How Twelve Of The Most Curious Sounding American States Got Their Name
Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
by Russell Shortt
Exploring Ireland
12. Illinois
French explorers derived the name from Illini, an Algonquin Indian meaning, tribe of superior men'.
11. Florida
Taken directly from the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning Feast of the Flowers.
10. California
Named after the island of California, described in Garcia Ordonez de Montavlo's novel, Las Sergas de Esplandian. In the work, Calafia was the name of the island on which Queen Calafia dwelt, a firm favourite with Spanish explorers of the day, who named the region after it.
It always struck me as quite the bizarre title, it is actually derived from a Mohican Indian word, Quinnehtukqut, meaning beside the long tidal river'.
8. Georgia
Named in honour of George II of England, who granted the right to create a colony there in 1732, which was rather nice of him
7. Kansas
Derived from a Sioux Indian word which means, people of the south wind'.
6. Louisiana
Named by French explorers in honour of their glorious leader, King Louis XIV of France.
5. Nevada.
Direct form the Spanish for snow-clad.
4. New York
Originally called New Netherland, it was renamed after the Duke of York when English settlers swiped it from the hands of the original Dutch settlers.
3. Virginia
Named in honour of Queen Elizabeth I of England and her infamous virginity.
2. Vermont
French for Green Mountain, the French kind of sounds better, doesn't it?
1. Okalahoma
Derived from two Choctaw Indian words meaning red man'.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net
http://www.visitscotlandtours.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)yes. we recently saw a program on the history channel which peaked our interest.Thank you but would have enjoyed a bit more detail.
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