The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-15
ORIGIN ofHe
NAMES ofHe1
STATES nix
PART II


only one has a name that. like "Cto-
pia" and "Brobdingnag," was made out
of the whole cloth. The name Of Call
fornia was originally given by some OF
the followers of Cortez, the conqueror
of Aztec Mexico, to what Is now known
as Lower California, whence the name
spread to the present state. The
Imagination Of Cortez's men had been
fred by the reading Of an old Spanish
romance Of chivalry called LAS Sergas
de Esplandian," in which was de-
scrfbed a tabled island called Califor-
MIA, where gold and precious stones In
abundance were found, and they gave
this name to the new land which they
had discovered. 1t Is strange that a
name accidentally given should later
prove so descriptive.
As to Oregon, the best information
obtainable regarding the origin Of its
name Is Of varied nature, and several
theories are equally well supported
The first recognized theory is that the
name was taken from that Of species
of wild sage called "origanum," which
grows In profusion on the coast Of the
state. The second Is to the effect that
the name is derived from the Spanish
word "Oregones," meaning "Big-eared
Men," supposed to have been given TO
the natives by a Jesuit priest who set
tied in that country in the early days.
Joaquin Miller, ''the Poet of the
Sierras,'' said that the name came
from the Spanish Aura Aqua" mean
ing Gently Falling Waters" 1t is on
the strength OF these two latter theo-
ries that this name is included with
those of Spanish origin
American and Indian Names.
Two states may be said to have
American names The first is Wash
ington, named for the Father Of His
Country, and the second Indiana. so
called on account of the purchase and
subsequent settlement by various In
dian tribes of large facts Of land north
of the Ohio river and within the pres
ent boundaries Of the state.
When we review Indian state
names. we must remember that there
was no one Indian tongue. Most, if
not all, of these Indian terms have
suffered corruption at the hands Of the
white men, in some cases TO such an /
extent that all connection with the
original word seems TO be lost; but
the names as they remain still retain
their beautiful and sonorous sound. /
The first state TO bear an Indian
name was Massachusetts, which was
named for the bay-indeed, until 17S0
the state bore its colonial name of
Massachusetts Bay" and has been
nicknamed "Old Bay State" The word
means AT or Near the Great Hills"
and probably has reference to the
heights of land around Boston. seen
from the bay when approaching that
city.
The transition from Quonoktacut TO
Connecticut is an example of how In
dian names suffered corruption at the
hands of the white man. The word
means River Whose Water is Driven
In Waves by Tides or Winds" a typi-
cally long and descriptive title and
taken from the principal river of the
state, which was probably so named
from the aspect of its mouth.
In 1541 fernando de Soto, the Span
ish discoverer of the Mississippi. gave
battle TO a tribe of Indians at place
called Alibamo, on the Yazoo river, in
This place was the fort
ress of brave tribe called the Alba
mons or Alabamas, who, after this bat
tie, migrated eastward to the shores of (
a river to which they gave their name
and which In turn gave the state of
its name.
Our greatest river, the Mississippi. I
gives name to one of our Southern |
states. The Indian word means
Gathering In of All the Waters or
Great Long River" which have been
Interpreted by some to mean Father |
Of Waters" although this is not a 5
correct translation. I
Texas. our largest commonwealth
and the only one acquired by anneSa-
ion, has for 8 name an Indian word 8
which originally mean Friends" or
Allies" and which was also used as q
/ form Of greeting. Later it came to v
Indicate a group of tribes generally ]
Illied agains, the Apaches of Arizona b
Some of Uncertain Meaning.
Like many other states. Tennessee n
5 PANIED for its principal river. al t
hough this name was originally given
o one of its southerly tributaries and d
alter spread TO the main stream. The v
ame is Of Cherokee origin and came n
rom village or locality. Tanasse. in RI
abited by this great southern tribe ii
Me meaning of the word has been lost \
nd interpretations, such as Bend in Il
he River from the meanderings of o.
he stream. are merely fanciful.
The Blue Grass state, Kentucky. p
lso bears name of uncertain origin HI
nd meaning. Reliable authorities q
tate that the name was derived from "a
n Indian word. "Kentake," meaning g
Meadow Land" On the other hand, m
gorge Rogers Clark. one of our
reatest pioneers and one of the con- n;
uerors of this region. claimed that W