tribe of
the Him, supposed to mean superior men,
Indiana-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 "the beautiful land"
"the sleepy ones,n "this is the place.
Kansas-Named after the river; the word
in the Indian tongue means "smoly water"
Kentucky-Derived from the Indian tongue
and means "dark and bloody ground,n
abiding to the many battles OF the Indian
| tribes.
| Louisiana-Named after Louis XIV. Of
France, in 1864, by its discoverer, LaSalle.
Maine--Named after n district In France.
Maryland-Named after Henrietta Marie,
wife Of Charles l.
Massachusetts, Indian chiefs name.
| Michigau-Named after lake; the word is
Indian, and means ''great lake"
Minnesota-Named from the river In In
dian means "sky tinted water"
Mssissippi-In Indian means "father Of
waters"
Mssouri-Named after the river and mean
ing in Indian muddy water"
Nebraska-Name is of Indian origin and is
supposed to mean ''shalow water"
Nevada-Name is of Spanish origin, and
means "snow-covered"
New ampshire-Named for Hampshire
county in England.
New Jersey-Named after the Island OF
| Jersey.
New York-Named in honor of the Duke Of
York.
North Carolina-Named after Charles Gar
olus) III.
Ohio-Named from the river. The word in
Indian means "beautiful river"
Oregon-Name is of Spanish origin and
means "wild thyme"
Pennsyyana-Named by William Penn
and means ''the woody county OF Penn"
Rhode lsland-This State perhaps was
named after the Rhoades family, one of
| whom, Zachary Rhoades, was Commissioner
for Providence In 1858
Tennessee-In Indian It means ''spoon-
shaped.n The State is named from the river
Texas-How and when Texas received its
|
Some assert that 1t is so called because the
original inhabitants had roofs over their
dwellings, which in the Spanish language are
called teias or texas; Others derive II from
tecas, which In the language Of the aborlgines
meant friends, and still others from Texas,
which was used as an afiix to the names OF
many Indian provinces to denote their inhab-
itants. The territory now called Texas was
known to the Spanish missionaries 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 reputed progeni-
tor of the inhabitants of Mexico at the time OF
its conquest by Cortez. Texas is supposed by
some to be corruption of MiXtecas.
--rVermont-Name is Of French origin and
means ''green mountains
Virginia West Yirginia-Named in honor Of
Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen"
Wisconsin-Named after the principal river
which In Indian is said to mean "wild rushing
river"