New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
Origin of Names of States

NJ. W.-What is the derivation Of
the names of the states, and what IS
their meaning?
Alabama-The name is of Indian de-
rivation, and was once supposed to
mean Here we rest" 1t Is aiso said
to be derived from an Indian tribe.
called by the early French colonists
Alibamons. or Alibamous. and subse-
quently merged into the Creek Con-
federation.
Alaska-so called by William H.
Seward is corruption of the Aleut
word Alak'shak. or Al-ay'ek sa. mean
ing. "a great country, or continent"
Arizona-Origin uncertain. Accord
ing to some the name is derived from
the Aztec arizuma, "silver-bearing" !;
according to others, from the former
Papago locality of Arizonaca, probably
meaning place of small springs" a
few miles from the present Nogalis,
where some celebrated nuggets of sill
yer were discovered in 1736-'41. Incl
dentally, it has no connection with
"arid zone"
Arkansas-Derived from an Indian
tribe written Arkansas and Akamsea,
later known as Quopau. oripiN Along
queen, meaning unknown; official pro-
nunciation Ar'kansaw.
California-It is fairly well estab-
lished that the name was taken from
Montalvo's romance, LAS Sergas de
Esplanadian," where it is described as
an unknown vast realm inhabited by
female warriors of black and terrible
aspect; but is supposed by some to
be contraction of the Spanish cali
ente forno, or "hot furnace" applied
by the early navigators to the south
ern section of the state
Colorado-Spanish, meaning "col
ored red
Connecticut-From the Algonquin
Quinni-tuk-ut, long river" accord
ing to some, from the Mohican word
Quon-chta-kut of the same meaning.
Delaware West. Lord de la
Ware, one Of the earlier Governors of
Virginia. gave this state his name
Florida Spanish, flowery, so called
by Ponce de Leon. either from his dis
covery OF it on Easter Sunday Span
ish Pascua florida. Pascua de flores,
flower Easter, or, less probably, on &C.
count Of the abundance Of flowers
which he saw.
Georgia-Namcd by and for George
II of England.
Idaho-Derived from an Indian word,
meaning Gem Of Mountains"
Indiana Presumably SO named be-
cause of the purchase of its site from
the Indians.
Illinois Derived from the Illini con-
federacy of Indians. the termination
having been changed by the French to
ois, the word meaning Superior man."
Kansas-Kanzas (from the Kansas
Indians, called by themselves Kanze),
a word said to refer to the wind
Kentucky the Iroquois Indian
word kentake, meaning meadow land"
Louisiana-Named in honor of Louis
XIV OF France.
Maine-Name variously said to be
France or from the habit of fishermen
along the coast islands of referring to
the mainland as the Main; old docu-
ments give the form Mayne.
Maryland-Named in honor of Queen
Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles
of England
Massachusetts-De from the AL
gonquin Indian tribe, meaning, at or
by the great Hill" presumably the
Blue Hills of Milton.
Michiga gan-From the Algonquin word
Mishigamo or Mishawigama, meaning
great water"
Minnesota-Sioux Indian word first
applied to the river Of that name,
meaning cloudy water
sslssippi-Indian word first ap-
piled to the river of that name, mean
ing great river
Missouri-Indian word first applied
to the river of that name, meaning
muddy water"
Montana-Derived from the Latin,
meaning mountainous region"
Nebraska-N ame from Sioux Indian
word, meaning shallow or broad water,
as applied to the river of that name.
Nevada Spanish, signitying SNOW
clad" or Snowy land" and referring
to the snowcovered mountains along
the western border OF the state.
New Hamps pshire-Named from Hamp~
shire County, England
New Jersey-Named by Sir George
Carteret for mis- home on the Isle OF
Jersey. off the coast of England
New Mexico-Named from old Mex
leo by its SPANS American settlers.
New York-Named after the Duke Of
York, the original grantee.
North Carolina Named after King
Charles II O. England.
North Dakota, with South Dakota
Named from the Sioux lnJian Nakota,
or Dakota, according 10 the dialect, the
common name Of the confederated
Sioux Indian tribes, meaning allies"
Ok.o-Name derived from an Iro-
quois Indian word meaning beautiful
river" and first applied to the river of
this name.
Oklahoma--Named from a Choctaw
Indian word. meaning "ied peonle."