Origin of State Names

The origin of the distinctive names of the United States is an interesting study. The names of the Atlantic States, excepting Massachusetts and Connecticut, are of European origin; most of the other names are of Indian origin. California and Colorado are Spanish.

Alabama, in the language of the Creek Indians, whose home it was, means "here we rest."

Arkansas, from the French arc, a bow, and the Indian Kansas, smoky waters, signifying in full, "A bow of smoky waters." It is called the Bear State, from the number of bears killed there.

California, meaning "hot furnace," was the name given by Cortez to Lower California in 1535. It was probably adapted by him from a Spanish romance, "Esplanadian," in which the name is given to an imaginary "island" on the right hand of the Indies, very near to the terrestrial "Paradise," abounding in treasures of gold. It is called the Golden State.

Colorado is the Spanish for red or colored, and the name was first given to the Colorado River on account of the reddish tint of its waters. Sobriquet, the Centennial State.

Connecticut, from the Indian Quan-na-ta-cut, meaning long river. Sobriquet, the Nutmeg State, and the land of Steady Habits.

Delaware was named in honor of Thomas West, Lord De la War, who was the first to enter the bay in 1610, and the first governor of the Virginia Colony. It is called the Diamond State, from its small size and great worth, also the Blue Hen State.

Florida was so named by Ponce de Leon, because of the abundance of flowers, or because he discovered it on Easter Sunday. (Pasena Florida, "Feast of Flowers.") It is called the Peninsular State.

Georgia, so called in honor of George II. of England in whose reign it was settled. Sobriquet, "The Empire State of the South."

Illinois is of Indian derivation, meaning "A tribe of men" or "manly." Sobriquet, the Prairie, or Sucker, State.

Indiana, named from the Indians. Sobriquet, the Hoosier State.

Iowa means "The sleepy ones." Sobriquet, the Hawk-eye State.

Kansas, an Indian word meaning "smoky water." Sobriquet, "Garden of the West."

Kentucky signifies "dark and bloody ground." Sobriquet, the "Corn Cracker State."

Louisiana, named after Louis XIV. of France. Sobriquet, the Creole State."

Maine was originally called Mayneland, to distinguish it from settlements on the coast islands. Sobriquet, the "Pine Tree State."

Maryland was named in honor of Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I. of England, in his patent to Lord Baltimore, 1633.

Massachusetts, named from the Massachusetts tribe of Indians, in the neighborhood of Boston, meaning "blue hills." Sobriquet, the Old Bay State.

Michigan. The word means "The lake country." Sobriquet, State of Wolverines, or the Lake State.

Minnesota gets its name from the Minnesota River, which, in the Indian language means "sky-tinted water." This State is said to be exactly in the center of North America. It is called the Gopher State.

Mississippi takes its name from the river, the Indian, Miche Sepe, meaning "father of waters." It is called the Bayou State, from the bayous, or creeks, in which it abounds.

Missouri, from the Indian name for the river, meaning "muddy water." Sobriquet, The Pennsylvania of the West.

Nebraska, from the Indian, meaning "water valley" or "shallow river."

Nevada, from the Spanish word meaning "white as snow," or "snow-clad." Called the Sage Hen State.

New Hampshire, so named by George Mason, whose home was in Hampshire County, England, he having obtained the original grant of land. Called the Granite State.

New Jersey, named in honor of Sir George Carteret, one of its proprietors, who had been governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. Sobriquet the Jersey Blue.

New York, named in honor of the Duke of York, brother of Charles II., to whom the territory was granted in 1664. Called the Excelsior State, and the Empire State.

North Carolina, named by Lord Clarendon and several other noblemen, in honor of Charles (or Carolus) II., who granted the colonial charters. Its sobriquets are "The Old North State," "The Tar State," and "The Turpentine State."

Ohio, from the Seneca Indian O-hee-yuh, "beautiful river;" the French spelled it O-y-o, and out of that the English got the present name. Called "The Buckeye State."

Oregon, from the Spanish oregano, or wild marjoram, which abounds on the Pacific coast. According to some authorities, the name means "River of the West."

Pennsylvania, meaning "Penn's woods," was named in honor of Admiral Penn, the father of the Quaker settler, William Penn. Charles II. chose the name, and made the grant under it to William Penn, who wanted to call it New Wales. The grant was made on the 5th of January, 1681. Its sobriquet "The Keystone State."

Rhode Island. Authorities differ as to the source of this name. By some it is believed to be a corruption of the Dutch Roode Islandt, or Eylandt, signifying "red island," given to it because the Dutch traders found so many cranberries growing on the shore. Other authorities say it was named from the Isle of Rhodes, in the Mediterranean. Rodes signifies "a rose." Others assert that it was named by some early navigator Road Island, meaning the island near the Roadstead, while others say that it was named in honor of a prominent settler in Newport, called Rhodes. An order (dated 1644) officially fixing the Island of Newport, decreed that the name should be "the Isle of Rhodes, or Rhode Island," and it is fair to assume that the name afterward came to be extended to the whole of the State of which Newport formed so important a part. Nicknamed "Little Rhody."

South Carolina, like North Carolina, named in honor of King Charles II. Its sobriquet, "The Palmetto State."

Tennessee, from the Indian, signifying "the river of the big bend." Nicknamed "The Big Bend State."

Texas, from the Aztec, signifying "north country." It was once a part of Mexico, but gained its independence in 1836, and was admitted as a State of the Union in 1845. Some say that Texas is Spanish, and signifies "friends." It is nicknamed "The Lone Star State."

Vermont, from the French for "green mountain," vert mont. Dr. Thomas Hall, of Philadelphia, suggested the name. Sobriquet, Green Mountain State.

Virginia, named by Raleigh (who obtained the charter), in honor of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. Nicknamed "The Mother of States," also "The Old Dominion."

West Virginia, formed from the western part of the old State of Virginia, and named simply by adding to the original name a distinctive adjective. Nicknamed the "Panhandle State."

Wisconsin, from Ouisconsin, the French form of an Indian word, by some said to mean "a wild, rushing river," by others "flowing westward." Nicknamed "The Badger State."

Dakota, an Indian word, meaning "allies." Lately admitted as North and South Dakota.

Montana. "Mountainous." Lately admitted as a State.

Washington. Named for the first President. Lately admitted as a State.

The last area of country acquired by the United States from foreign powers was Alaska. It was purchased from Russia, March, 1867, for $7,200,000 in gold.