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List of state and territory name etymologies of the United States

April 28, 2023

The fifty U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the five inhabited U.S. territories, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands have taken their names from a wide variety of languages. The names of 24 states derive from indigenous languages of the Americas and one from Hawaiian. Of those that come from Native American languages, eight come from Algonquian languages, seven from Siouan languages (one of those via Miami-Illinois, which is an Algonquian language), three from Iroquoian languages, two from Muskogean languages, one from a Caddoan language, one from an Eskimo-Aleut language, one from a Uto-Aztecan language, and one from either an Athabaskan language or a Uto-Aztecan language.

Map showing the source languages/language families of state names

Twenty other state names derive from European languages: seven come from Latin (mostly from Latinized forms of English personal names, one of those coming from Welsh), five from English, five from Spanish, and three from French (one of those via English). The source language/language family of the remaining five states is disputed or unclear: Arizona, Idaho, Maine, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

Of the fifty states, eleven are named after an individual person. Six of those are named in honor of European monarchs: the two Carolinas, the two Virginias, Georgia, and Louisiana. In addition, Maryland is named after Queen Henrietta Maria, queen consort of King Charles I of England, and New York after the then-Duke of York, who later became King James II of England. Over the years, several attempts have been made to name a state after one of the Founding Fathers or other great statesmen of U.S. history: the State of Franklin, the State of Jefferson (three separate attempts), the State of Lincoln (two separate attempts), and the State of Washington; in the end, only Washington materialized (Washington Territory was carved out of the Columbia District and renamed Washington in order to avoid confusion with the District of Columbia, which contains the city of Washington).[1][2]

Several of the states that derive their names from (corrupted) names used for Native peoples have retained the plural ending in "s": Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Texas. One common naming pattern has been as follows:

