Michigan's History in Poetry

markrputnam@ipoetry.us

An Etymology

Of the State Names

In the United States

Mark R. Putnam

Copyright 2012

This work contains poetry about the meaning of the different states.

I will not to turn it into a lecture.

But, hope to paint a striking picture.

Each state name is an amazing and interesting name.

Some of them have origins that are the same.

Alabama

Alabama means grass, plant, or herb gatherer

In Choctaw "alba" means herb.

The ending of Alabama "amo" means collecter.

Alabama denotes an herb cutter.

In Latin, "herba means pot-herb.

Latin "meto" means to mow, reap, or harvest.

Alaska

Aleutian "alaxsxaq" means great land or where the sea breaks it' back.

Alaxsxaq described the Alaskan Peninsula.

Aleut "alaguq" means ocean or sea.

" " means breaks.

" " means back.

Arizona

The meaning of Arizona,

Seems to be simple,

Perhaps, it means the "arid zone" . . . But, Ah,

That might be too simple.

The Latin word "areo",

Means to be dry,

And, under a hot arid sky,

Lies the State of Arizona.

The meanings "having a little spring" and "good oaks,

Have been mentioned by many folks.

Arkansas

The name Arkansas is linked to the name Kansas.

Both names come from "Ka nze" meaning "people of the south wind",

The Indians of the local river were named the Kansas.

The French and Latin word "vente" means wind.

The French use the word "sudiste" means southern,

In Algonquin "zhaawnang" means southern.

The Eastern tribe name Shawnee, also, means southern.

California

The State of California,

Was named  for the queen of a mythical island.

Her name was Califia.

It seems to mean hot land.

The Latin word for hot,

Is the word "calea".

It is said that Califia comes from Aramaic "khalfia",

Meaning the successor.

"Cali" in Greek means a beauty, a glower,

One who is bright,

One who is white.

Colorado

The state name Colorado,

Is Spanish and Latin meaning "colored red.

Which in Spanish is "color rojo",

Which is easily said.

Connecticut

This Eastern United States name means "long [tidal]" river.

The source of the is the "Quinnehtukqut" or Connecticut River.

"Ginos" in Western Algonquin means long.

French "cotier" is a coastal or tidal river,

Which seems to compete this name and song.

Delaware

The state was named for the Lord de la Warr,

Whose name was originally de la guerre [or of the war].

Florida

The name Florida comes from the festival "Pascal Florida",

Which means feast of flowers.

Or, the Easter Season of Flowers.

Georgia

Named for King George II of England, Georgia,

Means farmer,

And, come from the Latin word "georgicus",

Means agriculture to the Greek in us.

In Greek, "geo" as in geography means land, earth, or ground,

That's the meaning of George that I've found.

Hawaii

The name Hawaii,

Means, it is said, "small homeland".

"Owhyhee" was the name of the original Polynesian homeland.

The Hawaiian's were oceanic sailors.

Hawaii was originally called the Sandwich Island.

Hawaii seems to mean islanders.

Idaho

Idaho seems to have been a Shoshone word,

Meaning "gem of the mountain".

I have heard.

That it means simply "mountain".

The Algonquin word "wadjiw" certainly, means mountain.

"The sun comes from the mountain",

As a meaning I have also heard.

Illinois

This state's name,

Means the "superior people".

It is similar to another tribe name,

The Original People or the Lenape.

The root of both is the Algonquin word "inini",

Which means person or people.

"Niganinini" means superior people or those foremost,

The first, leading, chief, or uppermost.

Another meaning suggested is I speak normally,

Or, straightforward, or plainly.

Indiana

The name Indiana,

Means the land of native people--the indigenous.

Originally, Indian meant to be Hindu or from India.

Fro the word that was the earliest impetus.

Iowa

The name Iowa,

Is said to mean "drowsy or sleepy ones".

It was first written by the French as "Aioues".

