Comments on: The Origins of State Names. http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/ The Neat Side of the Web Fri, 16 May 2008 19:13:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Isabella http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-550848 Isabella Tue, 13 May 2008 22:12:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-550848 Goergia is one of the mag triplets.Alabama and mississippi are the others.if you look at minnesota, iowa,missouri,arkansas, and louisiana, you will see an elf.thats all for now try to look at wisconsin and new york, you will see the elfs (mimal) dogs. P.S.the elfs names is Mimal. Goergia is one of the mag triplets.Alabama and mississippi are the others.if you look at minnesota, iowa,missouri,arkansas, and louisiana, you will see an elf.thats all for now try to look at wisconsin and new york, you will see the elfs (mimal) dogs.
P.S.the elfs names is Mimal.

]]> By: steve http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-465186 steve Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:22:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-465186 About Colorado: The author is right it does "tend" to mean red. The word can mean colorful (as others have stated), not relating specifically red. However, when used without any other context, it does generally imply that the color is red. Uds gringos se creen muy inteligentes. And while no one is sure about Arizona; it is not Latin. Pima is a commonly tossed about idea. About Colorado: The author is right it does “tend” to mean red. The word can mean colorful (as others have stated), not relating specifically red. However, when used without any other context, it does generally imply that the color is red.

Uds gringos se creen muy inteligentes.

And while no one is sure about Arizona; it is not Latin. Pima is a commonly tossed about idea.

]]> By: madrone http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-457803 madrone Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:57:29 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-457803 this list is fail. this list is fail.

]]> By: Matt http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-457674 Matt Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:51:47 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-457674 Oklahoma means "land of the red man." Oklahoma means “land of the red man.”

]]> By: EEB http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-148422 EEB Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:52:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-148422 Arkansas was a big error. The French were traveling with a Native American from Illinois or somewhere like that. They get down here, the French are like, "Who are they?" The out-of-territory Native American is like, "They're the Arkansa (Down-Stream People)." The French men say, "Okay. Hello, Arkansa!" and the Arkansan Native Americans were like, "Dude, we're the Quapaw." But the French were like, "No, you're savage Arkansa!" And that's my codensed Arkansas history lesson for today. Arkansas was a big error. The French were traveling with a Native American from Illinois or somewhere like that. They get down here, the French are like, “Who are they?” The out-of-territory Native American is like, “They’re the Arkansa (Down-Stream People).” The French men say, “Okay. Hello, Arkansa!” and the Arkansan Native Americans were like, “Dude, we’re the Quapaw.” But the French were like, “No, you’re savage Arkansa!” And that’s my codensed Arkansas history lesson for today.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-122489 Jessica Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:56:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-122489 Actually, Missouri means "man with a big canoe" in the Seneca language. Trust me, I'm from Missouri! Actually, Missouri means “man with a big canoe” in the Seneca language. Trust me, I’m from Missouri!

]]> By: rebelinmaine http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-122204 rebelinmaine Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:46:26 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-122204 The state name Idaho, actually came from my ex-wife. The state name Idaho, actually came from my ex-wife.

]]> By: miguelags http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-121738 miguelags Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:29:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-121738 I am spanish and i can say that "colorado" means "red" not coloured (in spanish "coloured" is "coloreado") I am spanish and i can say that “colorado” means “red” not coloured (in spanish “coloured” is “coloreado”)

]]> By: Adam http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120819 Adam Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:51:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120819 For a country who was so bloodthirsty in killing off the Native Americans, we really do owe them a lot of gratitude for naming our states. For a country who was so bloodthirsty in killing off the Native Americans, we really do owe them a lot of gratitude for naming our states.

]]> By: Una Walsh http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120688 Una Walsh Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:45:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120688 Queen Henrietta Maria Was wife to Charles 1 Not George Maryland eas named after the wife of William 111 daughter of James 11 Queen Henrietta Maria Was wife to Charles 1 Not George Maryland eas named after the wife of William 111 daughter of James 11

]]> By: Dave B http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120404 Dave B Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:46:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-120404 I thought the translation for every state between the east and west coasts was 'summer camp' I thought the translation for every state between the east and west coasts was ’summer camp’

]]> By: bubba http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119833 bubba Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:48:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119833 No, Louisiana was named JUST for King Louis XIV - no Anna was involved...that's just a myth that has been passed around for years. Here's a link to the Louisiana Secretary of State's website: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/around/brief/brief-1.htm Look at the third paragraph, "1682 The French explorer Sieur de La Salle, the first to descend the Mississippi to its mouth, took possession "of the country known as Louisiana," and named it for the reigning monarch of France, Louis XIV. " No, Louisiana was named JUST for King Louis XIV - no Anna was involved…that’s just a myth that has been passed around for years.