Native tribal group → River → Territory → State

State names

State name Date first attested in original language Language of origin Word(s) in original language Meaning and notes
  Alabama
 		 April 19, 1692 Choctaw/Alabama alba amo/Albaamaha 'Thicket-clearers'[3] or 'plant-cutters', from alba, '(medicinal) plants', and amo, 'to clear'. The modern Choctaw name for the tribe is Albaamu.[4]
  Alaska
 		 December 2, 1666 Aleut via Russian alaxsxaq via Аляска (Alyaska) 'Mainland' (literally 'the object towards which the action of the sea is directed').[5]
  Arizona
 		 February 1, 1883 Basque aritz ona 'The good oak'.[6]
Oʼodham via Spanish ali ṣona-g via Arizonac[7] 'Having a little spring'.[8]
  Arkansas
 		 July 20, 1796 Kansa, Quapaw via Miami-Illinois and French akakaze via Arcansas Borrowed from a French spelling of a Miami-Illinois rendering of the tribal name kką:ze (see Kansas, below), which the Miami and Illinois used to refer to the Quapaw.[8][9][10][11]
  California
 		 May 22, 1850 Spanish california Probably named for the fictional Island of California ruled by Queen Calafia in the 16th-century novel Las sergas de Esplandián by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.[12]
See also: Etymology of California
  Colorado
 		 1743 Spanish colorado 'Ruddy' or 'red',[13] originally referring to the Colorado River.[14]
  Connecticut
 		 April 15, 1696 Eastern Algonquian, Mohegan-Pequot quinnitukqut From some Eastern Algonquian language of southern New England (perhaps Mahican), meaning 'at the long tidal river', after the Connecticut River.[15][16] The name reflects Proto-Eastern-Algonquian *kwən-, 'long'; *-əhtəkw, 'tidal river'; and *-ənk, the locative suffix).[17]
  Delaware
 		 January 31, 1680 French via English de la Warr After the Delaware River, which was named for Lord de la Warr (originally probably Norman French de la guerre or de la werre, 'of the war').[18] Lord de la Warr was the first Governor-General of the Colony of Virginia.[19]
  Florida
 		 April 2, 1513 Spanish (pascua) florida 'Flowery (Easter)'[20] (to distinguish it from Christmastide, which was also called Pascua), in honor of its discovery by the Spanish during the Easter season.[21]
  Georgia
 		 October 3, 1674 Latin via English (ultimately from Greek) Georgius The feminine Latin form of "George", named after King George II of Great Britain.[22][23] It was also a reference to Saint George, whose name was derived from the Greek word georgos, meaning 'husbandman' or 'farmer', from ge 'earth' + ergon 'work'.[24]
  Hawaii
 		 December 29, 1879 Hawaiian Hawaiʻi Either from Hawaiki, legendary homeland of the Polynesians[25] (Hawaiki is believed to mean 'place of the gods'),[26] or named for Hawaiʻiloa, legendary discoverer of the Hawaiian Islands.[27]
  Idaho
 		 June 6, 1864 none Idaho Probably made up by George M. "Doc" Willing as a practical joke; originally claimed to have been derived from a word in a Native American language that meant 'Gem of the Mountains'.[28] The name was initially proposed for the Territory of Colorado until its origins were discovered. Years later it fell into common usage, and was proposed for the Territory of Idaho instead.[29][30]
Plains Apache ídaahę́ Possibly from the Plains Apache word for 'enemy' (ídaahę́), which was used to refer to the Comanches.[31]
  Illinois
 		 March 24, 1793 Algonquian, Miami-Illinois via French ilenweewa The state is named for the French adaptation of an Algonquian language (perhaps Miami-Illinois) word apparently meaning 'speaks normally' (cf. Miami-Illinois ilenweewa,[32] Ojibwe <ilinoüek>,[33] Proto-Algonquian *elen-, 'ordinary', and -we·, 'to speak'),[34] referring to the Illiniwek (Illinois).[33]
  Indiana
 		 December 2, 1794 Latin (ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian) indiāna 'Land of the Indians'.[35] The names "Indians" and "India" come, via Greek and Persian, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sindhu-, which originally referred to the Indus River.[36]
  Iowa
 		 August 31, 1818 Dakota, Chiwere via French ayúxba / ayuxwe via Aiouez Via French Aiouez, and named after the Iowa tribe. This demonym has no further known etymology,[37][38] though some give it the meaning 'sleepy ones'.[39]
  Kansas
 		 May 12, 1832 Kansa via French kką:ze via Cansez[40] Named after the Kansas River,[41][42] which in turn was named after the Kaw or Kansas tribe.[9] The name seems to be connected to the idea of "wind".[43]
  Kentucky
 		 April 28, 1728 Iroquoian (see Meaning and notes) Originally referring to the Kentucky River. While some sources say the etymology is uncertain,[44][45] most agree on a meaning of '(on) the meadow' or '(on) the prairie'[46][47] (cf. Mohawk kenhtà:ke, Seneca gëdá’geh (phonemic /kẽtaʔkeh/), 'at the field').[48]
  Louisiana
 		 July 18, 1787 French (ultimately from Frankish) Louisiane After King Louis XIV of France.[49] The name Louis itself comes from Frankish hluda, 'heard of, famous' (cf. loud) + wiga, 'war'.[50]
  Maine
 		 October 13, 1729 English main A common historical etymology is that the name refers to the mainland, as opposed to the coastal islands.[51][52]
French Maine After the French province of Maine.[53]
English (Broad)mayne A more recent proposal is that the state was named after the English village of Broadmayne, which was the family estate of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the colony's founder.[29][54]
  Maryland
 		 January 18, 1691 English (ultimately from Hebrew) Myriam After Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England.[55] The name Mary originally meant 'bitterness' or 'rebelliousness' in Hebrew, and could also have come from the Egyptian word for 'beloved' or 'love'.[56]
  Massachusetts
 		 June 4, 1665 Eastern Algonquian, Massachusett muhsachuweesut Plural of muswachusut, meaning 'near the great little-mountain' or 'at the great hill', which is usually identified as Great Blue Hill on the border of Milton and Canton, Massachusetts[57] (cf. the Narragansett name Massachusêuck).[57]
  Michigan
 		 October 28, 1811 Ojibwe via French ᒥᔑᑲᒥ (mishigami) 'Large water' or 'large lake'[58][59] (in Old Algonquin, *meshi-gami).[60]
  Minnesota
 		 April 21, 1821 Dakota mní sóta 'Cloudy water', referring to the Minnesota River.[16][61]
  Mississippi
 		 March 9, 1800 Ojibwe via French ᒥᓯᓰᐱ (misi-ziibi) 'Great river', after the Mississippi River.[58][62]
  Missouri
 		 September 7, 1805 Miami-Illinois via French wimihsoorita 'Dugout canoe'. The Missouri tribe was noteworthy among the Illinois for their dugout canoes, and so was referred to as the wimihsoorita, 'one who has a wood boat [dugout canoe]'.[63]