In Indian word for it was said to be "Ayuba",

The Algonquin word for sleep is "niba".

The Algonquin word "awass" means further,

And, it was also suggested that Iowa meant tribe beyond the river.

Kansas

Like the meaning of Arkansas.

Means "people of the south" is the meaning of Kansas.

They have the same meaning both or all.

Kentucky

An Iroquoian word, Kentucky,

Means field or prairie.

The Iroquois word "kahehta" means meadow.

Another meaning suggested is "land of tomorrow".

Louisiana

Named for King Louis XIV of France was Louisiana.

Louis means warrior.

It comes from Clovis and Ludwig, which mean to be the victor.

The Latin word "vici" also means to be victorious or to subdue,

That we can not argue.

Maine

The state name Maine,

May be named for the French Province of Mayne,

Probably, meaning a continuous body of land.

Or, a Mainland.

Maryland

Maryland was named for Queen Henrietta Maria wife of King Charles I of England.

To wed is a meaning of Maria.

It also means the sea that is inland.

Maria is also said to mean "star of the sea".

The Latin word "mare" means ocean or sea.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts means "great [mountain or] hill"

In Algonquin, it would be called "Mitchi-wadijw",

"Mitchi" means large,

While "wadijw".

Means mountain or hill.

We may make the charge,

Massachusetts means the "massive mount",

Is another account.

Michigan

The Great State of Michigan . . .

This state has an easy meaning!

Here hope and wisdom has just began,

With a bit of fun.

The name is entreating.

And, means the Great Lakes,

"Kitchigami",

Or, if you will "Mitchigami".

Here life is at it greatest near lake shores and a wave that breaks.

Minnesota

"Ssky tinted water" is the meaning of the Dakota word Minnesota,

In Algonquin, a clear-sky-is "mijakwad" meaning blue sky".

Minnesota means tinted like a "clear Sky",

The name described the Minnesota River,

And, meant the clear-blue water.

Mississippi

The word Mississippi,

Is Algonquin coming from "Mitchi-Zibii"

Meaning the great river.

"Mitchi" means big and "zibii" means river.

Missouri

The state name Missouri,

Means the people of the "large canoes".

To get out the news,

A large canoe in Algonquin is "mitchi tchiman" and "mangon".

Meaning a canoe that large or wide,

From side to side.

Montana

The state name Montana

Has a meaning that is clear,

And, comes from Latin "mount",

Which is similar to the English word "mount".

Montana means the hills or mountains are near.

Nebraska

The state name Nebraska,

Means "flat water".

In Algonquin, "nabaga" means level or flat.

The name Nebraska once referred to the Platte River,

Which was French for the "river that is plat".

In Algonquin is "nabaga zibii",

Means level river so we see.

Nevada

What can we say about Nevada,

Which has many snow capped mountains.

In Algonquin is "gonika" means snow.

"Nieve" in Spanish and and "neige" in French, also, mean snow,

The Algonquin word "wadijw" means mountains.

The name Nevada

Come from "gonika wadijwa",

And, seems to be a combination,

Of Algonquin and Spanish languages used in our early nation.

New Hampshire

What a beautiful name . . . New Hampshire,

In England a district, or county, is called a "shire".

The English word "ham" means a house or home,

Or, a hemmed land,

A field or grassy land.

New Hampshire is a great place in which to own a home.

And, means the land of hamlet or home.

New Jersey

New Jersey was named for England's Jersey Island.

Jersey means "grass island".

New Jersey is called the Garden State.

In Latin grass is called "herb".

New Jersey is the state,

Of the herb.

New York

The Empire State of New York,

Means the "boar",

From which we get pork.

The Latin word for a boar,

Is "aper".

The name York is related to the word bear.

A Yorkshire is a pig.

That is very big.

New Mexico

Mexico was named for the Aztec god or leader Mexitli.

Mexico City is in the middle of Moon Lake,

Which got its name from the lunar reflection on the lake.

