Naming America

Returning home from an open home art exhibition in Windmill Hill, I called briefly in upon St Mary Redcliffe church, my first visit for several years. Looking around, I noticed William Penn's memorial. His son (I think) was granted land in America in return for loans to the king. Hence, Pennsylvania.

And further down towards the church altar, a rood-screen commemorating Richard Amerycke's daughter. Now, as every good Bristolian knows, Richard Amerycke funded John Cabot's early voyages to the New World and in return had the continent named after him. Why the rest of the world believes that it was named after Vespucci, we cannot understand. After all, he called himself Alberigo until he returned from his voyages, when he renamed himself Amerigo. Self-aggrandisement, and successful.

The linguistics and tradition lie with Bristol.

With the exception of places named after royalty and saints ( Louisiana, San Francisco, Georgia) all locations in the new worlds and colonies take the surnames of their founders or those they commemorate. We remember Bougainville, Tasmania, Bolivia, Rhodesia, as well as Pennsylvania I(as above), Leopoldville, Washington and Pittsburgh.

We speak of Columbia, not Christophia.

So remember our city, when speaking of America.


:-)