  Montana
 		 November 1, 1860 Spanish montaña 'Mountain'.[64]
  Nebraska
 		 June 22, 1847 Chiwere ñįbraske 'Flattened water', after the Platte River, which used to be known as the Nebraska River. Due to the flatness of the plains, flooding of the river would inundate the region with a flat expanse of water.[65]
  Nevada
 		 February 9, 1845 Spanish nevada 'Snow-covered',[66] after the Sierra Nevada ('snow-covered mountains').
  New Hampshire
 		 August 27, 1692 English (ultimately from Old English) Hampshire After the county of Hampshire in England,[67] whose name is derived from the original name for its largest city, Southampton, that being Hamtun, which is an Old English word that roughly translates to 'Village-Town'.
  New Jersey
 		 April 2, 1669 English (ultimately from Old Norse) Jersey After Jersey,[68] the largest of the British Channel Islands and the birthplace of one of the colony's two co-founders, Sir George Carteret.[68] The Latin name Caesarea was also applied to the colony of New Jersey as Nova Caesarea, because the Roman name of the island was thought to have been Caesarea.[69][70] The name "Jersey" most likely comes from the Norse name Geirrsey, meaning 'Geirr's Island'.[71]
  New Mexico
 		 November 1, 1859 Nahuatl via Spanish Mēxihco via Nuevo México From Spanish Nuevo México.[72] The name Mexico comes from Nahuatl Mēxihca (pronounced [meːˈʃiʔko]), which referred to the Aztec people who founded the city of Tenochtitlan.[73][74] Its literal meaning is unknown, though many possibilities have been proposed, such as that the name comes from the god Metztli.[75]
  New York
 		 October 15, 1680 English York After the then-Duke of York (later King James II of England). Named by then-King Charles II of England, James II's brother.[76] The name "York" is derived from its Latin name Eboracum (via Old English Eoforwic and then Old Norse Jórvík), apparently borrowed from Brythonic Celtic *eborakon, which probably meant 'Yew-Tree Estate'.[77]
See also: York § Origin of the name
  North Carolina
 		 June 30, 1686 Latin via English (ultimately from Frankish) Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England.[78] The name Charles itself is derived from Frankish karl, 'man, husband'.[79]
  North Dakota
 		 November 2, 1867 Sioux/Dakota dakhóta 'Ally' or 'friend',[65] after the Dakota tribe.[80]
  Ohio
 		 April 19, 1785 Seneca via French ohi:yo’[81] 'Large creek',[46] originally the name of both the Ohio River and Allegheny River.[82] Often incorrectly translated as 'beautiful river',[83] due to a French mistranslation.[32]
  Oklahoma
 		 September 5, 1842 Choctaw okla + homa Devised as a rough translation of 'Indian Territory'. In Choctaw, okla means 'people', 'tribe', or 'nation', and homa- means 'red', thus 'red people'.[16][84]
  Oregon
 		 July 20, 1860 Unknown Disputed Disputed meaning. First named by Major Robert Rogers in a petition to King George III.[85]
Further information: Etymology of Oregon
  Pennsylvania
 		 March 8, 1650 Welsh and Latin Penn + silvania 'Penn's woods', after Admiral William Penn, the father of its founder William Penn.[86] Pennsylvania is the only state that shares part of its name with its founder.[87] The name "Penn" comes from the Welsh word for 'head'.[88]
  Rhode Island
 		 February 3, 1680 Dutch roodt eylandt 'Red island', referring to Aquidneck Island.[89] The Modern Dutch form of the phrase is 'rood eiland'.
Greek Ρόδος (Ródos) For a resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea.[89]
  South Carolina
 		 November 12, 1687 Latin via English (ultimately from Frankish) Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England.[78] The name Charles itself is derived from Frankish karl, 'man, husband'.[79]
  South Dakota
 		 November 2, 1867 Sioux/Dakota dakhóta 'Ally' or 'friend',[65] after the Dakota tribe.[80]
  Tennessee
 		 May 24, 1747 Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ (tanasi) Tanasi (in Cherokee: ᏔᎾᏏ) was the name of a Cherokee village;[90] the meaning is unknown.[91]
  Texas
 		 June 30, 1827 Caddo via Spanish táyshaʔ via Tejas 'Friend',[92] used by the Caddo to refer the larger Caddo nation (in opposition to enemy tribes). The name was borrowed into Spanish as texa, plural texas, and was used to refer to the Nabedache people (and later to the Caddo Nation in general). When the Spanish decided to convert the Nabedache to Catholicism, they constructed La Misión de San Francisco de los Texas, which later came to be used in naming the Viceroyalty of New Spain’s province.[93]
  Utah
 		 December 20, 1877 Apache via Spanish yúdah via yuta From the Spanish designation for the Ute people, yuta, in turn perhaps a borrowing from Western Apache yúdah, meaning 'high',[94] sometimes incorrectly translated as 'people of the mountains'.[95][96]
Ute via Spanish noochee via yuta From the Ute's self-designation [nutʃi̥], plural [nuːtʃiu], as suggested by J. P. Harrington,[97][98] though this etymology is disputed.[99]
  Vermont
 		 September 27, 1721 French vert + mont 'Green mount' or 'green mountain'; vert in French means 'green', and mont means 'mount' or 'mountain'. However, in French, 'green mountain' would actually be written mont vert.[100][101]
  Virginia
 		 March 21, 1652 Latin Virginia 'Country of the Virgin', after Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the "Virgin Queen" because she never married.[102]
  Washington
 		 February 22, 1872 English Washington After George Washington,[103] whose surname was in turn derived from the town of Washington in historic County Durham, England.[104][105] The etymology of the town's name is disputed, but agreed to be ultimately Old English.
  West Virginia
 		 September 1, 1831 Latin Virginia The western, transmontane counties of Virginia, which separated from Virginia during the American Civil War. See Virginia, above.
  Wisconsin
 		 February 5, 1822 Miami-Illinois via French Meeskohsinki[106] via Ouisconsin(k) Originally spelled Mescousing by the French, and later corrupted to Ouisconsin.[107] It likely derives from a Miami-Illinois word Meskonsing, meaning 'it lies red' or 'river running through a red place'.[107][108] It may also come from the Ojibwe term miskwasiniing, 'red-stone place'.[58]
  Wyoming
 		 August 14, 1877 Munsee/Delaware xwé:wamənk 'At the big river flat'; the name was transplanted westward from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.[109]