North Carolina

The states of Carolina,

Were named for England's King Charles.

So, the name means Charles,

Which further means freeman,

Or, simply, just, man.

An alternate view is that Charles comes from Karl,

Meaning warrior, army, or earl.

North Dakota

The mid-western name Dakota

Is a Sioux word meaning "allies".

The Algonquin word "widokoda"

Means I form an alliance, help someone, or fraternize.

The ending "koda" seems to mean "brother".

"Wido" means "the same" so "wido koda" may mean we are sibling or similar.

It might be noted that Texas and Dakota each have a name,

That have a meaning that is the same.

Ohio

The state name Ohio,

By report, is an Iroquoian word meaning "great creek".

In Iroquois, "nik-ahyo-nha'ah" meant creek.

It was by the French called "l'Oyo".

And, to the Seneca it was "ohi-yo".

Oklahoma

Oklahoma roughly means Indian Territory.

In Choctaw "okla" means people, tribe, or nation,

While  "homa" means red or ruddy.

Redman is the translation.

Oregon

The name Oregon,

Seems to have roots in the word "orage" or "ouragan",

Which in French means "stormy".

The Columbia River, the "stormy river" was once called the Oregon.

The root of French "orage" is Latin "aura",

Meaning breezy or windy.

A city on the Colombia River is Aurora.

Pennsylvania

The name of the keystone state--Pennsylvania,

Means Penn's woods.

The Latin word "sylvania",

Means forest or woods.

Pennsylvania means the plantation grove

Or, park or woodland cove.

Rhode Island

The smallest of states Rhode Island,

Means Red Island.

The name comes from the Dutch word "roodt" meaning red.

The name referred to Aquidneck Island,

Which was once somewhat ruddy it is said.

South Carolina

Please, see North Carolina.

Tennessee

The state name Tennessee,

Is said to be Cherokee.

"Tanasi" was said to be the name of their village.

It meant the river with the "bend" was the adage.

Another meaning suggested was meeting place,

For the Over Hill Indians, it was their birthplace.

Tennessee is a very thin state . . . very tenuous.

But, the meaning tenuous is would be fortuitous.

Texas

Texas us said to mean "friends"

Or, perhaps, allies" .

In Algonquin speak, "widjikiwe" means we are brothers, comrades, or friends.

"Widjiwagon" "and "widokada", also, mean we associate or are allies.

The basic mean is to join together as brothers.

Both the names Texas and Dakota mean allies,

People who are peers.

Utah

The state name Utah coming from "yuttahih" means up high or on the mountain.

The Algonquin "wadijw" means mountain,

The Latin equivalent may be "alto",

It is the root of the word altitude, which we commonly understand or know.

Vermont

This state's name is easy to see.

It means "green, verdant mont".

A great place in which to ski.

Green mountain is the meaning of Vermont.

Virginia

Named for Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I of England.

Virginia means maiden.

Since, Virginia was the first land,

In North America to be settled,

It was a virgin or maiden land.  

New or fresh is the meaning upheld.

Washington

The State of Washington,

Was named for George Washington,

Who was the first President of the United States.

His name may have meant guardian,

Watcher, sentry, or postman.

One who might guard the city gates.

West Virginia

Please, see Virginia.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin may mean "muskrat or beaver lodge",

But, another name suggested is grassy place.

A small animal lodge,

In Algonquin is called "wizhi" while "mashkossiw" means grassy place.

Because it was said to originally be spelled "Mescousing",

It may, also, have meant, place that is red stone from "miskwasining"."

Wyoming

The Pennsylvania Wyoming Native People removed to the west prairie.

Their name was "M'cheuwomink".  Algonquin "mishawaskode" means large, open prairie.

"Mitchi" meaning  great seems to be the word's beginning.

Wyoming means "great plain" is the general saying.

It was also said to mean "big flat river" and "mountains and valleys alternating".