Spanish American - Spanish Place Names

Spanish Place Names

Albuquerque, New Mexico is named after Alburquerque, Badajoz, Spain.

Some Spanish placenames in the USA include:

  • Arizona - from zona árida, "Arid zone".
  • California - The state was named for a mythical land described in a popular Spanish novel from around 1500, Las sergas de Esplandián (The exploits of Esplandián) by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.
    • Alcatraz Island "Pelican Island, Los Angeles "City of Angels", Sacramento "City of the Sacrament", Santa Cruz "City of the Holy Cross"
  • Florida - "Flowery".
    • Boca Raton - "Mouth of the Mouse", Key West - Anglicisation of "Cayo Hueso" ("Bone Island")
  • New Mexico
    • Santa Fe - "Holy Faith", Las Cruces - "The Crosses", Madrid - although pronounced "MAD-rid" the city was named for the capital of Spain
  • Colorado - "Reddish".
    • Pueblo - "Town", Alamosa - "Cottonwood"
  • Montana - "Montaña", "Mountain".
  • Texas "Tejas" in Spanish language and "slates" in English.
    • El Paso "The Pass", Amarillo "Yellow", San Antonio "St. Anthony",
  • Nevada - "Snowfall".
    • Las Vegas " The Meadows".
  • Oregon - "Orejón", "big ear" or could come from "Aragón".

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