Territory and federal district names

Territory or federal district name Year first attested in original language Language of origin Word(s) in original language Meaning and notes
  American Samoa
 		 1911[110][note 1]
(July 17)		 English and Samoan American + Sāmoa The CIA World Factbook says "The name Samoa is composed of two parts, 'sa', meaning sacred, and 'moa', meaning center, so the name can mean Holy Center; alternately, it can mean 'place of the sacred moa bird' of Polynesian mythology."[112] "American" is ultimately derived from Amerigo Vespucci.[113] The name "American Samoa" first started being used by the U.S. Navy around 1904,[111] and "American Samoa" was made official in 1911.[112]
  District of Columbia
 		 1738 New Latin Columbia Named for Christopher Columbus (Columbia).
  Guam
 		 1898[114][note 2]
(December 10)		 Chamorro Guåhan 'What we have', from Guåhån in Chamorro language.[115] The name "Guam" was first used in the Treaty of Paris (1898).[114]
  Northern Mariana Islands
 		 1667[116][note 3] Spanish Islas Marianas Mariana Islands chain named by Spain for Mariana of Austria.[117][116]
  Puerto Rico
 		 1493[118] Spanish puerto rico "Rich port".[119] The CIA World Factbook says "Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Ciudad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan."[118]
  U.S. Virgin Islands
 		 1493[120] Spanish Islas Vírgenes Named by Christopher Columbus for Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins.[121][120] The name "Virgin Islands of the United States" (U.S. Virgin Islands) was adopted in 1917 when the islands were purchased by the U.S. from Denmark.[122][note 4]
  United States Minor Outlying Islands
 		 Various Various Various The name "United States Minor Outlying Islands" started to be used in 1986.[123] Previously, some of the islands were included in a group called "United States Miscellaneous Pacific Islands".
  • Baker Island was named for Michael Baker in 1832.[124]
  • Howland Island was named after a whaling vessel in 1842.[125]
  • Jarvis Island was named after three people named "Jarvis" in 1821 (when they discovered the island).[126]
  • Johnston Atoll was named for Captain Charles Johnston in 1807.[127]
  • Kingman Reef was named for Captain W. E. Kingman in 1853.[128]
  • Midway Atoll was named in the 19th century for its location being approximately halfway between North America and Asia.[129]
  • The CIA World Factbook says this about Navassa Island: "The flat island was named 'Navaza' by some of Christopher Columbus' sailors in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish term "nava" meaning 'flat land, plain, or field'".[130]
  • Palmyra Atoll was named in 1802 when the USS Palmyra shipwrecked there.[131]
  • Wake Island was named after Samuel Wake, a British captain, in 1796. A different captain, William Wake, discovered the island in 1792.[132]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This is the date that the name "American Samoa" was officially adopted.[110] It had been used unofficially since about 1904.[111] It is unclear when the word "Samoa" first started being used.
  2. ^ This is the date for the origin of the name "Guam", not "Guåhån". There is no information about when "Guåhån" first started being used.
  3. ^ 1667 is the date the Mariana Islands were named; the name "Northern Mariana Islands" appears to have been first used when its constitution was created on January 9, 1978.[116] Previously it was called the "Mariana Islands District" (within the TTPI).[116]
  4. ^ Some of the Virgin Islands became, and still are, a separate political area — the British Virgin Islands.

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Bibliography

  • Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
  • Guyton, Kathy (2009). U.S. State Names: The Stories of How Our States Were Named Nederland, Colorado: Mountain Storm Press.

