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Americana Andy Taking a look at the past of America with trivia, notes, and other oddities. |
What’s in a name?
Ever wonder how some of the states got their names? Although many of the sources of the names are unknown for sure (many came from Indian words that became common usage), some of the states used different approaches to name themselves
Carolinas (North and South)-after King Charles I (Carolus is Latin for Charles)
Colorado- It’s Spanish for the color red.
Delaware- named for Thomas West, Lord De La Warre who was the colonial governor of Virginia.
Florida- named by Ponce de Leon for a festival of flowers, Pascua Florida.
Georgia- after King George II of England
Louisiana- named after King Louis XIV of France.
Maryland- Named for the queen consort of Charles I, Henrietta Maria.
New Jersey- named after the English Channel Island of Jersey.
Pennsylvania- After William Penn, not the founder but his father who shared the same name.
Rhode Island- after the Mediterranean island of Rhodes
Vermont- from the French for green hills, vert mont
Virginia- For Elizabeth 1, the Virgin Queen
Washington- who else? George Washington