The origins of American states’ names and nicknames

The aim of my work is to show the linguistic treasure of English

language; to classify the names and nicknames of American states

according to their linguistic and semantic origin.

In the opinion of Robert Louis Stevenson, “ There is no part of

the world, where nomenclature is

so rich, poetical, humorous and picturesque as in the United States of

America."

Actuality of this theme is in importance of etymological and linguistic research of American states` names and nicknames for language acquisition and for improvement of

person` s language culture and education.

I`ve explored a lot of information about American states’ origin and got such result.

American states have: native American origin; Spanish origin; British, French and other

European languages origin; and some of states were

named in honor of famous people;

Native American originPLACES:

•“meadow land”Kentucky

•“by the range of hills”Massachusetts

•“city of the Aztecs”New Mexico

•“sea crashes”Alaska

•“southern”Arkansas

•“south”Kansas

•“name of the town”Tennessee

•“by the big river flat on the big plains”Wyoming

Native American originPEOPLE:

•“people”Delaware

•“best people”, “superior men”Illinois

•“plant gatherers”Alabama•“sleepy ones”Iowa

•“allies”North/ South Dakota

•“big canoe people”Missouri

•“red people”Oklahoma

•“enemy”Idaho

•“friend”Texas•“the people who are higher”Utah

Native American originNATURE:

•“long river”Connecticut

•“great lake”Michigan

•“cloudy water”Minnesota•“big river”Mississippi

•“flat river”Nebraska

•“beautiful river”Oregon

•“little spring”Arizona

Native American originOTHER MEANINGS:

•“it is beautiful”Ohio•“red stone”Wisconsin

Spanish originFICTION NAME:

•“mythical land”California

•“red mud”Colorado•“flowery”Florida•“mountains”Montana

•“snow-covered”Nevada•“good oak”Arizona

NATURE:

Other originsFRENCH:

•“of the war, warrior”Delaware

•“hurricane”Oregon

•“green mountains”Vermont

BRITISH:•named after the Province or County of Mayne Maine

•named after the English county of Hampshire New Hampshire

•named after the island of Jersey in the English ChannelNew Jersey

Other originsPOLYNESIAN:

•“homeland small”Hawaii

:

GIVEN BY AMERICAN:•“land of Indians”Indiana

LATIN:•"Penn's Woodland"Pensylvania

GREEK:•named after island of Rhodes in the MediterraneanRhode Island

States named in honor of

famous people•named to honor France's King Louis XIVLouisiana

•named in honor of King George II Georgia

•named in honor of Henrietta Maria Maryland•named in honor of the Duke of York New York

•Named in honor of Charles INorth Carolina

•Named in honor of Charles ISouth Carolina

• Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I ("Virgin Queen" )Virginia

• in honor of George WashingtonWashington•Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I ("Virgin Queen" )West Wirginia

Every USA state has a nickname (or two, or more). There are official and unofficial nicknames.

I divide them in such groups:- Flora and Fauna;- Natural resources;- Natural sights;- People;- Jobs;- Position;- History;- Astronomy;And there is a list of them.

Flora and Fauna•Yellowhammer state; Camellia stateAlabama

•Pineapple stateHawaii•Peach stateGeorgia•Sunflower stateKansas•Pine Tree stateMaine•Bluegrass stateKentucky•Pelican stateLouisiana•Magnolia stateMississippi

Flora and Fauna•NutmegConnecticut

•BadgerWisconsin •Evergreen stateWashington•Beehive stateUtah•Coyote stateSouth Dakota•Palmetto stateSouth Carolina•Garden stateNew Jersey

Natural Resources•Copper stateArizona

•Golden stateCalifornia •Diamond stateDelaware•Granit stateNew Hampshire

•Silver stateNevada•Treasure stateMontana

Natural Sights•Great lakes stateMichigan

•Land of 10, 000 lakesMinnesota•Great Canyon stateArizona•The Natural stateArkansas•Prairie stateIllinois•Bay stateMassachusetts•Mountain stateWest Virginia•Green mountain stateVermont

People•Land of LincolnIllinois•Mother of PresidentsOhio•Mount Rushmore stateSouth Dakota

Jobs•Cowboy stateWyoming•Cornhusker state, Tree planters stateNebraska

Position•The last frontierAlaska•Ocean stateRhode Island

History•Old DominionVirginia•Old North stateNorth Carolina

Astronomy•Lone Star stateTexas

•Volunteer stateTennessee

The origins for the names of 50 states of the USA are as diverse as the United States itself. Most state names are based on native Indian languages, historical figures, or were named by early explorers comparing new lands to the Old World.

Often the original meaning is not conclusive (opinions vary particularly on the original native American Indian words and what they mean). The origin of some state names has been blurred or lost over time - one state name is an invented word!

Many states are named after places in Europe (like New York or Rhode Island), after European or American people (like Georgia or Washington), or after words from European languages (like Florida or Vermont). Two states, Idaho and California, have made-up names with no meaning at all. And Hawaii, of course, is a Hawaiian name. (Hawaiian is a Polynesian language, not a Native

American one.)

As for the nicknames we can see that American people are

great lovers of nature and they respect the representatives of

their flora and fauna very much. Also great attention is paid to

natural resources which America is rich in and natural sights what are attracted by a lot of tourists. Only few states

have nicknames connected with famous people or jobs.

Thank you for

attention!