|
|
|
Massachusetts Symbols, State Names
Browse the state's symbols; state animal, state bird, state flower, state flag, state fossil, state insect, state motto, state seal, state tree, color, dance, fish, mammal, music, nut, reptile seal, and miscellaneous designations, emblems, and mascot of each state with pictures. Find origin of the state name. View the state almanacs, state timelines and peruse state facts and stats such as the capitol, location, and date admitted to the union.
Nick Name
Northeast
-
Bay State - Massachusetts Bay.
-
Old Colony - Plymouth colony.
-
Old Bay State - Massachusetts Bay.
-
Pilgrim State - First colonists.
-
Puritan State - First colonists.
-
Baked Bean State - Puritan practice of serving baked beans on Sunday.
-
The Spirit of America - License plates
Origin of Name
Massachusetts takes its name from the Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, who lived in the Great Blue Hill region, south of Boston. The Indian term supposedly means "at or about the Great Hill," an apparent reference to the tallest of the Blue Hills, a recreation area south
of the town of Milton.
There are, however, a number of interpretations of the exact meaning of the word. The Jesuit missionary Father Rasles thought that it came from the word Messatossec, "Great-Hills-Mouth": "mess" (mass) meaning "great"; "atsco" (as chu or wad chu) meaning "hill"; and sec (sac or saco) meaning "mouth". The Reverend John Cotton used another variation: "mos" and "wetuset", meaning "Indian arrowhead", descriptive of the Native Americans hill home. Another explanation is that the word comes from "massa" meaning "great" and "wachusett", "mountain-place"
Postal Code
MA
Resident's Name
Bay Staters
|
|
|
