United States placename etymology

September 8, 2017 Alex

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The etymology of United States place names is rich and diverse, reflecting the nation’s history, geography, and cultural heritage. Many place names have Native American origins, such as Mississippi (from the Ojibwe word “misi-ziibi” meaning “great river”) or Massachusetts (from the Algonquian word “Massachusett” meaning “at the large hill”). Others have European roots, named by early settlers or explorers, such as New York (named after the Duke of York) or San Francisco (named after St. Francis of Assisi). Some place names describe geographic features, like Colorado (Spanish for “reddish” or “colored”) or Grand Canyon (descriptive of its size and appearance).

Now, turning to the names of American states and counties:

Many states in the U.S. have counties named after American presidents (Washington, Franklin, Madison, Polk, Jefferson, …). U.S. Counties are also regularly named after notable people, regional Native American societies formerly in the area, cities placed in the county, and land or water features.

Namesakes of every county and county-equivalent in the U.S. states