| Question Home |
Position:Home>History> Who was America named after?Question: Who was America named after!? (Standard English): Who was America named after!?
(US English): Who was America named for!? I've heard a name other than Amerigo Vespucci!. The reason is that new lands were named after people's surnames - not first names!. Will we ever know for sure!?Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Amerigo Vespucci, an explorer who sailed along the coast of South America while seeking a route to the Orient in 1501 is one suggestion but as you say this is unlikely as only Kings and Queens have places named after their christian names!. It seems more likely to have been from a Bristol merchant Richard Ameryk (or Amerik) Mr Ameryk was the principal investor in the second transatlantic voyage of John Cabot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com The earliest known use of the name America for this particular landmass dates from April 25, 1507!. It appears first on a small globe map with twelve time zones, and then a large wall map created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in France!. Nearby Strassbourg was energized by the Renaissance Spirit of science and innovation!. Here, the Duke of Lorraine, purchased the latest invention of a printing press and recruited a think tank of experts to render a new image of earth as a planet, using the reported findings of European explorers!. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, explains that the name was derived from the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form, America, as the other continents all have Latin feminine names!. Vespucci's role in the naming issue, like his exploratory activity, is unclear!. Some sources say that he was unaware of the widespread use of his name to refer to the new landmass!. Waldseemüller may have been misled by the Soderini Letter, now thought to be a forgery, which reports that the New World is populated by giants, cannibals, and sexually insatiable females and implies it was discovered first by Vespucci!. Christopher Columbus, who had first brought the region's existence to the attention of Renaissance era voyagers, had died in 1506 (believing, to the end, that he had discovered and colonized part of India[citation needed]) and could not protest Waldseemüller's decision!. Www@QuestionHome@Com America is named after the Welshman Richard Amerike, the sponsor of Amerigo Vespucci!. http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/bristol/content/fea!.!.!. Richard Ap Meryk [Amerike in English] Welsh Tudor http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/history/british/tud!.!.!. http://pages!.prodigy!.net/rodney!.broome/a!.!.!. Hope the above helps clear up some early misunderstandings!. Remember, the Welshman Richard Amerike is the sponsor, thus the boss, who financed Amerigo Vespucci's voyage of discovery to the New World!. Www@QuestionHome@Com Richard Amerik was the person that America was named after, The reason is as stated - new lands were named after peoples surnames if they were not royalty!. New evidence has shown that Columbus did not discover America in 1492 and Amerigo Vespucchi was not the person that the USA was named afterWww@QuestionHome@Com Amerigo Vespucci!. He was a geographer long credited with drawing the first map of the Americas and was accidentally given credit for the discovery!.Www@QuestionHome@Com well I have heard a different theory from Amerigo Vespucci that Freemasons named the country after a Peruvian word "Amaruca" which means "Land of the Plumed Serpent" and just let everyone think that it was named after Vespucci!.Www@QuestionHome@Com The most likely answer is a Welshman named Ricard Amerik He sponsored John Cabot's Voyage to America The Thing about this Question is they dont name places after people's first name unless your a monarch For instance Prine Edwards islandWww@QuestionHome@Com Have you been watching QI on the BBC!? I thought it was named after Amerigo Vespucci, but Stephen Fry thinks it was named after some Welsh guy whose surname I have never seen in writing but apparently sounds something like Americh!.Www@QuestionHome@Com An Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci made a whole description of the new lands he toured, above all, what is nowadays called Venezuela (little Venice) and so the whole continent was called after this seafaring author!.Www@QuestionHome@Com There are probably different ways to spell it but wasn't Amerigo Vespucci the man who realized it was indeed a new continent(I mean all of America not just the US)!. So that makes sense I think!.Www@QuestionHome@Com it is not named after COLUMBUS!.!. not not not!. america was named after Amerigo Vespucci!. Www@QuestionHome@Com this might shed some light http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/bristol/content/fea!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Richard Americk - A Welsh born trader,who operated out of Bristol,and financed John Cabots expedition to the 'New World'!. The trading company he ran had the proto - US flag as a logo!.Www@QuestionHome@Com According to QI last night it was named after some Welsh guy called Mr!.Americ!. because land is only named after someone's christian name if you are royalty!.Www@QuestionHome@Com it was amerigo vespucci, he was a mapmaker or something!.!.!.but yeah!.!.!.after his first name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com America Ferrera =) no!.!.!.it was the above mentioned AmerigoWww@QuestionHome@Com it WAS named after amerigo vespucci!. no one else!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Amerigo VespucciWww@QuestionHome@Com !.!.!.Americo Vespucci is correct!.Www@QuestionHome@Com America is a miracle!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Richard Amerik - an english traderWww@QuestionHome@Com Davy America CrockettWww@QuestionHome@Com Americo Vespucci is what we were taught!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com amerigo vespucchi is rightWww@QuestionHome@Com I think your answer is already the best!.Www@QuestionHome@Com no one Www@QuestionHome@Com columbusWww@QuestionHome@Com |