Languages

Etymological Map of America

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

America’s rich tapestry of stories is woven into the fabric of its landscape, with many tales embedded in the place names of the cities and states. Understanding the meanings behind these names offers insights into the development of the land, its history, and its culture over the centuries. Not only does this deepen our appreciation of our surroundings, but it also enriches our vocabulary and occasionally aids in solving crossword puzzles, a sentiment strongly endorsed by WordTips.

Take, for example, Missoula, which translates to “River of Ambush” in Montana, evoking memories of inter-tribal conflicts. Similarly, Manchester, New Hampshire, derives its name from “Breast-like Hill,” harking back to the voluptuous mound upon which a Roman fort was constructed around 79 CE in Manchester, UK. Centuries later, Samuel Blodget, inspired by the barge canals of the British Manchester, spearheaded the construction of similar waterways in his New Hampshire town and suggested adopting its namesake.

But what about the rest of the U.S.? Armed with our etymology hats, we delved into dictionary country, scouring sources such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Online Etymology Dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the American Library Association, and regional news reports. Our quest uncovered the literal meanings behind the names of each U.S. state, its capital city, and 178 of America’s largest cities.

Literal Translations of State Names and Their Capital Cities Across the U.S.

Names sometimes transcend boundaries. Both the state of Kansas and Kansas City, MO, derive their names from the Kansas River, which, in turn, honors the Kanza tribe, translating as ‘People of the Southwind.’

Interestingly, there exists a lesser-known Kansas City within the state of Kansas itself. This city adopted its name from its Missouri counterpart, hoping to leverage the fame of the Missouri town. According to local history teacher Matt Beat, “KCK wanted to capitalize on the success of KCMO and essentially mislead visitors into believing they were in the authentic Kansas City.

Etymological Map of America The Literal Translation of States and Capital Cities Mapped

While numerous state names honor Native history or describe geographical features, others carry traces of colonial influence. The Carolinas, for instance, owe their name to King Charles II and his father, Charles I. The territory was initially chartered by Charles II, who bestowed the name in honor of his father. Additionally, the capitals of both Carolinas pay homage to European explorers, with Sir Walter Raleigh and Christopher Columbus lending their names to these cities.

The Literal Translation of Major City Names in the Northwestern U.S.

In addition to the straightforward meanings of city names like ‘Anchorage’ (a place suitable for anchoring) and ‘Portland’ (land surrounding a harbor), the Northwestern U.S. boasts some lesser-known etymologies, both of Native and settler origin.

Honolulu, for instance, derives from the Hawaiian language: ‘hono’ meaning ‘port’ and ‘lulu’ meaning ‘calm.’ Interestingly, the name traces back to British Captain William Brown, who initially named the port Fair Haven upon his arrival in 1794. Before this, Hawaiians referred to the area as Ke ʻAwa O Kou, meaning ‘the harbor of Kou.’

The Literal Translation of City Names in the Northwestern U.S. mapped

Meanwhile, Boise, Idaho, takes its name from the French word for ‘wooded area.’ However, the name’s origins are influenced by English as well: fur traders passing through the region called it the Wooded River, a name later translated by French trappers.

When surveying the area in the 1830s, the French United States Army officer B.L.E. Bonneville had the final say, choosing French over English.

The Literal Meanings Behind Major City Names in the Southwestern U.S.

Many major cities in the Southwestern U.S. bear names that honor notable individuals. Reno, for instance, pays tribute to Jesse Lee Reno, a Virginia-born Union general who met his demise during the battle of Fox’s Gap. The official announcement regarding the city’s naming stated:
“The name of the new town on the C.P.R.R. at the junction of the contemplated branch road to Virginia City in Nevada, is Reno, in honor of General Reno, who fell gloriously fighting in defense of the flag against the assault of traitors in rebellion.”

The literal translation of city names in the southwestern U.S. mapped

Similarly, Orem, Utah, derives its name from Walter Orem, a prominent figure in mining and railroad development who constructed the state’s inaugural electric railroad. However, the town’s naming was more an act of flattery than gratitude towards Orem’s contributions. In 1919, as the town faced a critical juncture in its expansion efforts, requiring investment for incorporation and the establishment of a networked water system, it was named after Orem in hopes of securing his support. Prior to this, the area had been known as Provo Bench.

The Literal Meanings Behind Major City Names in the Southeastern U.S.

In September 1687, Henri Joutel noted in his writings: “We arrived at the said place called Chicagou which, according to what we were able to learn of it, has taken this name because of the quantity of garlic which grows in the forests in this region.”

Other accounts suggest that the name Chicago may have originated from the Algonquian word sheka:ko:heki, meaning “place of the wild onion,” or possibly from the Ojibwa word for skunk. Regardless of its precise origins, it appears that odor was a prominent characteristic of the area before the establishment of the town of Chicago in 1833.

The Literal Translation of City Names in the Midwest U.S. mapped

Topeka, on the other hand, translates from the Kansa (Siouan) language as “A Good Place to Dig Potatoes.” The founders chose this name in 1855 with originality in mind. Fry W. Giles, a banker and city founder, described Topeka as “a name not found in the list of post offices of the United States, nor in any lexicon of the English language. It was novel, of Indian origin, and euphonious of sound.”

The Literal Meanings of Major City Names in the Southeastern U.S.

Understanding that Baton Rouge means “red stick” doesn’t require fluency in French. But why was Louisiana named “red stick”? In 1699, French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville stumbled upon the area and spotted a reddened pole adorned with sacrificial fish and bear heads by the Native inhabitants. This visual left an impression on d’Iberville, leading him to refer to the area as Baton Rouge when the French colonized it.

