Origins of State Names

Here is a neat social studies activity. Have your students identify how these states got their names.

• Washington. (Named in honor of President George Washington)
• Georgia. (Named in honor of King George II of England)
• Minnesota. (Derived from the Dakota word mnishota, which means “cloudy water.”)
• Ohio. (Derived from an Iroquois word meaning “great river.”)
• Montana. (Derived from the Latin word montaanus, which means “mountainous.”)
• Colorado. (Derived from the Spanish word for “colored.”)