Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-20
NAMES OF STATES.
HOW THE DIFFERENT STATES OF
THE UNION WERE NAMED.

Many of the AppeIiations Are of Engiish
Origin-Many Others Are Derived from
Old Indian Words-soms Peculiar Mean
ings in Familiar Terms.
Maine takes its name from the province
of Main, in France, and was SO called rs
compliment to the queen of Charles l.
Henrietta, who was its owner.
New Hampshire takes its name from
Hampshire, England. New Hampshire
was originally called Laconia.
Vermont is French (verd mont, sig
nifying green mountain.
Massachusetts, is an Indian word, sig
nifying country about the great hills. "
Rhode Island gets its name because of
its fancied resemblance to the Island of
Rhodes, in the Mediterranean.
The real name of Connecticut is Quon-
ehGta-but. 1t is Mohegan word, and
means "long river"
New York was so named as a compli-
ment to the Duke of York, whose brother,
Charles III, granted him that territory.
New Jersey was named for Sir George
SdTltt, WIN W dN Nv lttsit llilt
of the Island of Jersey, in the British
channel.
Pennsylvania, as is generally known,
takes its name from William Penn, the
"sylvania' part of it meaning woods.
Literally it is "Penn's Woods"
Delaware derives its name from
Thomas West, Lord de la Ware.
Maryland was named in honor of Hen
rietta Maria, queen of Charles l.
Virginia got its name from Queen
Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen"
The Carolinas were named for Charles
(Carolus) III.
MEANINGS WORTH REMEMBERING.
Florida gets its name from kanunas
de Flores, or Feast of the Flowers"
Alabama comes from a Greek word,
and signifies Land of Rest"
Louisiana was SO named in honor Of
Louis XIV.
Mississippi is Natchez word, and
means Father Of Waters"
Three or four Indian interpretations
have been given for the word Arkansas,
the best being that it signifies "Smoky
Waters" the French prefix ARK" mean
ing bow.
Tennessee, according to some writers,
is from Tenasea, an Indian chief; others
have it that it means River of the Big
Bend"
Kentucky does not mean Dark and
Bloody Ground, but is derived from the
Indian word "Kain-tuk ae," signifying
Land at the Head of the River"
Ohio has had several meanings fitted
to it. Some say that it is Suwanee
word, meaning 1.-THE Beautiful River. .
Others refer to the Wyandotte word,
Oheza, which signified Something
Great"
Indiana means land of Indians.
Illinois is supposed to be derived from
an Indian word which was intended to
refer to superior class of men.
Wisconsin is an Indian word. meaning
wild, Rushing Waters
Missouri means Muddy Waters"
Michigan is from an Indian word,
meaning Great Lake"
The name Kansas is based on the same
as that of Arkansas.
A VALUABLE LIST.
Iowa Is named from an Indian tribe,
the Kiowas; the Kiowas were so called
BY the Illinois Indians because they were
across the river"
The name Of California is a matter Of
much dispute. Some writers say that it
first appeared in Spanish romance of
1880, the heroine being an Amazonian
named California
Colorado is Spanish word, applied to
that portion of the Rocky mountains on
account of its many colored peaks.
Nebraska means shallow waters.
Nevada is Spanish word, signifying
SNOW covered mountains
Georgia had its name bestowed when
it was a colony in honor of George ii.
The Spanish missionaries of 1924 called
the country now known as Texas Mix
tecapah, and the people Mixtecas. From
this last word the name of Texas is sup
posed to have been derived.
Oregon is a Spanish word, ignifying
wales of wild thyme"
Dakota means ''leagued" or "allied
tribes"
Wyoming is the Indian word for "Big
Plains"
Washington gets its name from our
first president.
Montana means mountainous.
Idaho Is name that has never been
Republic.