Map of the literal translation of city names in the southeastern U.S. mapped

Among the most intriguing place names in the study is Memphis. The city took its name from the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, which translates toenduring and beautiful or Place of Good Abode,” depending on interpretation. The founders, John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson, were less concerned with etymology; they chose the name because both cities stand beside vast rivers.

The Literal Meanings Behind Major City Names in the Northeastern U.S.

Some city name translations in the Northeast are well-known or easy to understand, such as Philadelphia (from the Greek for brotherly love) or Portland (the land around a port). Others require a bit more digging.

Would you be able to identify the city name that translates to Botolph’s Stone if it wasn’t labeled on our map? Boston was named after a town in Lincolnshire, England, which, in turn, was named after Botolph, the patron saint of travelers. The second part of the name could derive from “stone” or perhaps from tun,” the Old English word for village.

The Literal Translation of City Names in the Northeastern U.S. Mapped

The Dutch colonized New Netherland, which included parts of present-day New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey, with the city of New Amsterdam located on today’s Manhattan Island.

However, in 1664, James II of England, the Duke of York, captured the island, leading to the city receiving its eventual name.

If that sounds odd and European, remember the city was briefly called New Orange when the Dutch briefly recaptured it in 1673.

Methodology

The WordTips team compiled research from a diverse array of sources, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Online Etymology Dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the American Library Association, historical records, and regional news reports. The aim was to unveil the literal meanings behind the names of each U.S. state, their respective capital cities, and 178 of the most populated cities scattered across the country.

The investigation delved into various aspects of etymology, considering cases where a state or city was named after a person or significant event, where the words in a location’s name evolved in meaning from an earlier version of English or another language, or according to the significance behind another location after which a U.S. state or city was named.

This project’s research was concluded in January 2024.

4.4 7 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

23 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sue
Sue
8 months ago

Very interesting!

Kim
Kim
8 months ago

This was fun but there are two titles for names in the Southwest. The first one is really for the northern Midwest. Oops!

Bart Springer
Bart Springer
8 months ago

Only one problem … Juneau, Alaska is in the wrong place. Map shows the location of Anchorage, Alaska. And I’ve never been to Alaska.

Nico
Nico
7 months ago
Reply to  Bart Springer

You clearly have not been to Alaska because they are both in the right prices. Good try though. Maybe look at the map before you try and correct something.

Robert Nielsen
Robert Nielsen
8 months ago

Hate to burst your bubble, but Knoxville, TN is named after a guy … John Knox.

Barry
Barry
8 months ago
Reply to  Robert Nielsen

And where did he get his name (meaning)? Duh.

Wendy
Wendy
4 months ago
Reply to  Barry

Agreed, but then you could say that for all the “In honor of” towns. Point being, “Knoxville should be one of the “In honor ofs,” but isn’t described as such.

Georgiann Diorio
Georgiann Diorio
8 months ago

I would love to have a map of the Etymological of America. Where can I purchase one? This was very interesting.

Abriel
Abriel
8 months ago

Wow<3

Amanda
Amanda
8 months ago

Rock Hill is on the wrong spot on the map in SC… by a LOT.
Makes me question the validity of any of it when places aren’t marked correctly.

JT Abbott
JT Abbott
8 months ago

Reno, NV is accidentally labeled as Fresno which is in California

F. S.
F. S.
8 months ago

When has Chicago ever been in the southeast? It is north or the plains.

Israel Cohen
Israel Cohen
8 months ago

TeXaS with the sound of X or J in Spanish may mean “friend” in the language of a local Texas indian tribe, but the Spanish name was based on its location on a map of Turtle Island. Download this Turtle_Island file from my Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fnolosfieu8j0ovv718cv/Turtle_Island.doc?rlkey=hoim09u29idf3pmoyac9jsl06&dl=0
You can hear the Spanish pronunciation of J at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fBzWmVpLak
Spanish Tejas is derived from Phoenician (Northwestern Semitic) tof-het-sof which means “the under part”. In modern Hebrew, it is equivalent to Yiddish tuchis.
Ergo, Texas is the Tuchis of Turtle Island.

Dexter
Dexter
8 months ago

Did kicked out comments screwed up site. . .url is invalid?

Rand
Rand
8 months ago

Hmmm was little rock named after a guy named ROCK!!

Tallahassee Man
Tallahassee Man
8 months ago

Missed the state capital of Florida…. Tallahassee

Dom
Dom
8 months ago

Proof the Midwest states really are the flyover states and a black hole to most folks living on the coasts:
1 – The detailed map of the Midwest is labeled Southeastern states.
2 – WiNsconsin isn’t a state, but Wisconsin is.

B Choate
B Choate
8 months ago

B Choate

B Choate
B Choate
8 months ago

Very interesting.
Rock Hill, SC is indeed a flinty place along the Catawba River but it is not
on the Atlantic coast as depicted but rather about 150 miles inland just south of
Charlotte ,NC

Dan'l
Dan'l
8 months ago

Ummm.

Des Moines does not mean “The Road.” It is a disputed name, but that’s not even one of the main contending theories:

  1. A French corruption of the Algonquian name for the river, moingona;
  2. From Miami-Illinois mooyiinkweena, literally “shitface,” an insulting name given by the Peoria tribe to their neighbors to the west.
  3. French de moyen, “of the middle,” midway between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers;
  4. French de Moines, “of the monks,” referring to a Trappist monastery that used to stand at the mouth of the Des Moines river.
Ken
Ken
8 months ago

What happened to Cheyenne, Wyoming? You labeled it “Billings”. I know Wyoming is sparsely populated but to screw up the capitol city!?

L. E. Okland
L. E. Okland
8 months ago

Juneau Alaska is incorrectly located. The starred location is that of Anchorage.

Bambi
Bambi
7 months ago

Love this-interesting facts for social gatherings!

23
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x