The Washington critic., 1889-02-21
STATE NOMENCLATURE.


Arkansas-The name is of Indian origin,
but has no known meaning. In 1881 the
Legislature declared the pronunciation to
be Ar-kau-saw.
Alabama--Takes its name from its prlnci-
pal river, and is supposed TO mean "Here
we rest,r which words are the motto OF the
State. The name was first given to the
river by the French IN the form OF "Allba-
mon,p from the name of Muscogec tribe
that lived upon the banks
Cnlifornia--This name was first applied,
between 1886 and 1889 to portion of
Lower California, was derived from an old
printed romance--the one which Mr.. Ed
ward Everett Hale redscovered in 1869, and
from which he drew this now accepted con
clusion.
Colorado--Past partlciplc of the spanish
Colorar, TO color. SO called, probably,
from It's tinted peaks, or from its vegcta-
tion, rich In maDy-colored flowers. i...i
Connectcut-Takes It's name from its
principal river, an Indian word meaning
'lopg river" .as.,
Delaware--T its name from the river
and bay named after Lord De la War; one
Of the early Governors of Virginia aud an
ancestor OF Lord Sackville, late British
Minister at Washington.
Florida--This name was given 10 larger
territory than the present State by Ponce
de Leon IN 1877, from the Spanish name Of
Easter Sunday, Pascua Florida taowcry
pasture) the day upon which It was dis
covered.
Georgia Named as colony in honor of
George IL. 4-. .I.
| nlinois--Derives its name from its prin-
! cipal river, which Is named from the Indian
tribe OF Iilini, supposed to mean superior
| men,"
Indiana--Called from the word Indian.
| Iowa. Named from its principal river;
the meaning of the Indian word is vari-
ously stated to be "the beautiful land, !"
"the sleepy ones" "this is the place.
Kansas-Named after the river; the word
in the Indian tongue means 'smoky
water.n
| Kentucky-Derived from the Indian
| tongue, and means ''dark and bloody
ground,r alluding to the many battles
] of the Indian tribes.
Louisiana-Named after Louis XIV. of
| FIuuCts Ill lUfts bN tto ui6NONoittt pthts
Maine-After district in France.
Maryland-After Henrietta Maria, wife
of Charles |.
Massachusetts, Indian chiefs name
Michigan-Named after the lake; the
word is Indian and means 'great lake.
Minnesota Named from the river. In
Indian the word means "sky-tinted water. +"
Mississippi--Indi "father of water.n
Missouri-Named after the river, and
meaning in Indian, ''muddy water"
| Nebraska--Name ia OF Indian origin aud
is supposed to mean 'shallow water.n
Nevada--Name is Of Spanish origin, and
means "snow-covered."
New Hampshire Hampshire County
in England.
New Jersey--Named after the Island of
Jersey.
New York-In honor of the Duke OF
York.
North Carolina, South Carolina--These
two States are named after King Charles
(Carolus) ii.
ohio--Named from the river. The word
in Indian means "beautiful river"
Oregon--0f Spanish origin, means "wild
thyme" ---.--s
Pennsylvania--Named by William Penn
and means "the woody country of Penn. "
Rhode Island-The State perhaps was
named after the Rhoades family, one Of
whom, Zachary Rhoades, was Commits
sioner in 1858.
'Tennessee--In Indian IL means "spoon
shapod.'' TIE 'oJatv 10 named from the
river.
Texas--How and when Texas received
itH name has been subject of much con.
troversy Some assert that 1t is so called be.
cause the original inhabitants had roofe
over their dwellings,, which in the Spanish
language are called teias or texas.
Vermont--ln French means 'green
Mountains
Virginia and West Virginia Named in
honor of Elizabeth, the ''virgin7queen."
Wisconsin--Named after the principal
river which, in Indian, is said to NEAR
''wild rushing river"