2006-06-30 02:44:27 · 8 answers · asked by robwormald 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Thanks to those who pointed me to the web references. And to those who question my knowledge of geography, I'm actually pretty good at that and been lucky enough to visit many parts of the world - and what a wonderful place it is.
But I know what it is and where it is. I want to know the REAL meaning behind it.
2006-06-30 03:03:21 · update #1
some of the answers got very close ......but no cigar.
Albany is a corruption of the Gaelic word for Scotland. Alba, which was then a title bestowed on Blah Blah the first duke of Albany.
Chris
2006-06-30 06:38:09 · answer #1 · answered by kipp[axkid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Albany is built on the site of the Dutch Fort Orange, and its surrounding community of Beverwyck. The English acquired the site from the Dutch in 1664 and renamed it Albany, in honor of the Duke of Albany. A 1686 document issued by Thomas Dongan granted Albany an official charter.
However, I cannot find out why the Duke of Albany got his name, except that "Albany" was a broad territorial term representing the parts of Scotland north of the River Forth, roughly the former Kingdom of the Picts.
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On thinking about it, I wonder if it comes from the word for white 'albino'), perhaps because people used to think it was covered with snow, or because the ground was covered in white heather - but I have no idea of the real reason, just thinking of one that makes sense
2006-06-30 10:00:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may refer to Saint Alban. Here's a link to more info on him -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Alban
I have also noticed that the root "alb" usually refers to the color white or lightness of color, as is "albino".
"Alba" is also the Gaelic name for Scotland. (Alba Go Bragh!)More info on Scottish/British Alba & Albany - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba
2006-06-30 14:45:41 · answer #3 · answered by livysmom27 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALBANY---a state of disambiguation (Wikipedia) and disambiguation----to establish a single interpretaion for(webster's)
2006-06-30 10:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by jenni jones 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that you probably couldn't locate your own country on a map either.
2006-06-30 09:50:19 · answer #5 · answered by The_Handle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alba=scotland ny=new york
2006-07-06 11:05:43 · answer #6 · answered by rodmod 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
visit here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/albany
2006-06-30 09:48:16 · answer #7 · answered by glittershelly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know
2006-06-30 09:48:30 · answer #8 · answered by wombat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