Names on the Land: A Historical Account of Place-naming in the United StatesGeorge R. Stewart’s classic study of place-naming in the United States was written during World War II as a tribute to the varied heritage of the nation’s peoples. More than half a century later, Names on the Land remains the authoritative source on its subject, while Stewart’s intimate knowledge of America and love of anecdote make his book a unique and delightful window on American history and social life. Names on the Land is a fascinating and fantastically detailed panorama of language in action. Stewart opens with the first European names in what would later be the United States—Ponce de León’s flowery Florída, Cortés’s semi-mythical isle of California, and the red Rio Colorado—before going on to explore New England, New Amsterdam, and New Sweden, the French and the Russian legacies, and the unlikely contributions of everybody from border ruffians to Boston Brahmins. These lively pages examine where and why Indian names were likely to be retained; nineteenth-century fads that gave rise to dozens of Troys and Athens and to suburban Parksides, Brookmonts, and Woodcrest Manors; and deep and enduring mysteries such as why “Arkansas” is Arkansaw, except of course when it isn’t. Names on the Land will engage anyone who has ever wondered at the curious names scattered across the American map. Stewart’s answer is always a story—one of the countless stories that lie behind the rich and strange diversity of the USA. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 91
Page 25
... called merely El Paso . Of the river itself , Oñate wrote : “ It springs and flows from the north , and thus takes its name , and it turns to the east , and there is called Río Bravo . " Those who later lived by its banks in New Mexico ...
... called merely El Paso . Of the river itself , Oñate wrote : “ It springs and flows from the north , and thus takes its name , and it turns to the east , and there is called Río Bravo . " Those who later lived by its banks in New Mexico ...
Page 83
... called on account • · of its being superior in magnitude to any of the lakes on that vast continent . " " " Now and then , however , the French made some brief truce with the Iroquois , and during one of these times a French priest came ...
... called on account • · of its being superior in magnitude to any of the lakes on that vast continent . " " " Now and then , however , the French made some brief truce with the Iroquois , and during one of these times a French priest came ...
Page 86
... called merely Michi- guma , meaning " big water , " though there was also a tribe of that name . Later a priest called it St. Joseph , and a gentleman called it Dauphin , but in the end Michi - guma became Michigan , and survived . The ...
... called merely Michi- guma , meaning " big water , " though there was also a tribe of that name . Later a priest called it St. Joseph , and a gentleman called it Dauphin , but in the end Michi - guma became Michigan , and survived . The ...
Contents
Of what is attempted in this book | 3 |
Of the naming that was before history | 4 |
How the first Spaniards gave names II | 11 |
42 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
already American Arkansas arose became began Board California called Cape Captain Carolina century changed Chapter Charles chief coast colonies common Connecticut Court Creek Dutch England English English name established explorers famous farther folk-etymology Frémont French frontier gave Governor grew heroes Hill honor Indian names Iroquois island Jean Ribaut Jefferson Territory King knew known Lake land language later lived Massachusetts Massachusetts General Court meaning merely Mississippi Mount Rainier Mount Tacoma mountains Netherland North Carolina northern Ohio old name once original passed Pennsylvania perhaps Peter Puget plantation popular post-office region remembered river sailed Saint settled settlement settlers Smith sometimes soon Spaniards Spanish spelling stood story strange stream streets suffix suggested Tacoma Territory Texas thought tion took the name town tradition translated trees tribe village Virginia Viscaíno voyage Washington western wrote York