External links

April 28, 2023
list, state, territory, name, etymologies, united, states, fifty, states, district, columbia, five, inhabited, territories, minor, outlying, islands, have, taken, their, names, from, wide, variety, languages, names, states, derive, from, indigenous, languages,. The fifty U S states the District of Columbia the five inhabited U S territories and the U S Minor Outlying Islands have taken their names from a wide variety of languages The names of 24 states derive from indigenous languages of the Americas and one from Hawaiian Of those that come from Native American languages eight come from Algonquian languages seven from Siouan languages one of those via Miami Illinois which is an Algonquian language three from Iroquoian languages two from Muskogean languages one from a Caddoan language one from an Eskimo Aleut language one from a Uto Aztecan language and one from either an Athabaskan language or a Uto Aztecan language Map showing the source languages language families of state names Twenty other state names derive from European languages seven come from Latin mostly from Latinized forms of English personal names one of those coming from Welsh five from English five from Spanish and three from French one of those via English The source language language family of the remaining five states is disputed or unclear Arizona Idaho Maine Oregon and Rhode Island Of the fifty states eleven are named after an individual person Six of those are named in honor of European monarchs the two Carolinas the two Virginias Georgia and Louisiana In addition Maryland is named after Queen Henrietta Maria queen consort of King Charles I of England and New York after the then Duke of York who later became King James II of England Over the years several attempts have been made to name a state after one of the Founding Fathers or other great statesmen of U S history the State of Franklin the State of Jefferson three separate attempts the State of Lincoln two separate attempts and the State of Washington in the end only Washington materialized Washington Territory was carved out of the Columbia District and renamed Washington in order to avoid confusion with the District of Columbia which contains the city of Washington 1 2 Several of the states that derive their names from corrupted names used for Native peoples have retained the plural ending in s Arkansas Illinois Kansas Massachusetts and Texas One common naming pattern has been as follows Native tribal group River Territory State Contents 1 State names 2 Territory and federal district names 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksState names EditState name Date first attested in original language Language of origin Word s in original language Meaning and notes Alabama April 19 1692 Choctaw Alabama alba amo Albaamaha Thicket clearers 3 or plant cutters from alba medicinal plants and amo to clear The modern Choctaw name for the tribe is Albaamu 4 Alaska December 2 1666 Aleut via Russian alaxsxaq via Alyaska Alyaska Mainland literally the object towards which the action of the sea is directed 5 Arizona February 1 1883 Basque aritz ona The good oak 6 Oʼodham via Spanish ali ṣona g via Arizonac 7 Having a little spring 8 Arkansas July 20 1796 Kansa Quapaw via Miami Illinois and French akakaze via Arcansas Borrowed from a French spelling of a Miami Illinois rendering of the tribal name kka ze see Kansas below which the Miami and Illinois used to refer to the Quapaw 8 9 10 11 California May 22 1850 Spanish california Probably named for the fictional Island of California ruled by Queen Calafia in the 16th century novel Las sergas de Esplandian by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo 12 See also Etymology of California Colorado 1743 Spanish colorado Ruddy or red 13 originally referring to the Colorado River 14 Connecticut April 15 1696 Eastern Algonquian Mohegan Pequot quinnitukqut From some Eastern Algonquian language of southern New England perhaps Mahican meaning at the long tidal river after the Connecticut River 15 16 The name reflects Proto Eastern Algonquian kwen long ehtekw tidal river and enk the locative suffix 17 Delaware January 31 1680 French via English de la Warr After the Delaware River which was named for Lord de la Warr originally probably Norman French de la guerre or de la werre of the war 18 Lord de la Warr was the first Governor General of the Colony of Virginia 19 Florida April 2 1513 Spanish pascua florida Flowery Easter 20 to distinguish it from Christmastide which was also called Pascua in honor of its discovery by the Spanish during the Easter season 21 Georgia October 3 1674 Latin via English ultimately from Greek Georgius The feminine Latin form of George named after King George II of Great Britain 22 23 It was also a reference to Saint George whose name was derived from the Greek word georgos meaning husbandman or farmer from ge earth ergon work 24 Hawaii December 29 1879 Hawaiian Hawaiʻi Either from Hawaiki legendary homeland of the Polynesians 25 Hawaiki is believed to mean place of the gods 26 or named for Hawaiʻiloa legendary discoverer of the Hawaiian Islands 27 Idaho June 6 1864 none Idaho Probably made up by George M Doc Willing as a practical joke originally claimed to have been derived from a word in a Native American language that meant Gem of the Mountains 28 The name was initially proposed for the Territory of Colorado until its origins were discovered Years later it fell into common usage and was proposed for the Territory of Idaho instead 29 30 Plains Apache idaahe Possibly from the Plains Apache word for enemy idaahe which was used to refer to the Comanches 31 Illinois March 24 1793 Algonquian Miami Illinois via French ilenweewa The state is named for the French adaptation of an Algonquian language perhaps Miami Illinois word apparently meaning speaks normally cf Miami Illinois ilenweewa 32 Ojibwe lt ilinouek gt 33 Proto Algonquian elen ordinary and we to speak 34 referring to the Illiniwek Illinois 33 Indiana December 2 1794 Latin ultimately from Proto Indo Iranian indiana Land of the Indians 35 The names Indians and India come via Greek and Persian from Proto Indo Iranian sindhu which originally referred to the Indus River 36 Iowa August 31 1818 Dakota Chiwere via French ayuxba ayuxwe via Aiouez Via French Aiouez and named after the Iowa tribe This demonym has no further known etymology 37 38 though some give it the meaning sleepy ones 39 Kansas May 12 1832 Kansa via French kka ze via Cansez 40 Named after the Kansas River 41 42 which in turn was named after the Kaw or Kansas tribe 9 The name seems to be connected to the idea of wind 43 Kentucky April 28 1728 Iroquoian see Meaning and notes Originally referring to the Kentucky River While some sources say the etymology is uncertain 44 45 most agree on a meaning of on the meadow or on the prairie 46 47 cf Mohawk kenhta ke Seneca geda geh phonemic kẽtaʔkeh at the field 48 Louisiana July 18 1787 French ultimately from Frankish Louisiane After King Louis XIV of France 49 The name Louis itself comes from Frankish hluda heard of famous cf loud wiga war 50 Maine October 13 1729 English main A common historical etymology is that the name refers to the mainland as opposed to the coastal islands 51 52 French Maine After the French province of Maine 53 English Broad mayne A more recent proposal is that the state was named after the English village of Broadmayne which was the