The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-10
NAMES OF STATES.
Meanings of the Names Of the Divisions OF
the Union.

Meanings of the Names of the Divisions OF
the Union.
Maine takes its name from the Province
of Maine In France, and vas so called as q
compliment TO the Queen of Charles /, Hen
Vermont is French lverd Mont. signify
ing green mountain"
Massachusetts is an Indian word, signi-
flying country about the green hills"
Rhode Island gets It's name because OF its
fancied resemblance to the island of
Rhodes. in the Mediterranean.
The real name of Connecticut Is Quon-
eh-ta-cut 1t is Michigan word, and
means long river"
New York was so named AS q compliment
to the Duke of York. W hose brother. Charles
III, granted him that territory.
New Jersey was named for Sir George
Carter, who was at that time Governor of
the Island OF Jersey. in the British chan
mel.
PennsylvanIs, as is generally known.
takes its name from William Penn. the
"sylvanian" part of it meaning woods Lit
orally 1t is "Penn's Woods"
Delaware derives it's name from Thomas
West. Lord de la Wsre.
Maryland was named in honor of Henri
eta Maria, Queen of Charles l.
Virginia got Its name from Queen Eliza
beth. the Virgin Queen"
The Carollnas were named for Charles
(Carolus) III.
Florida got it's name from Kanunas de
Flores, or Feast of the Flowers"
Alabama comes from a Greek word. and
signifies Land of Rest"
Three or fOur Indian interpretations
have been given for the word Arkansas"
the best being that it signifies smoky
waters" the French prefix ARK" meaning
bow.
Tennessee. according to some writer's. Is
from Tenasea, an Indian chief; others have
il that it means River of the Big Bend"
Kentucky does not mean Dark and
Bloody Ground" but 10 derived from the
Indian word. "Kain-tuk-a,", signifying
Land at the Head of the River"
Ohio has had several meanings fitted to
1t. Some say that it is Suwanee word.
meaning The Beautiful River" Others
refer to Oyandotte word, OheZa, which sig
nitied Something Great
Indiana means land of Indians.
Illinois is supposed to be derived from an
Indian word which WAS intended to refer
to a superior class of men.
Wisconsin Is an Indian word, meaning
wild rushing waters
Missouri means Muddy Water"
Michigan is from an Indian word, mean
ing Great Lake."
The name of Kansas is based on the same
as that of Arkansas.
Iowa is named from an Indian tribe, the
Kiowas; the Kiowas were so-called by the
illinois Indians because they were across
| the rlvern
The name of California is a matter of
much dispute. Some writers say that 1t
first appeared in Spanish romance of $780,
the heroine being an Amazonian named
California"
Colorado is q Spanish word applied to
that portion of the Rocky ountains on &C
count of Its many coiored peaks
The Spanish missionaries of 1924 called
the country now known Texas. Mixte-
capah. and the people Mixecas. From this
last word the name of Texas is supposed to
have been derived.
Oregon 10 Spanish word signifying
wales Of wild thyme"
Nebraska means shallow waters.
Nevada is q Spanish word. signifying
"snow-covered mountains."
Georgia had it's name bestowed when it
was colony. in honor of George III.
Dakota means "leagued"o or "alIied tribes. -
Wyoming Is the Indian word for big
Plains"
Washington gets it's name from our first
President.
Montana means mountainous.
Idaho 10 Q name that has never been sat-
isfactorily accounted for.