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Quiz about Origin of Names of States in the US

Origin of Names of States in the U.S. Quiz

There are 50 States in the USA. Have you ever wondered where their names came from? Take this quiz to find out about ten of them!

A multiple-choice quiz by Alibabaman. Estimated time: 2 mins.

Author
Alibabaman

Time
2 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
353,474

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1235

Last 3 plays: Dreessen (9/10), Guest 74 (7/10), MargaritaD (9/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. This American state was first called New Netherlands, but renamed after the Duke of York, after the English took it from the Dutch settlers. What is the state called now? Hint

Texas

New Mexico

New York

Rhode Island

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Question 2 of 10

2. This American state's name comes from an Indian word for 'tribal town'. What state is it? Hint

Alaska

Alabama

Georgia

Florida

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Question 3 of 10

3. One state in the USA was named after Queen Henrietta Maria. What is this state's name? Hint

Maine

Montana

Minnesota

Maryland

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Question 4 of 10

4. This US state's name means 'Land of the Indians'. Which of the following is this state? Hint

Nebraska

Iowa

Indiana

Illinois

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Question 5 of 10

5. This American state's name means 'flowery' in Spanish, named after explorer Ponce de Le�n. What is this state's name?
Hint

Michigan

Georgia

Florida

Maine

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Question 6 of 10

6. The name of this American state comes from a Latin or Spanish word meaning 'mountain'. What is this state's name? Hint

Missouri

Nebraska

Montana

Utah

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Question 7 of 10

7. This American state's name is the name of an imaginary island in a Spanish story. What is this state's name?
Hint

Kansas

Iowa

Delaware

California

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Question 8 of 10

8. This state's name is a Choctaw Indian word meaning 'red people'. What is this State's name? Hint

Ohio

Oklahoma

Wyoming

Pennsylvania

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Question 9 of 10

9. This state's name comes from an Iroquois Indian word that possibly means 'meadowland'. What is this state's name? Hint

Kentucky

Idaho

Vermont

Hawaii

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Question 10 of 10

10. This state is named after the first US president. What is this state called? Hint

Illinois

Washington

Kansas

Louisiana

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 14 2024 : Dreessen: 9/10
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 74: 7/10
Oct 07 2024 : MargaritaD: 9/10
Oct 06 2024 : teachdpo: 10/10
Sep 29 2024 : Guest 97: 9/10
Sep 27 2024 : Guest 99: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This American state was first called New Netherlands, but renamed after the Duke of York, after the English took it from the Dutch settlers. What is the state called now?

Answer: New York

New York was named in honour of the English Duke of York, who was the brother of King Charles II.

2. This American state's name comes from an Indian word for 'tribal town'. What state is it?

Answer: Alabama

Alabama was also known as 'thicket-clearers' in the Choctaw Indian language by some people.

3. One state in the USA was named after Queen Henrietta Maria. What is this state's name?

Answer: Maryland

Queen Henrietta Maria was the wife of Charles I of England.

4. This US state's name means 'Land of the Indians'. Which of the following is this state?

Answer: Indiana

Indiana was given that name because of the many American Indian tribes that used to roam there.

5. This American state's name means 'flowery' in Spanish, named after explorer Ponce de Le�n. What is this state's name?

Answer: Florida

Florida got her name, Pascua Florida, on Easter day in 1513. It meant Flowery Easter.

6. The name of this American state comes from a Latin or Spanish word meaning 'mountain'. What is this state's name?

Answer: Montana

There were plenty of mountains on the Western side of Montana. However, the Eastern side is mostly barren and flat - rather the opposite!

7. This American state's name is the name of an imaginary island in a Spanish story. What is this state's name?

Answer: California

California was named after an imaginary island, a paradise from a Spanish romance story. California was then divided by the Spanish into two sections, Alta California and Baja California - Upper and Lower California respectively.

8. This state's name is a Choctaw Indian word meaning 'red people'. What is this State's name?

Answer: Oklahoma

In the Choctaw Indian kanguage, 'Okla' meant 'people' and 'humma' meant 'red', thus forming the name Oklahoma or 'red people'.

9. This state's name comes from an Iroquois Indian word that possibly means 'meadowland'. What is this state's name?

Answer: Kentucky

In the Iroquois Indian language, 'Ketake' meant 'meadowland', thus forming the name 'Kentucky'.

10. This state is named after the first US president. What is this state called?

Answer: Washington

The first president of the U.S. was George Washington. His face was printed on the one dollar bill.

Source: Author Alibabaman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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