Where do countries get their names from?

Answer 1

Here is the history of the name of Canada:

In 1535, two Indian Youths told Jacques Cartier about the route to "kanata." They were referring to the village of Stadacona; "kanata" was simply the Huron-Iroquois word for "village" or "settlement." But for want of another name, Cartier used "Canada" to refer not only to Stadacona (the site of present day Quebec City), but also to the entire area subject to its chief, Donnacona. The name was soon applied to a much larger area: maps in 1547 designated everything north of the St. Lawrence River as "Canada."

Cartier also called the St. Lawrence River the "rivière de Canada", a name used until the early 1600s. By 1616, although the entire region was known as New France, the area along the great river of Canada and the Gulf of St. Lawrence was still called Canada.

Soon explorers and fur traders opened up territory to the west and to the south and the area depicted as "Canada" grew. In the early 1700s, the name referred to all lands in what is now the American Midwest and as far south as the present day Louisiana.

The first use of "Canada" as an official name came in 1791 when the Province of Quebec was divided into the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. In 1841, the two Canadas were again united under one name, the Province of Canada. At the time of Confederation, the new country assumed the name of Canada.

Answer 2

France means 'land of the Franks' after the Germanic tribe that became rulers there.
Australia is 'southern' in Latin.
Romania is named after the Romans who conquered that region. I guess the people do look kind of Italian and a Romanian friend of mine told me he can understand Italian.
Russia is named after the Viking tribe, the 'Rus', who founded a settlement there.
Poland has a lot of poles. Just kidding. I don't know why.
In English we call Japan Japan because that's what the Chinese called it. It means 'Land of the Rising Sun', ie it's to the east of China.

Interesting question. I'd like to know where the names Deutschland and Germany come from.

Answer 3

Amerigo Vespuchi drew the map and his signiture became what the country was known for: America

"Greenland" was a ruse: to disguise its frozen quality.
"Iceland" was a ruse to disguise its vernal quality.

Bolivia was after its 1st dictater: ? Bolivar

West Indies was a goof. Columbus thought he had reached the East Indain Isles ( thus, American "Indians").

Chile? Everybody had to wear a sweater ( te he). No, that's all they served ( oh, it's getting late...)

Answer 4

India gets its name from Indus river where first Indian civilization flourished.

According to mythology (or history), India's real name in local languages (Hindi and Sanskrit): Bhaarat is derived from name of a very brave king called Bharat.

Other names of India are:

Bhaaratvarsh - from Bharat

Hindustan - land of Hindus (from religion) (This name was given quite late maybe when mughals (who were muslims) came to India)

Answer 5

Some come from the word the people who live there call their country (England - "land of the Angles"; some are from the words other people called the people who live there (Germany - from the Roman "Germania" after the barbarian tribes living there); some are named after someone ("America" from Amerigo Vespucci, etc.)

There's no one answer.

Answer 6

well I know Greenland was called Greenland by the Danes to try and entice people to live there. America was named after an explorer, forget his proper name.....And New Zealand is called after Zeeland in Denmark(?)
I live in Dublin which got its name from Dubh Linn, which means black pool in Gaelic, so I can only presume the other places are named after natural geographical landmarks.

An interesting question..

Answer 7

They make them up themselves, but they must check that nobody else is using it first.

Answer 8

from the father of that nation.