Here’s a link to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website:
http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/around/brief/brief-1.htm

Look at the third paragraph, “1682 The French explorer Sieur de La Salle, the first to descend the Mississippi to its mouth, took possession “of the country known as Louisiana,” and named it for the reigning monarch of France, Louis XIV. “

]]> By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119456 Moon Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:20:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119456 A Lakota told me that Lakota means "the people" and that Dakota and any other version were just mispronunciations! A Lakota told me that Lakota means “the people” and that Dakota and any other version were just mispronunciations!

]]> By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119453 Moon Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:14:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119453 Kansas is the land of "south wind people" and they're still blowing it out of their south end today!!! Hahahaha! Kansas is the land of “south wind people” and they’re still blowing it out of their south end today!!!

Hahahaha!

]]> By: Cydonia http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119441 Cydonia Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:06:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119441 Washington State wasn't named after George Washington, but is derived from the Tlingit word Oweas-in-tong, which means "first president." But I could be wrong. Washington State wasn’t named after George Washington, but is derived from the Tlingit word Oweas-in-tong, which means “first president.”

But I could be wrong.

]]> By: guero http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119313 guero Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:23:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119313 As usual, Uncle John is full of it. "Missouri" is NOT the Algonquin word for "muddy water." It means "people with big canoes" & was the name given the Missouri tribe by their enemies, the Fox tribe of Algonquins. The Missouris themselves, who were a branch of the Sioux, called the river Nishodse, which does mean "muddy water." As usual, Uncle John is full of it. “Missouri” is NOT the Algonquin word for “muddy water.” It means “people with big canoes” & was the name given the Missouri tribe by their enemies, the Fox tribe of Algonquins. The Missouris themselves, who were a branch of the Sioux, called the river Nishodse, which does mean “muddy water.”

]]> By: Baton Rougean http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119296 Baton Rougean Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:44:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119296 Half right on Louisiana its a combination of the French King Louis AND Queen Anna Half right on Louisiana its a combination of the French King Louis AND Queen Anna

]]> By: Kevin http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119255 Kevin Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:59:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119255 They originally considered naming Washington 'Columbia' but decided against it so that it wouldn't be confused with the District of Columbia. Oh the irony. They originally considered naming Washington ‘Columbia’ but decided against it so that it wouldn’t be confused with the District of Columbia. Oh the irony.

]]> By: poochner http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119249 poochner Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:42:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119249 King George II didn't "chart" the colony of Georgia. He "chartered" it. That is, he didn't draw a map with it on it, he wrote the document that declared its legal existence as an English colony. King George II didn’t “chart” the colony of Georgia. He “chartered” it. That is, he didn’t draw a map with it on it, he wrote the document that declared its legal existence as an English colony.

]]> By: Dave http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119246 Dave Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:37:59 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119246 Near the town of Sutton, Surrey, England there is a village called Belmont, it changed its name about 100 years ago from California (to Belmont). This could be the origin of the state name. Near the town of Sutton, Surrey, England there is a village called Belmont, it changed its name about 100 years ago from California (to Belmont). This could be the origin of the state name.

]]> By: HoosierHarold http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119240 HoosierHarold Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:12:51 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119240 Yeah our state settled on Indiana, but the original name of "Land of the Ugliest Girls in the Frontier" didn't go over well with the then just starting Chamber of Commerce, so it was changed back to 'Indiana' mostly for tourist reasons. Yeah our state settled on Indiana, but the original name of “Land of the Ugliest Girls in the Frontier” didn’t go over well with the then just starting Chamber of Commerce, so it was changed back to ‘Indiana’ mostly for tourist reasons.

]]> By: Skup http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119217 Skup Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:05:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119217 Alabama was the name of an indian tribe in the southern US. Supporting material: http://wwwlib.umi.com/bod/fullcite?id=187826 Alabama was the name of an indian tribe in the southern US.