family estate of Sir Ferdinando Gorges the colony s founder 29 54 Maryland January 18 1691 English ultimately from Hebrew Myriam After Queen Henrietta Maria wife of King Charles I of England 55 The name Mary originally meant bitterness or rebelliousness in Hebrew and could also have come from the Egyptian word for beloved or love 56 Massachusetts June 4 1665 Eastern Algonquian Massachusett muhsachuweesut Plural of muswachusut meaning near the great little mountain or at the great hill which is usually identified as Great Blue Hill on the border of Milton and Canton Massachusetts 57 cf the Narragansett name Massachuseuck 57 Michigan October 28 1811 Ojibwe via French ᒥᔑᑲᒥ mishigami Large water or large lake 58 59 in Old Algonquin meshi gami 60 Minnesota April 21 1821 Dakota mni sota Cloudy water referring to the Minnesota River 16 61 Mississippi March 9 1800 Ojibwe via French ᒥᓯᓰᐱ misi ziibi Great river after the Mississippi River 58 62 Missouri September 7 1805 Miami Illinois via French wimihsoorita Dugout canoe The Missouri tribe was noteworthy among the Illinois for their dugout canoes and so was referred to as the wimihsoorita one who has a wood boat dugout canoe 63 Montana November 1 1860 Spanish montana Mountain 64 Nebraska June 22 1847 Chiwere nįbraske Flattened water after the Platte River which used to be known as the Nebraska River Due to the flatness of the plains flooding of the river would inundate the region with a flat expanse of water 65 Nevada February 9 1845 Spanish nevada Snow covered 66 after the Sierra Nevada snow covered mountains New Hampshire August 27 1692 English ultimately from Old English Hampshire After the county of Hampshire in England 67 whose name is derived from the original name for its largest city Southampton that being Hamtun which is an Old English word that roughly translates to Village Town New Jersey April 2 1669 English ultimately from Old Norse Jersey After Jersey 68 the largest of the British Channel Islands and the birthplace of one of the colony s two co founders Sir George Carteret 68 The Latin name Caesarea was also applied to the colony of New Jersey as Nova Caesarea because the Roman name of the island was thought to have been Caesarea 69 70 The name Jersey most likely comes from the Norse name Geirrsey meaning Geirr s Island 71 New Mexico November 1 1859 Nahuatl via Spanish Mexihco via Nuevo Mexico From Spanish Nuevo Mexico 72 The name Mexico comes from Nahuatl Mexihca pronounced meːˈʃiʔko which referred to the Aztec people who founded the city of Tenochtitlan 73 74 Its literal meaning is unknown though many possibilities have been proposed such as that the name comes from the god Metztli 75 New York October 15 1680 English York After the then Duke of York later King James II of England Named by then King Charles II of England James II s brother 76 The name York is derived from its Latin name Eboracum via Old English Eoforwic and then Old Norse Jorvik apparently borrowed from Brythonic Celtic eborakon which probably meant Yew Tree Estate 77 See also York Origin of the name North Carolina June 30 1686 Latin via English ultimately from Frankish Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England 78 The name Charles itself is derived from Frankish karl man husband 79 North Dakota November 2 1867 Sioux Dakota dakhota Ally or friend 65 after the Dakota tribe 80 Ohio April 19 1785 Seneca via French ohi yo 81 Large creek 46 originally the name of both the Ohio River and Allegheny River 82 Often incorrectly translated as beautiful river 83 due to a French mistranslation 32 Oklahoma September 5 1842 Choctaw okla homa Devised as a rough translation of Indian Territory In Choctaw okla means people tribe or nation and homa means red thus red people 16 84 Oregon July 20 1860 Unknown Disputed Disputed meaning First named by Major Robert Rogers in a petition to King George III 85 Further information Etymology of Oregon Pennsylvania March 8 1650 Welsh and Latin Penn silvania Penn s woods after Admiral William Penn the father of its founder William Penn 86 Pennsylvania is the only state that shares part of its name with its founder 87 The name Penn comes from the Welsh word for head 88 Rhode Island February 3 1680 Dutch roodt eylandt Red island referring to Aquidneck Island 89 The Modern Dutch form of the phrase is rood eiland Greek Rodos Rodos For a resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea 89 South Carolina November 12 1687 Latin via English ultimately from Frankish Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England 78 The name Charles itself is derived from Frankish karl man husband 79 South Dakota November 2 1867 Sioux Dakota dakhota Ally or friend 65 after the Dakota tribe 80 Tennessee May 24 1747 Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ tanasi Tanasi in Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ was the name of a Cherokee village 90 the meaning is unknown 91 Texas June 30 1827 Caddo via Spanish tayshaʔ via Tejas Friend 92 used by the Caddo to refer the larger Caddo nation in opposition to enemy tribes The name was borrowed into Spanish as texa plural texas and was used to refer to the Nabedache people and later to the Caddo Nation in general When the Spanish decided to convert the Nabedache to Catholicism they constructed La Mision de San Francisco de los Texas which later came to be used in naming the Viceroyalty of New Spain s province 93 Utah December 20 1877 Apache via Spanish yudah via yuta From the Spanish designation for the Ute people yuta in turn perhaps a borrowing from Western Apache yudah meaning high 94 sometimes incorrectly translated as people of the mountains 95 96 Ute via Spanish noochee via yuta From the Ute s self designation nutʃi plural nuːtʃiu as suggested by J P Harrington 97 98 though this etymology is disputed 99 Vermont September 27 1721 French vert mont Green mount or green mountain vert in French means green and mont means mount or mountain However in French green mountain would actually be written mont vert 100 101 Virginia March 21 1652 Latin Virginia Country of the Virgin after Elizabeth I of England who was known as the Virgin Queen because she never married 102 Washington February 22 1872 English Washington After George Washington 103 whose surname was in turn derived from the town of Washington in historic County Durham England 104 105 The etymology of the town s name is disputed but agreed to be ultimately Old English West Virginia September 1 1831 Latin Virginia The western transmontane counties of Virginia which separated from Virginia during the American Civil War See Virginia above Wisconsin February 5 1822 Miami Illinois via French Meeskohsinki 106 via Ouisconsin k Originally spelled Mescousing by the French and later corrupted to Ouisconsin 107 It likely derives from a Miami Illinois word Meskonsing meaning it lies red or river running through a red place 107 108 It may also come from the Ojibwe term miskwasiniing red stone place 58 Wyoming August 14 1877 Munsee Delaware xwe wamenk At the big river flat the name was transplanted westward from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania 109 Territory and federal district names EditTerritory or federal district name Year first attested in original language Language of origin Word s in original language Meaning and notes American Samoa 1911 110 note 1 July 17 English and Samoan American Samoa The CIA World Factbook says The name Samoa is composed