Delaware etymology

Etymology and Meaning

The name "Delaware" is derived from the Algonquian language spoken by the Lenape Native American tribe, who inhabited the region before European colonization.

Origins:

• Original Algonquian Name: "Lenapewihittuk"
• Meaning: "Land of the Lenape"

Evolution of the Name:

• The Lenape tribe called the river that flowed through their territory "Lenape Wi Tuk" ("River of the Lenape Men").
• Dutch colonists who settled in the area in the 17th century called the river "Zuyd Rivier" ("South River") to distinguish it from the "Noord Rivier" (the Hudson River).
• The English, who took control of the colony from the Dutch, adopted the name "Delaware" for both the river and the colony.
• The name "Delaware" eventually became the official name of the state in 1776.

Other Possible Origins:

• Some historians suggest that the name may also derive from the English word "delaware," which refers to a type of porcelain or earthenware.
• It has also been theorized that the name could come from the Welsh phrase "de la Warr," after Lord De La Warr, who was Governor of Virginia from 1610-1611.

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