State
|
Etymology |
|
Alabama |
”to clear vegetation” (Choctaw) |
|
Alaska |
alaxsxaq “object
towards which the action of the sea is directed, mainland” (Aleut) |
|
Arizona |
arizuma (Pima) aleh-zon,
ari-sonac, ali-shonak (Papago) “little spring” |
|
Arkansas |
ugakhpa “those going downstream” (Sioux) |
|
California |
“hot oven” (Spanish),
name of Island in “The Exploits of Esplandián” by García Ordóñez de Montalvo |
|
Colorado |
colorado “red” (Spanish) |
|
Connecticut |
Quonehtacut “long tidal river” (Pequot) |
|
Delaware |
Sir Thomas West, Lord De
la Warr |
|
Florida |
florida “flower-covered,” discovered on Easter Pascua
florida (Spanish) |
|
Georgia |
King George II |
|
Hawaii |
Hawaki one of the Society Islands (Polynesian),
Hawaii Loa (founder of the Island) |
|
Idaho |
E-da-how “It is sunup,” “gem of the mountains” (Shoshone),
probably just Indian-sounding coinage |
|
Illinois |
Iliniwek, “men” singular ilini (Algonquian) |
|
Indiana |
“Indian
land” |
|
Iowa |
ayuxwa
“one who puts
to sleep,” “beautiful land” (Dakota), “dusty faces” (Sioux)
|
|
Kansas |
kansa “wind people” (Sioux) |
|
Kentucky |
kentake “prairie” (Wyandot/Huron) |
|
Louisiana |
“land of Louis” (King
Louis XIV) |
|
Maine |
“mainland,”
possibly Mayne (French province) |
|
Maryland |
Queen Henrietta Mary (wife
of King Charles I) |
|
Massachusetts |
“near the great mountain”
(Algonquian) |
|
Michigan |
”great lake” (Algonquian) |
|
Minnesota |
minni “water” sota “sky-tinted” (Sioux) |
|
Mississippi |
“large waters” (Native
American ??) |
|
Missouri |
“canoe possessor” (Sioux) |
|
Montana |
montaña “mountain” (Spanish) |
|
Nebraska |
nebraska “shallow or spreading water” (Oto) |
|
Nevada |
nevada “snow-covered” (Spanish) |
|
New Hampshire |
Hampshire County (England) |
|
New Jersey |
Island of Jersey (for
George Carteret) |
|
New Mexico |
Mexico, from Mexitli
Aztec war god |
|
New York |
Duke of York and Albany
(brother of Charles II) |
|
North Carolina |
carolina “land of Charles” (Charles I) |
|
North Dakota |
lakota, dakota “allies” (Sioux) |
|
Ohio |
“beautiful river (Iroquois) |
|
Oklahoma |
“red people” (Choctaw) |
|
Oregon |
unknown,
name of legendary River of the West, possibly Native American |
|
Pennsylvania |
“Penn’s
Woods” (William Penn) |
|
Rhode Island |
roodt eylandt “red
island” (Dutch) |
|
South Carolina |
carolina “land of Charles” (Charles I) |
|
South Dakota |
lakota, dakota “allies” (Sioux) |
|
Tennessee |
Tanasi (Cherokee village) |
|
Texas |
texas, tejas “friends, allies” (Caddo) |
|
Utah |
Ute (Native Americans) |
|
Vermont |
vert mont “green mountain” (French) |
|
Virginia |
Virgin Queen Elizabeth I |
|
Washington |
George Washington |
|
West Virginia |
Virgin Queen Elizabeth I |
|
Wisconsin |
ouisconsin “gathering of waters” (Chippewa) |
|
Wyoming |
Wyoming Valley
(Pennsylvania), “large plains” (Delaware) |