Supporting material: http://wwwlib.umi.com/bod/fullcite?id=187826

]]> By: zardoz http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119214 zardoz Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:00:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119214 Arkansas is an Osage Indian word for "Land of the Downstream People" Arkansas is an Osage Indian word for “Land of the Downstream People”

]]> By: anonymous http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119088 anonymous Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:44:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119088 just to help quash the Arizona "arid zone" -- if a Spaniard were to write on his map that the area is an "arid zone", it would be written as "zona arida"...(because the word order is not the same as in English...e.g., "casa blanca" for white house). the California name legend is not clear -- one idea is that Balboa wrote "calida fornax" (Latin for "hot furnace") -- this would have been as Balboa was traveling North on his trip up the Pacific coast and through the area of Baja California (Spanish for "Lower California"), which is indeed very hot (like as in "hot as a furnace"). The story goes on to say that in Spanish, the "calida" was bastardized to "callida" (kai-yee-duh) and "fornax" is pronounced "for-nash" -- together "kai-yee-duh-for-nash"...which sounded like "California", the mythical island inhabited solely by dark-skinned women which had been talked about in Europe at least since the late 15th century. Of course, this was a natural link since what we now know as Baja California, Mexico was drawn as an island on early 16th century maps. Later Cortez was sent to explore/claim "California" and that is apparently documented -- whether it was beleived to be the fabled island...is not clear. Cortez made several documented missions but apparently left the settling of the land to later conquerers...who continued to call it California Alta (Upper California) and California Baja (Lower California). just to help quash the Arizona “arid zone” — if a Spaniard were to write on his map that the area is an “arid zone”, it would be written as “zona arida”…(because the word order is not the same as in English…e.g., “casa blanca” for white house).

the California name legend is not clear — one idea is that Balboa wrote “calida fornax” (Latin for “hot furnace”) — this would have been as Balboa was traveling North on his trip up the Pacific coast and through the area of Baja California (Spanish for “Lower California”), which is indeed very hot (like as in “hot as a furnace”).

The story goes on to say that in Spanish, the “calida” was bastardized to “callida” (kai-yee-duh) and “fornax” is pronounced “for-nash” — together “kai-yee-duh-for-nash”…which sounded like “California”, the mythical island inhabited solely by dark-skinned women which had been talked about in Europe at least since the late 15th century.

Of course, this was a natural link since what we now know as Baja California, Mexico was drawn as an island on early 16th century maps. Later Cortez was sent to explore/claim “California” and that is apparently documented — whether it was beleived to be the fabled island…is not clear. Cortez made several documented missions but apparently left the settling of the land to later conquerers…who continued to call it California Alta (Upper California) and California Baja (Lower California).

]]> By: Hardcase http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119083 Hardcase Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:24:59 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119083 Everyone who was in 4th grade in Idaho up until 1980 or so got brainwashed with the whole Ee-da-how thing. All made up. But it sure made for a good story. Besides, how many people can say that they live in a state whose name is a joke? And I agree with Some Rhode Islander - I lived in Newport for 5 years and never saw a bit of red clay. Everyone who was in 4th grade in Idaho up until 1980 or so got brainwashed with the whole Ee-da-how thing. All made up. But it sure made for a good story. Besides, how many people can say that they live in a state whose name is a joke?

And I agree with Some Rhode Islander - I lived in Newport for 5 years and never saw a bit of red clay.

]]> By: Dick Licker http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119061 Dick Licker Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:25:49 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119061 Mississippi is an indian word meaning "Land of the Porch Monkey". Mississippi is an indian word meaning “Land of the Porch Monkey”.

]]> By: Ross http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119057 Ross Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:10:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119057 It's infamously known that IDAHO was named as a hoax by a US politician who claimed it was Native American for "Gem of the Mountains" but later admitted it was a hoax, but by then it had stuck. It’s infamously known that IDAHO was named as a hoax by a US politician who claimed it was Native American for “Gem of the Mountains” but later admitted it was a hoax, but by then it had stuck.

]]> By: Doug http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119010 Doug Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:33:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-119010 Idaho comes from the Shoshone word "Ee-da-how" - "The sun comes down the mountains" Only someone NOT from Idaho would blatantly get that wrong. Idaho comes from the Shoshone word “Ee-da-how” - “The sun comes down the mountains”

Only someone NOT from Idaho would blatantly get that wrong.

]]> By: Orangeclaw Hammer http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-118994 Orangeclaw Hammer Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:35:23 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-118994 #'s 8 & 12 Arizona is definitely not derived from "arid zone" or it's Spanish cognate, nor from nahuatl, but almost certainly from the O'odham "ali shonak" #’s 8 & 12

Arizona is definitely not derived from “arid zone” or it’s Spanish cognate, nor from nahuatl, but almost certainly from the O’odham “ali shonak”

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-118991 Anonymous Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:27:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/04/the-origins-of-state-names/#comment-118991 I thought Luisiana was named after King Louis and his wife Ana. I thought Luisiana was named after King Louis and his wife Ana.

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