Place names, or toponyms, may represent the best-known specimens of the American variant of English. Like other “Americanisms,” they may be the product of composition, derivation, or borrowing from another language. A glance at a map shows that they, too, have their regularities and patterns of regional distribution, and they are able to provide important clues to the history of the nation. For those who take an in-depth look, they tell stories about the origin of those who gave the names, their hopes and beliefs, and of persons they wanted to honor.
The scope of this paper only permits the presentation of a sample of toponyms to illustrate some of the most influential processes of name formation, and it will be limited to names of settlements, even though similar processes were at work in naming natural topographical features and administrative units.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Sixteenth Century
2.1 The Spanish Explorers in the East
2.2 The English Explorers
3 The Seventeenth Century
3.1 The English Settlers
3.2 The Dutch Settlers
3.3 The Swedish Settlers
3.4 The Defeat of the Dutch
3.5 The French Explorers
3.6 European Encounters in America
3.7 The Quakers
4 The Eighteenth Century
4.1 Conquest of the West
4.2 The Spanish Explorers in the West
4.3 Difficulties of Pronunciation
4.4 The Birth of a Nation
5 The Nineteenth Century
5.1 Classical Renascence
5.2 Foreign Influence and New Patterns
5.3 New Territory
5.4 The Deep South and the Far West
5.5 Before the Civil War
5.6 After the Civil War
6 The Twentieth Century
6.1 Closing of the Frontier
6.2 Alaska and Hawai‘i
7 Epilog
Research Objectives and Themes
The paper examines the historical development of place names (toponyms) in the United States, illustrating how settlement patterns, colonial influences, and linguistic processes have shaped the American map over time. The primary objective is to demonstrate that toponyms serve as significant artifacts of the nation’s history, reflecting the diverse origins, cultural values, and linguistic evolution of those who settled the continent.
- The chronological evolution of American place-naming from the 16th to the 20th century.
- The impact of European colonial powers (Spanish, French, Dutch, British) on toponymy.
- Linguistic phenomena such as folk-etymology, adaptation of indigenous names, and the Anglicization of foreign terms.
- The influence of national heroes, classical revivals, and frontier expansion on the naming of settlements.
- The role of administrative bodies, such as the Board of Geographic Names, in standardizing naming conventions.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The English Settlers
In April 1607, the first British colonists arrived in the new world. On May 14th, their first settlement was established and named Jamestown, in honor of the King. The incorporation of proper names into toponyms – especially those of discoverers, founders, or members of the Royal Family – became a common pattern in the early days of name formation. More and more “barbarous” (and difficult-to-pronounce) Indian names were replaced by either new creations or simply by English place names from the “old country,” such as the famous Plymouth, which probably bore this name already before the Pilgrims landed there in 1620. As a matter of fact, as early as 1630, the Massachusetts General Court ordered that familiar names of England be transferred to New England, which is what happened, for example, in the case of Boston. Frequently, the English town where the minister or other dignitaries of the new American settlement had been born was chosen as the namesake, in other cases the name was selected for its descriptive suitability, as with Medfield (“mead[ow]-field”).
South of New England, the Virginians – who had no name-giving systems imposed on them by their government – invented a variety of fanciful names for their “plantations.”
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the paper, establishing toponyms as historical indicators that reveal the intentions and cultural backgrounds of early settlers.
2 The Sixteenth Century: This section covers early exploration by Spanish and English explorers and the initial introduction of non-English names to the American landscape.
3 The Seventeenth Century: This chapter details the establishment of settlements by English, Dutch, Swedish, and French colonizers and the influence of religious groups like the Quakers on naming patterns.
4 The Eighteenth Century: The focus here is on the westward expansion, the shift in naming conventions following the War of Independence, and the emergence of national heroes as namesakes.
5 The Nineteenth Century: This chapter explores the classical revival, the influence of literature, foreign naming patterns, and the colorful, often colloquial naming practices during the gold rush era.
6 The Twentieth Century: This section discusses the formal standardization of geographic names by governmental bodies and the distinct naming characteristics of Alaska and Hawaii.
7 Epilog: The conclusion reflects on the difficulty of renaming places after historical events, emphasizing the resilience of established toponyms.
Keywords
Toponyms, Place Names, American English, Colonialism, Etymology, Settlement History, Frontier, Linguistics, Geography, Mapping, Historical Linguistics, American History, Nomenclature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the history and linguistic origins of place names in the United States, analyzing how these names were assigned by various settlers and how they have evolved over centuries.
Which specific themes are addressed?
The work covers themes such as colonial influence, the impact of indigenous languages, the influence of historical figures, the "classical" naming trend, and the role of government agencies in standardizing names.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The goal is to show that place names are not arbitrary but are historical artifacts that provide evidence of the nation’s colonial development and cultural expansion.
Which methodology is used in the text?
The author uses a chronological historical approach, tracing the development of naming practices decade by decade and region by region.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body treats the settlement of the U.S. from the 16th century through the 20th century, specifically examining how different groups (Spanish, French, Dutch, British) influenced the names found on current American maps.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include toponyms, American English, settlement history, etymology, and cultural geography.
How did folk-etymology affect American place names?
Folk-etymology often transformed obscure indigenous or foreign names into English-sounding words, such as changing "Moskitu-auke" into "Mosquito Hawk" or misinterpreting Dutch place names.
What is the significance of the "Classical Belt" near Seneca Lake?
It represents a period of "classical revival" in the 19th century where townships were named after figures from ancient history, such as Rome, Ithaca, and Cicero, following an initial misinterpretation of an indigenous name.
Why did the author include the "Epilog" section?
To demonstrate that despite attempts to modernize or change place names after significant events (like the assassination of a president), the historical inertia of traditional names generally prevails.
- Quote paper
- Dr. phil. Thomas J. Kinne (Author), 1982, Place Names in the U.S.A., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/69841
