Ever wondered what is the name of your home state truly means? The stories behind the names of the 50 US states are often fascinating, sometimes elusive, and occasionally steeped in controversy. While one might assume the origins are well-documented, tracing them often reveals a complex tapestry of Native American languages, colonial influences, and historical figures. This article delves into the etymological roots of each state’s name, exploring the diverse sources that shaped their identities.
It’s important to note that in many cases, particularly with names of Native American origin, definitive meanings are difficult to establish. Interpretations often vary, relying on loose translations and the perspectives of different historical and linguistic authorities, including state historical societies, the Bureau of American Ethnology, and academic historians.
For example, a fascinating tidbit of history revolves around the “State of Franklin,” named for Benjamin Franklin. This short-lived territory, carved from western North Carolina in 1784, even petitioned Congress for recognition before ultimately becoming part of Tennessee in 1796.
Here’s a state-by-state exploration of the origins and meanings behind their names:
ALABAMA: Derived from the Alabama or Alibamon tribe, part of the Creek Confederacy. The tribe’s name was then given to a river, from which the state name originates.
ALASKA: From the Eskimo word “alakshak,” signifying a peninsula. It can also be interpreted as “great lands.”
ARIZONA: This name is debated. Some attribute it to a word meaning “arid zone” or “desert,” reflecting the region’s landscape. Others believe it’s Aztec, derived from “arizuma,” meaning “silver bearing.” A third explanation links it to the Papago tribe, who called their location “Arizonac,” meaning “site of the small springs.”
The image shows a natural spring in Arizona, reflective of the debated origin of the state’s name potentially meaning “site of the small springs”.
ARKANSAS: The origin is uncertain. Several spellings exist, including Alkansia, Alkansas, and Akamsea. Some believe it’s of Algonquin origin with an unknown meaning. Others suggest it’s a French version of “Kansas,” a Sioux Indian name for “south wind people.”
CALIFORNIA: Cortez is generally credited with applying the name. It’s believed to be inspired by an imaginary island described in a Spanish romance novel by Montalvo in 1510, depicted as an earthly paradise rich in gold and gems.
COLORADO: Likely named after the Colorado River, although only tributaries flow through the state. Alternatively, it might derive from the Spanish word for “red” or “ruddy,” describing the river’s color or the red earth found in some areas.
CONNECTICUT: A derivation of the Indian word “Quonoktacut” or “Quonecktacut.” Interpretations include “river whose water is driven in waves by tides or winds,” “long river,” “the long (without end) river,” and “long river place.”
DELAWARE: Named for Lord De La Warr, the first governor and captain-general of Virginia, who explored the bay and river area in 1610, leading to the application of his name.
FLORIDA: Ponce de Leon landed here on Easter Sunday in 1513, which was Pascua de Flores in Spanish, meaning “Feast of Flowers,” giving the state its name.
GEORGIA: Named by and for King George II of England. The colony received this name in the charter granted by the king to General James Oglethorpe in 1732.
HAWAII: An English spelling of Owhyhee, possibly from a native word meaning “homeland.”
IDAHO: The origin is uncertain. Some claim it’s from an Indian word of unknown meaning, while others suggest it means “gem of the mountains.” Another possibility is the Shoshone translation of “Edah hoe,” or “light on the mountains.”
The image captures the rugged beauty of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, visually representing the debated origin of its name potentially meaning “gem of the mountains” or “light on the mountains.”
ILLINOIS: From the Illini Indian word meaning “men” or “warriors,” supplemented by the French adjective ending “ois.”
INDIANA: Likely named due to the land along the Ohio River being purchased from the Indians. Some suggest it was named for the Indian tribes who settled in western Pennsylvania.
IOWA: From an Indian tribe, “Ah-hee-oo-ba,” meaning “sleepy ones” or “drowsy ones,” who lived in the valley of the state’s principal river.
KANSAS: Named for the Kansas or Kanza tribe of the Sioux family, who lived along a river in the area. The name translates as “south wind people” or “wind people.”
KENTUCKY: Origin and meaning are controversial. George Rogers Clark claimed it came from the Indian word “Kentake,” meaning “meadow land.” Others suggest it stems from the Shawnee word meaning “at the head of a river” or the Wyandot word “Ken-tah-ten,” meaning “land of tomorrow.”
LOUISIANA: Named in honor of Louis XIV of France. First used in 1683 by the French explorer, Rene Robert Cavelier de La Salle, for the territory encompassing the drainage basin of the Mississippi River.
