nico1908 | Thanksgiving & A Bit of History Trivia

Most people around here -- kids and adults -- know that the city of Washington was named for our first president, George Washington.

Fewer know that Virginia was named for the "virgin queen", Elizabeth I of England; that Maryland was named for Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I of England; and that the District of Columbia was named, indirectly, for Christopher Columbus.

And fewer still could tell you that at least 25 of the 50 states trace their names to Native American words, ideas or places.

That's something to think about this Thanksgiving weekend while we, as a nation, commemorate the Pilgrims' settlement of New England.

It's important to remember that European settlers displaced native peoples in the 1700s and 1800s, and that Indians, whose ancestors had lived on the North American continent for centuries, were stripped of their land and largely confined to reservations from coast to coast.

Because good records were not always kept, and because languages change over time, it is not always easy to know for sure how a place got its name. But historians generally agree that the state names listed here probably came from American Indian words or ideas.

-- Bill O'Brian

Alabama: from a Choctaw Indian word meaning "thicket-clearer" or "plant-gatherer."

Alaska: an Aleutian word meaning "mainland" or "that which the sea breaks against."

Arizona:"little spring" in the Pima, Papago or O'oodham language.

Arkansas: from a Sioux word meaning "downstream people" or "south wind."

Connecticut: from a Mohawk or Algonquin term meaning "at the long tidal river."

Illinois: likely meanings include "warriors" and "tribe of superior men."

Indiana: Latinized form of "land of the Indians."

Iowa: likely meanings include "the sleepy ones" and "the beautiful land."

Kansas: from a Sioux word for "people of the south wind."

Kentucky: likely meanings include "meadow land" and "land of tomorrow."

Massachusetts: from an Algonquin term for "at the great hill."

Michigan: from an Ottawa or Chippewa word for "large lake."

Minnesota: from a Dakota (Sioux) term for "water reflecting cloudy skies"or "sky-tinted water."

Mississippi: "great water" or "father of waters" in various Indian languages.

Missouri: likely meanings include "muddy water" and "of the big canoe."

Nebraska: likely meanings include "flat water" and "broad river."

New Mexico: indirectly from the name Mextli, Aztec god of war and storms.

North Dakota: named for the Dakota (Sioux) Indians; Dakota means "friend."

Ohio: from an Iroquois word for "beautiful river" or "large creek."

Oklahoma: from a Choctaw term for "red people."

South Dakota: see North Dakota.

Tennessee: named for a Cherokee village, Tanasi; meaning is unknown.

Texas: from a Caddo word for "friends."

Utah: from a Navajo word to describe the Ute tribe, meaning "higher up."

Wyoming: from a Delaware Indian term for "large meadow" or an Algonquin term for "large prairie place." Originally for the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, the name was transplanted west by settlers.

Some researchers think that Hawaii, Idaho and Wisconsin also come from Native American words, but they are not certain about that.

(Original article here.)

ETA: More on the origin of state names here: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0854966.html

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thanks for the reminder that history is written by the victors. I always appreciate your perspective.

I had honestly never looked at it like that, but you're so right! Most books I have read about the history of American Indians are quick to point out that the indigenous people of the Americas didn't leave any written historical records - but those who did (the Maya) had theirs promptly destroyed by the conquerors.

I find the whole subject difficult to approach. There are so many sources of information, so many differing views and conflicts... I mean, there is really no such thing as the American Indian. There are different indigenous cultures with different histories and traditions, and naturally they all have their own issues and perspectives when it comes to interacting with us Anglos: some groups complain that they're largely forgotten by White society and invite interest, others find interest insulting and want to be left alone.

It is all the more difficult because I'm unsure about my own motives. Why am I interested in these issues? To the best of my knowledge, I have no American ancestors of any origin, so I'm suspecting some sort of romanticized stereotyping at work. Or maybe it's helper syndrome - and isn't that just another form of racism?

*sighs*

Thanksgiving & A Bit of History Trivia

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History is written by the victors