Learn What The Nicknames For Virginia Are - Foreign USA

Home » What Is A Nickname For Virginia » Learn What The Nicknames For Virginia Are - Foreign USA

Maybe your like

Skip to content
Foreign USA Menu Menu

Popular Posts:

Minimum Wage in all US States

State Income Tax Rates

US State Area Codes

Virginia Nickname

Author: Jason Coles

Updated On: November 3, 2022

Updated On: November 3, 2022

Nicknames are common for people and sports teams, but why would a U.S. state have a nickname? The 50 States in the U.S. all have special and different qualities that they like to highlight, some of which are used to attract people looking to move to the state, while others act as a draw for those looking to vacation in the state. Other state nicknames are generally rooted in long-standing history.

All these factors culminate into several interesting facts about Virginia, with one of the more notable ones being that the state itself used to be much bigger. During the time of the American Revolution War, Virginia’s area spanned its colony through parts of what are Kentucky and West Virginia today.

Many states developed an initial state nickname after they entered the union 200+ years ago, but not all state nicknames have stuck with each state over the years, and many have developed additional nicknames or primary nicknames that they identify with the most or that set them apart from other states. States take their nicknames from various sources so let’s take a look at the Virginia nickname.

Virginia Nickname

What is the Virginia Nickname? It is “The Old Dominion”.

The Old Dominion is situated on the East coast of the United States, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia borders 5 other states, West Virginia from the West and North-West, Maryland from the North, Kentucky from the South-West, and Tennessee and North Carolina from the South.

When did Virginia adopt its nickname? The Virginia nickname originates all the way back to the Colonial days. “Dominion” is in reference to owning an area of land or a territory. King Charles II would refer to Virginians (natives of Virginia) as “the best of his distant children” during the 1660s, King Charles II evolved Virginia to the position of “domain” along with England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.

The new status of Virginia and the people of Virginia went down extremely well, this subsequently caused many Virginians to believe they were the most faithful of the King’s settlements in America. Due to Virginia being one of the oldest of King Charles II’s settlements in America, they adopted the nickname “The Old Dominion”. If you are interested in seeing the US state nicknames for all 50 states, including the date each state was entered into the Union, then head over to our page that lists them in alphabetical order.

Nicknames for Virginia

Much like many other states, there have been multiple nicknames for Virginia that have been adopted over the years, not just one. Although the Virginia nickname, “The Old Dominion” is by far the most popular and significant one, there’s a multitude of other nicknames associated with Virginia – let’s take a look at them.

  • Mother of Presidents – Virginia is sometimes referred to as “Mother of Presidents” due to the abundance of early presidents originating from Virginia.
  • Mother of Statesmen – as far as nicknames for Virginia go, this nickname was adopted due to the number of statesmen Virginia has produced over the years.
  • Mother of States – the Virginia nickname, “Mother of States” was derived from Virginia being the first state to be settled and many states were “born” from the Virginia territory. The original Virginia territory consisted of many states today, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and, even a part of Minnesota.
  • Cavalier State – Cavaliers were supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War, these Cavaliers left England and resided in Virginia during the reign of King Charles I.
  • Down Where the South Begins – a Virginia nickname that references the state’s geographical location, also mentioned by radio broadcasters when referring to Virginia.
  • The Big Bend State – this nickname was adopted from the Indian name for the Tennessee River, “The River with the Big Bend”.

Now that you know the nicknames for Virginia, it makes sense to take a look at Virginia’s motto. All states have a unique state motto/slogan, usually derived from an event linked with the state’s historical past, mottos tend to be given to the state as a representation of the people past and present.

Virginia’s motto, “Sic Semper Tyrannis”, was adopted as a feature on the Virginia state seal. The nickname originates from 1776 and symbolizes victory over tyranny. This Latin phrase when translated to English reads, “Thus ever unto tyrants”.

If you are interested in learning about the abbreviation for Virginia, take a look at our page on this. Unlike some other states, the Virginia abbreviation is easier to remember. However, knowing these state abbreviations is highly recommended for many different reasons.

United States Nicknames

Virginia

Photo of author

Jason Coles

Jason Coles is the Founder of Foreign USA and its Chief Content Writer and Editor. Recognized as a prolific business plan writer by many prominent immigration attorneys in the U.S. who refer his services to their clients regularly, Jason has written over 1,440 business plans across the past 19+ years for start-up companies and franchises looking to expand their footprint in the United States. Jason is considered a seasoned expert in his field. He creates detailed business plans for his clients that include five-year financial projections, market and industry analysis reports, demographic studies, organizational charts, job descriptions, employee hiring plans, and more. Check all posts by this author

See Our Latest Content

  • What is the E2 Visa Investment Amount?
  • Missouri State Symbols Explained
  • Discovering the Most Interesting Facts About Missouri
  • US Inflation Rate – May 2023
  • Why is Georgia Called the Empire State of the South?
  • E2 Visa Countries: The Complete List of Eligible Nations
  • American vs British Words: Navigating the Differences
  • Why is Georgia Called the Peach State?
  • 4 Reasons Why Texas is Called the Lone Star State
  • US Inflation Rate – March 2023

Topics

  • E2 Visa Resources
  • Find Office CoWorking Space
  • Foreign Exchange Rates
  • How To Apply for an EIN Number
  • How to Start a Company
  • Immigration to the US
  • Interesting US State Facts
  • Learn How to Dissolve a Business
  • Minimum Wage Rates for each State
  • Population in the US
  • Sales Tax Rates in the US
  • Small Businesses in the US
  • Speed Limits in the US
  • State Income Tax Rates
  • United States Nicknames
  • US Inflation Rates
  • US State Initials
  • US State Seals
  • US State Symbols
  • USA Stats and Facts
foreign USA

We are a trusted online publication that creates actionable advice, guidance, statistics, how-to guides, and helpful resources on starting and running a business in the United States. We also provide detailed information on how foreigners can conduct business in the U.S., with valuable immigration resources about various business visas and information to help foreigners settle in the United States.

Contact

[email protected]

Copyright 2026 • Foreign USA

Privacy Policy Close

Tag » What Is A Nickname For Virginia