Why are so many US places named after royalty?

Many locations across the United States are named after European and foreign royalty, reflecting historical colonial ties and monarchical influence. Among these are numerous towns and several states, such as the Carolinas, Virginias, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and New York, which honor kings, queens, and dukes. While the overwhelming majority of these royal names derive from European monarchs, there are occasional exceptions, such as towns named after biblical figures like King Hiram I of Tyre.

What we know

• Many locations in the United States are named after royalty, encompassing categories like kings, queens, princes, princesses, and dukes. [2]
• The majority of US locations named after royalty honor European monarchs, though exceptions exist such as Hiram, Maine, which honors the biblical King Hiram I of Tyre. [2]
• Six US states are named in honor of European monarchs: the two Carolinas, the two Virginias, Georgia, and Louisiana. [3]
• Maryland is named after Queen Henrietta Maria, and New York is named after the Duke of York, who later became King James II. [3]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureHow did US states get their names?
• a case in pointWhich US towns are named after royalty?
• whoWho was Queen Henrietta Maria?
• compared withHow did Maine get its name?
• an unexpected connectionWhere are British monarchs buried?

Sources

• [1]list of places in the United States named after royalty (Wikidata Q112221506) · CC0 1.0
• [2]List of places in the United States named after royalty · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]List of state and territory name etymologies of the United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Freedom of speech in the United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Burial places of British royalty · CC BY-SA 4.0