of two parts sa meaning sacred and moa meaning center so the name can mean Holy Center alternately it can mean place of the sacred moa bird of Polynesian mythology 112 American is ultimately derived from Amerigo Vespucci 113 The name American Samoa first started being used by the U S Navy around 1904 111 and American Samoa was made official in 1911 112 District of Columbia 1738 New Latin Columbia Named for Christopher Columbus Columbia Guam 1898 114 note 2 December 10 Chamorro Guahan What we have from Guahan in Chamorro language 115 The name Guam was first used in the Treaty of Paris 1898 114 Northern Mariana Islands 1667 116 note 3 Spanish Islas Marianas Mariana Islands chain named by Spain for Mariana of Austria 117 116 Puerto Rico 1493 118 Spanish puerto rico Rich port 119 The CIA World Factbook says Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista Saint John the Baptist and the capital city and main port Ciudad de Puerto Rico Rich Port City over time however the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan 118 U S Virgin Islands 1493 120 Spanish Islas Virgenes Named by Christopher Columbus for Saint Ursula and her 11 000 virgins 121 120 The name Virgin Islands of the United States U S Virgin Islands was adopted in 1917 when the islands were purchased by the U S from Denmark 122 note 4 United States Minor Outlying Islands Various Various Various The name United States Minor Outlying Islands started to be used in 1986 123 Previously some of the islands were included in a group called United States Miscellaneous Pacific Islands Baker Island was named for Michael Baker in 1832 124 Howland Island was named after a whaling vessel in 1842 125 Jarvis Island was named after three people named Jarvis in 1821 when they discovered the island 126 Johnston Atoll was named for Captain Charles Johnston in 1807 127 Kingman Reef was named for Captain W E Kingman in 1853 128 Midway Atoll was named in the 19th century for its location being approximately halfway between North America and Asia 129 The CIA World Factbook says this about Navassa Island The flat island was named Navaza by some of Christopher Columbus sailors in 1504 the name derives from the Spanish term nava meaning flat land plain or field 130 Palmyra Atoll was named in 1802 when the USS Palmyra shipwrecked there 131 Wake Island was named after Samuel Wake a British captain in 1796 A different captain William Wake discovered the island in 1792 132 See also EditList of Canadian provincial and territorial name etymologies Lists of U S county name etymologies ToponymyNotes Edit This is the date that the name American Samoa was officially adopted 110 It had been used unofficially since about 1904 111 It is unclear when the word Samoa first started being used This is the date for the origin of the name Guam not Guahan There is no information about when Guahan first started being used 1667 is the date the Mariana Islands were named the name Northern Mariana Islands appears to have been first used when its constitution was created on January 9 1978 116 Previously it was called the Mariana Islands District within the TTPI 116 Some of the Virgin Islands became and still are a separate political area the British Virgin Islands References Edit City of Longview History City of Longview WA Archived from the original on January 20 2014 Retrieved April 17 2014 Settlers met at Cowlitz Landing and discussed the establishment of a new territory north of the Columbia River Washington History Territorial Timeline Washington Secretary of State Retrieved February 26 2010 Alabama The State Name Alabama Department of Archives and History Retrieved 2007 02 24 Bright 2004 29 Ransom J Ellis 1940 Derivation of the Word Alaska American Anthropologist n s 42 pp 550 551 Thompson Clay 2007 02 25 A sorry state of affairs when views change The Arizona Republic Retrieved 2007 03 03 Online Etymology Dictionary Etymonline com Retrieved 2012 08 15 a b Bright 2004 47 a b Rankin Robert 2005 Quapaw In Native Languages of the Southeastern United States eds Heather K Hardy and Janine Scancarelli Lincoln University of Nebraska Press pg 492 Arkansas Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 26 To appear Arkansas in the Oxford English Dictionary California Mavens Word of the Day 2000 04 26 Retrieved 2006 11 28 Colorado Wordreference com Retrieved 2007 02 24 Colorado Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Harper Douglas Connecticut Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2006 11 28 a b c Campbell Lyle 1997 American Indian Languages The Historical Linguistics of Native America Oxford Oxford University Press pg 11 Afable Patricia O and Madison S Beeler 1996 Place Names in Languages ed Ives Goddard Vol 17 of Handbook of North American Indians ed William C Sturtevant Washington D C Smithsonian Institution pg 193 Harper Douglas Delaware Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 24 Guyton Kathy 2009 U S State Names The Stories of How Our States Were Named Nederland Colorado Mountain Storm Press p 90 Florida Wordreference com Retrieved 2007 02 23 Florida The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Columbia University Press 2004 Archived from the original on 2011 06 29 Retrieved 2007 02 23 Harper Douglas Georgia Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 24 Georgia Behindthename com Retrieved 2007 02 24 Harper Douglas George Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2011 09 22 Crowley Terry 1992 An Introduction to Historical Linguistics Oxford Oxford University Press pg 289 Online Etymology Dictionary Etymonline com Retrieved 2012 08 15 Origins of Hawaii s Names Archived from the original on 2006 12 30 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Merle W Wells Origins of the Name Idaho PDF Digital Atlas of Idaho Retrieved 2006 11 28 a b Guyton Kathy 2009 U S State Names The Stories of How Our States Were Named Nederland Colorado Mountain Storm Press pp 127 136 How All 50 States Got Their Names 16 October 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2018 Bright 2004 177 a b Comments by Michael McCafferty on Readers Feedback page 4 The KryssTal Retrieved 2007 02 23 a b Bright 2004 181 Illinois Dictionary com Retrieved 2007 02 23 Indiana Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Harper Douglas India Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2011 09 22 2001 Plains ed Raymond J DeMallie Vol 13 of Handbook of North American Indians ed William C Sturtevant Washington D C Smithsonian Institution pg 445 Iowa American Heritage Dictionary Archived from the original on 2007 04 01 Retrieved 2007 02 26 Bright 2004 185 Kansas Historical Quarterly A Review of Early Navigation on the Kansas River Kansas Historical Society Kshs org Retrieved 2012 08 15 Kansas history page Retrieved 2006 11 28 The Encyclopedia of Kansas 1994 ISBN 0 403 09921 8 Connelley William E 1918 Indians Archived 2007 02 11 at the Wayback Machine A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans ch 10 vol 1 Harper Douglas Kentucky Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 25 Kentucky Oxford English Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 25 permanent dead link a b Mithun Marianne 1999 Languages of Native North America Cambridge Cambridge University Press pg 312 Kentucky Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 30 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Bright 2004 213 