Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-22
ORIGIN OF NAMES OF STATES.

ORIGIN OF NAMES OF STATES.
A Valuable Chapter in the study OF Amer
lean EtymoIoEv.
The name of California first origi-
mated in the imagination of the author
OF Spanish romance, Les Sergus de
Esplandian." Here the 'Island of
California, where great abundance OF
gold and precious stones is found"
was described. The name was proba-
bly, given to the territory now en-
braced in this state by some of the
Spaniar1s with Cortez, who, no doubt,
had read this sensational romance.
Oregon was a name formerly given
TO an imaginary river of the west.
Carver. an American traveller. mentions
It in 1868. In describing the river he
evidently COMPOUNDED it with the Mis-
souri,, but the name was finally :ao-
Piled &c the present state of that name.
New Hampshire was named from
Hampshire county, in England, by John
Mason, of the Plymouth company. to
whom the territory 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 word ''massa." great.
"-vadehuash." mountains or hills. and
the suttix set" meaning at or near.
There are many conflicting opinions
concerning the origin of the name of
Rhode Island. Some believe it to be
named from the Isle of Rhoda: others
from the Dutch Roode Eslanat. signify
ing red island. 1t might also have
been called Road Island or Roadstead
Island, being near the harbor.
Connecticut. spelled in an Indian d.
acct. Observation-Disclosures, signified land
CT 4 long tidal river
New Yorl, is named from the duke of
York, the original grantee. In the
charter he was given ali the land from
the west s. de 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 Encland-s great civil war, had bravely
defended the Isle of Jersey, in the
British Channel, and his new posses
sions in America were named in COM
naemoration of this fact.
Pennsylvania was founded by Will
ieIn Penn. and it was the only state
named from its founder The suffix
"cvivania" signifies forest land" and
is descriptive of the general character
o. the country. Three counties lying
southeast OF Pennsylvania were for
merry territories of that state. In 1901
they were granted a charter. and
named Delaware, after Lord De La
War who first explored the bay into
which the river empties-
MARYLAND was named from Queen
Henrietta Maria. In the charter its
name in Latin was Terra Mariae.
meaning land of Maria or Mary's land
Virginia was called in honor of
Queen Eliza leth, who was known as
t..Ssyirgin queen.
The territory of the Carolinas was
granted to the French settlers in 1862.
and named after Charles !. of France.
King George III. of England was the
sponsor Cor the southern state OF Geor-
ga
The name of Maine was given TO that
state 6escriptively, since in the original
charter It was considered the "Mayne
Land OF New England"
Vermont was also descriptive name.
being formed from two French words,
..vard- and mont" meaning green
mountains
Kentucky is from Kentuckee, an In
dian Shawuoese word, signifying 1.-The
head of a river" or '1ong river.
Mississippi is from the Indian Mees-
yeedee, meaning not 1.-THE father OF
waters but 1.-THE great water"
Colorado is named from the Rio Colo
RADIO. The name is of Spanish origin.
and means s.ruddy" or red" referring
TO The color of the water of that river
Tennessee is supposed to have been
named from Tenas See, one OF the chie1
villages of the Cherokee Indians, which
was located on the banks of the Ten
nessee river.
The name of Minnesota is from the
Indian Minisotah, meaning 'eolored
water
Nebraska takes its name from the
Nebraska river. The name is OF indlah
origin. meaning shallow river.
Kansas is also named from its prin-
c;pal river. A tribe of Indians, for
,merly in that locality, were known as
the Konsos or Rows, and the state Is
probably named from them
The origin of the name OF the PENN
sular state of Florida is told by his
torians as follows: I'm lol2 romeo oe
Leon sailed from France 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