What Does The Name "Tennessee" Mean? - State Symbols USA

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Tennessee State Name Origin

Map of Tennessee United States of America. Photo by Malia / Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution/no derivative works).

What does "Tennessee" mean?

The name "Tennessee" evolved from Creek and Cherokee words (many state names originate from Native American languages). All State Name Origins

Exact details for the origin of "Tennessee" have been lost over time, but Spanish explorer Captain Juan Pardo was the first to record the name in 1567; at some point he and his soldiers encountered a Native American village called "Tanasqui" in Cherokee country. 

Historical accounts (maps, documents, letters) refer to "the land of the Tannassy" with many spellings, such as: Tennassee, Tunasse, Tanase, Tunesee, Tonice, Tinnace, Tanasee, Tannassie, Tannessee, Tannasie, Tenessee, Tenesay, Tenasi, Tansai, Tunissee, Tanase, Tanasqui Tenesee, Tanisee, Tanei, Tunese, Tinassee Tunnissee, Tennisee, Tennesy, Tennecy, Tunassee, Tanasee.

The first known historical record using the modern spelling of "Tennessee" is an official correspondence from the Governor of South Carolina in the 1750's. Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796.

Source Tennessee's Name: TNGenWeb Project Reference All State Name Origins All Tennessee Symbols & Icons All Categories of State Symbols Name Origins for Tennessee Counties: TN Blue Book pgs. 594-605

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