Place Name Origins - Place Name Origins in The United States

Place Name Origins in The United States

Place names in the United States are often taken from the European nation that first colonized the land. Some areas, such as New England, have many names that have been transferred from Britain, such as Bristol. Many place names are taken from Native American names, sometimes from neighbors rather than the settlers in a particular place. The meaning of names derived form Native American names can be difficult or impossible to determine. In many cases it is not even clear which Native American language a place name comes from. A great many names that appear to be Native American in origin were created by non-Natives with at best a rudimentary grasp of native languages. For example, the city of Pasadena, California was named by a vote of the early town residents, on a selection of words based on fragments of the Ojibwe language. The name "Pasadena" was chosen for its euphonious nature rather than its actual meaning. In some cases the native meanings of a place name are wholly lost, despite guesses and theories, for example Tampa and Oregon.

Place names in the United States tend to be more easily traceable to their origins, such as towns simply named after the founder or an important politician of the time, with no alterations except a simple suffix, like -town. Carson City, for instance, was named for Kit Carson and Belo Horizonte means beautiful view.