Louisiana Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Online 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Harper Douglas Louis Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2011 09 22 Or maybe it was created by similar abbreviation MAssachusetts In the North East when Maine s land was part of Massachusetts until 1820 Origin of Maine s Name Maine State Library Archived from the original on 2006 11 24 Retrieved 2006 11 28 Maine Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Who Really Named Maine rootsweb Archived from the original on 2011 07 15 Retrieved 2010 05 07 Maryland Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Mary Behindthename com Retrieved 2011 09 22 a b Salwen Bert 1978 Indians of Southern New England and Long Island Early Period In Northeast ed Bruce G Trigger Vol 15 of Handbook of North American Indians ed William C Sturtevant pp 160 176 Washington D C Smithsonian Institution a b c Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary Freelang net Michigan in Brief Information About the State of Michigan PDF Michigan gov Retrieved 2006 11 28 Online Etymology Dictionary Etymonline com Retrieved 2012 08 15 Harper Douglas Minnesota Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 25 Mississippi American Heritage Dictionary Yourdictionary com Archived from the original on 2007 02 20 Retrieved 2007 03 06 McCafferty Michael 2004 Correction Etymology of Missouri American Speech 79 1 32 Montana WordReference com Retrieved 2007 01 24 a b c Koontz John Etymology Siouan Languages Retrieved 2006 11 28 Nevada Wordreference com Retrieved 2007 02 24 New Hampshire Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 a b New Jersey Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 24 The Duke of York s Release to John Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret 24th of June 1664 avalon law yale edu Retrieved 2011 09 22 So what s all this stuff about Nova Caesarea avalon law yale edu Retrieved 2011 09 22 Harper Douglas jersey Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2006 10 07 New Mexico Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Campbell Lyle 1997 American Indian Languages The Historical Linguistics of Native America Oxford Oxford University Press pg 378 Nahuatl Pronunciation Lesson 1 Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli 2005 07 07 Archived from the original on 2007 07 23 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Guyton Kathy 2009 U S State Names The Stories of How Our States Were Named Nederland Colorado Mountain Storm Press p 312 New York Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Harper Douglas York Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2010 07 02 a b North Carolina Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 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Union Worcester MA Press of C Hamilton p 9 Archived from the original on 2020 12 20 Online Etymology Dictionary Etymonline com Retrieved 2012 08 15 a b Rhode Island Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Tennessee Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Mooney James 1900 1995 Myths of the Cherokee pg 534 Harper Douglas Texas Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2007 02 25 Bright 2004 491 1986 Great Basin ed Warren L d Azevedo Vol 11 of Handbook of North American Indians Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Cited in Bright 2004 534 Utah Quick Facts Archived February 22 2007 at the Wayback Machine at Utah gov Original Tribal Names of Native North American People Native Languages org Retrieved 2007 02 26 Harrington John P 1911 The Origin of the Names Ute and Paiute American Anthropologist n s 13 pp 173 174 Opler Marvin K 1943 The Origins of Comanche and Ute American Anthropologist n s 45 pp 155 158 1986 Warren L d Azevedo ed Great Basin Vol 11 of William C Sturtevant ed Handbook of North American Indians Washington D C Smithsonian Institution pp 364 5 Stewart George 1945 Names on the Land ISBN 978 1590172735 Vermont Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 29 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Virginia Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Washington Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006 Archived from the original on 2009 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 24 Guide to American Presidents GEORGE WASHINGTON Burke s Peerage and Gentry Retrieved 31 March 2012 Washington Old Hall National Trust Retrieved 31 March 2012 Online Etymology Dictionary Etymonline com Retrieved 2012 08 15 a b Wisconsin s Name Where it Came from and What it Means Wisconsin Historical Society Archived from the original on 2005 10 28 Retrieved 2007 02 25 Our state s name supported by geological evidence means river running through a red place McCafferty Michael 2003 On Wisconsin The Derivation and Referent of an Old Puzzle in American Placenames Onoma 38 39 56 Bright 2004 576 a b https radewagen house gov about our district Radewagen house gov Retrieved August 29 2019 a b https americansamoa noaa gov about history html NOAA American Samoa History Retrieved August 29 2019 a b The World Factbook CIA World Factbook American Samoa Retrieved August 29 2019 https www etymonline com word america Etymonline com America Retrieved August 29 2019 a b The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Guam Retrieved August 29 2019 https www etymonline com word Guam Etymoline com Guam Retrieved 30 January 2018 a b c d The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Northern Mariana Islands Retrieved August 29 2019 1 A Mariana Islands History Story Retrieved 30 January 2018 a b The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Puerto Rico Retrieved August 29 2019 http www definitions net definition puerto 20rico Puerto Rico Definitions net Retrieved 30 January 2018 a b The World Factbook CIA World Factbook U S Virgin Islands Retrieved August 29 2019 http www vinow com general usvi history Virgin Islands History Vinow com Retrieved 30 January 2018 https 2001 2009 state gov r pa ho time wwi 107293 htm U S Department of State Archive 2001 2009 Purchase of the United States Virgin Islands 1917 Retrieved August 29 2019 http www statoids com w3166his html Statoids com ISO 3166 1 Change History Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Baker Island Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Howland Island Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Jarvis Island Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Johnston Atoll Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Kingman Reef Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Midway Atoll Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Navassa Island Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Palmyra Atoll Retrieved August 29 2019 The World Factbook CIA World Factbook Wake Island Retrieved August 29 2019 Bibliography EditBright William 2004 Native American Placenames of the United States Norman University of Oklahoma Press Guyton Kathy 2009 U S State Names The Stories of How Our States Were Named Nederland Colorado Mountain Storm Press External links EditU S state at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Resources from Wikiversity Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of state and territory name etymologies of the United States amp oldid 1149771358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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