Where do the names of all the states in America originate?

Question

Im British, just wondering where all the states names come from. Are they native american in origin?

Thanks!

lozz xx

Sorry meant to say are they from indian names.

Answer 1

hello lozzielaw,

I too am British Asian, and i just found a site where u can see all the names of the states and where they originate from...

starting with Alabama.......to.......Wyoming.

The site also gives the meanings of each name etc.

Of the 50 States listed (even though 52 states exit today).....19 have American Red Indian connections:

Arizona - O'odham Indian word for “little spring”

Arkansas - unknown meaning, word from the Quapaw Indians

Connecticut - an Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) that means “beside the long tidal river”

Indiana - means the “land of Indians”Iowa - maybe an Indian word meaning “this is the place” or “the Beautiful Land”

Kansas - Sioux word means “people of the south wind”

Massachusetts - meaning “at or about the great hill”

Michigan - unknown tribe but it means “great or large lake”

Minnesota - a Dakota Indian word means “sky-tinted water”

Mississippi - unknown tribe but means “Father of Waters”

Missouri - Missouri Indian tribe word meaning “town of the large canoes.”

Nebraska - Ota Indian word means“flat water”

North Dakota - Sioux tribe word means“allies”

Ohio, Oklahoma - Choctaw Indian word means “red people”

South Dakota - Sioux tribe word means “allies”

Tennessee - Cherokee word but meaning not known

Texas - meaning “friends”

Utah - Ute tribe meaning “people of the mountains”

Wisconsin - Delaware Indian word meaning "disputed"

Wyoming - Delaware Indian word means “mountains and valleys alternating”;

There are names here also from the British towns and names in the Honour of our Kings and Queens, i am proud to say, lol:

Georgia
Maine
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Maryland

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0854966.html

Answer 2

It depends on the state.
New York is named after old York, in England.
Vermont is from the french for green mountain.
Kentucky comes from the Wyandot Indian name for "plain" in reference to the central plains of the state.
Washington is named after George Washington, who was the American president 1789 - 1797.

Answer 3

Some are named after the founders , or important people eg
PENNsylvania is named after John Penn
Washington State

Some are named after the origins of the original settlers EG New Jersey, New England, Lousiana (was originally French)

Answer 4

Some are English, some are Native American, some are Spanish, at least one is French. Washington was named for George Washington.

Answer 5

It's a mix of native names such as Massachusetts and Hawaii, and European ones such as New Hampshire (settlers from Hampshire, England must have named that one) and Louisiana (named by the then colonial masters, the French, after Louis XIV).

Answer 6

Many names are European names. Virginia, Georgia, Carolina, York, Jersey, Maryland, Hampshire, Pennsylvania, etc. Vermont is French for green mountain.

Answer 7

I can help you a bit with this;
New York - named when the British Settled there after YORK city UK.
Pennsylvania - Named after William PENN who settled there.
Washington named after the 1st President of the USA.

Answer 8

Some, but not all. My state (Delaware, the "first state") was named after "an early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr."

Answer 9

some of them arenaitive american, like the dakotas, montana, mississippi, etc, others are named from european ppl, virginia ( virgin queen) maryland georgia etc.and others are named from place names in europe, new york, new hampshire, etc.

Answer 10

President Ronald Reagan named them all.