Origin of the name California

The toponym California is currently used by three North American subnational entities – the U.S. state of California and the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur – and by many other places in other parts of the world. Historically, the name was also used by the Mexican province of Alta California, and the Gulf of California is a common alternative appellation for the Sea of Cortés.

Related Topics:
Toponym - North American - U.S. - State - California - Mexican - States - Baja California - Baja California Sur - Many other places - Alta California - Gulf of California - Sea of Cortés

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The name is suggested to be of Spanish, Latin or Native American origin, but all of these are disputed, and considerable controversy exists surrounding the etymology of the name. The following paragraphs illustrate some of the extant claims.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Latin - Native American

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California originally referred to the entire region composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and land in the current U.S. states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, known as Alta California. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea of Cortés and the Pacific coast were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island.

Related Topics:
Baja California - Alta California - Pacific

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