MAINE: Two versions exist. One suggests it was named after the private estate of Henrietta Maria in Maine, a French province. The other attributes it to fishermen who referred to the mainland as “the main” or “Maynland.”
MARYLAND: Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I of England.
MASSACHUSETTS: The first state with an Indian name, from the Algonquin word “Massadchu-es-et,” meaning “great-hill-small-place,” possibly referring to the hills around Boston as seen from the bay.
MICHIGAN: From the Algonquin word “Mishigamaw,” meaning “big lake” or “great water,” derived from the lake of the same name. Also said to be from “Michi” meaning “great” and “Gama” meaning “water.”
MINNESOTA: From a Sioux word meaning “cloudy water” or “sky-tinted water,” taken from the river of the same name.
MISSISSIPPI: Meaning “great river” or “gathering-in of all the waters.” The name, first written by Tonti as “Michi Sepe,” indicates the Indians’ awareness of the river’s immensity.
MISSOURI: An Indian tribal name denoting “muddy water,” named for the large river.
MONTANA: Debated as Spanish or Latin in origin, but it descriptively means “mountainous.”
NEBRASKA: From a Sioux word describing the river from which the state gets its name, meaning “shallow water” or “broad water.” Also said to be an Otos Indian word meaning “flat river,” referring to the Platte River.
NEVADA: From the Spanish word meaning “snow-clad,” “snowy land,” or “snowy” – descriptive of the area’s snow-covered mountains.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Named in 1629 by John Mason for the English county of Hampshire.
NEW JERSEY: Named for the Isle of Jersey off the coast of England by George Carteret.
NEW MEXICO: Called “New Mexico” by the Mexicans for the territory north and west of the Rio Grande in the 16th century. May have been derived from the name of the Aztec war god, “Mexitli,” or mean “habitation of the god of war.”
NEW YORK: Originally called New Netherlands, but renamed in 1664 in honor of the Duke of York.
NORTH CAROLINA: Named for Charles I of England in the early 1600s. The name was officially applied around 1663 by those who received a land grant from Charles II.
NORTH DAKOTA: From an Indian name meaning “allies.” The Indian forms are Lakota, Nakota, Lahkota, or Dakota, depending on the dialect. “Allies” signified the common name of the confederated Sioux tribes.
OHIO: From an Iroquois Indian word for the river of the same name, meaning “beautiful river.”
OKLAHOMA: A Choctaw Indian word meaning “red people.”
OREGON: Theories include derivation from “origanum,” a wild sage species; the Spanish “Oregones,” referring to Indian tribes and meaning “big-eared men”; or the Spanish “alura agua” meaning “gently falling waters.”
PENNSYLVANIA: The only state named for its founder, William Penn.
The image features the statue of William Penn atop Philadelphia City Hall, honoring the founder for whom Pennsylvania is named, and highlighting his vision for the state.
RHODE ISLAND: Originally called “Roode Eylandt'” by Dutch Navigator Adrian Block, likely due to the redness of the clay along the shore. Later anglicized to Rhode Island.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Named for Charles II of England, like North Carolina.
SOUTH DAKOTA: From a Sioux Indian name meaning “allies,” similar to North Dakota.
TENNESSEE: Of Cherokee origin, from a tribe located at a village called Tanasse or Tennese. The state is named for its principal river, traditionally interpreted as “bend in the river.”
TEXAS: Generally accepted to be from the Indian word “tejas,” meaning “friends” or “allies.”
UTAH: Named after the Ute Indians who inhabited the region, but the word’s origin is unknown.
VERMONT: Named by Samuel de Champlain for the Green Mountains (Vert Mont).
VIRGINIA: Named by Sir Walter Raleigh for Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England.
WASHINGTON: Named for George Washington, “The Father of our Country.”
WEST VIRGINIA: Originally part of Virginia, the western counties retained a portion of the original name when they separated.
WISCONSIN: From an Indian name with uncertain meaning, after its principal river. Possible meanings include “wild rushing channel” or “holes in the banks of a stream in which birds nest.”
WYOMING: Meanings vary. One is “extensive plains” from the Delaware or Leni-Lenape word “maugh-wau-wama.” Another suggests “mountains with valleys alternating.”
In conclusion, exploring what is the name of each state and its origins reveals a rich and diverse history. From honoring monarchs and historical figures to drawing inspiration from Native American languages and geographical features, the stories behind these names offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of the United States. This journey through etymology underscores the cultural melting pot that shaped the nation’s identity.
