The name “America” has an interesting origin story that dates back to the age of exploration in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. In this article, we will examine the popular theories about who named America and why the name stuck.
Theory #1: America is named after Amerigo Vespucci
The most widely accepted theory is that America is named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Vespucci took several voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1500s and wrote extensively about his discoveries. In 1507, a mapmaker named Martin Waldseemüller published a world map that included the New World and used the name “America” for the first time.
Waldseemüller wrote:
“I do not see what right any one would have to object to calling this part, after Americus who discovered it and who is a man of intelligence, Amerige, that is, the Land of Americus, or America: since both Europa and Asia got their names from women.”
As this quote indicates, Waldseemüller named the new continent after Vespucci, believing that he was the first to understand that it was a new landmass completely separate from Asia. The feminine version “America” was derived from Vespucci’s Latinized name “Americus Vespucius.”
While Vespucci was not the first European to reach the Americas (Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492), his accounts of his voyages were widely published before Columbus’. Crucially, Vespucci realized the landmasses they had reached were not part of the Indies but a New World altogether. This key insight is likely why Waldseemüller bestowed the new continent with Vespucci’s name.
Theory #2: Richard Amerike
An alternative theory holds that America is named after Richard Amerike, a wealthy English merchant and royal customs officer. In the late 1400s, Amerike helped fund the voyage of John Cabot, an Italian explorer who sailed under the English flag. In 1497, Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to reach North America.
Scholars who support the Amerike theory claim the name refers to his surname, which may have been well-known among Bristol’s trading community. The theory suggests that when mapmakers labeled the new continent, they named it after their compatriot Amerike rather than the foreigner Vespucci.
However, most historians find little evidence that Amerike’s deeds were widely known or that his name was applied to early maps. The Vespucci theory remains far more convincing and popular.
Why the name “America” stuck
After Waldseemüller first used it on his 1507 map, the name America gradually caught on as more mapmakers adopted it. Crucially, Mercator’s influential world map in 1538 used the name America, cementing it on future maps. For a couple hundred years, the name only referred to South America, with North America often called Cabotia.
There are a few key reasons why the name America endured:
- Vespucci’s voyages were widely publicized throughout Europe first, making his name associated with the New World.
- Waldseemüller’s maps were very influential, popular, and widely copied, spreading the name.
- Mercator and other mapmakers adopted the name, reinforcing it as the consensus term.
- There was no strong alternative name that challenged America.
- As the New World grew in importance, having a singular name for it became convenient.
So in summary, while Amerigo Vespucci did not discover America, the name stuck due to his published accounts being well-known in Europe first. The use by prominent mapmakers then firmly entrenched “America” on all maps going forward.
Other theories on the naming of America
There are a few other lesser-known theories about the origin of America’s name worth mentioning:
- Based on a Native American word – Some claim it comes from an indigenous word meaning “land of the winds.” However, there is little evidence to support this.
- In honor of a German merchant family – The “Amerige” family funded explorers and may have inspired the name. But again, little evidence.
- From the Latin word “Americus” meaning “the land of Americus,” with Americus referring to Amerigo Vespucci.
- From the European mythical land of Armorica – An ancient connection is possible but unlikely.
Overall, these theories lack convincing proof compared to the well-documented Amerigo Vespucci explanation.
When was the name America first used?
Let’s take a chronological look at some key dates for when the name America began appearing on maps and in books:
| Year | Use of the name America |
|---|---|
| 1507 | Martin Waldseemüller’s world map gives the name America to the New World. |
| 1520 | Peter Apian’s world map uses the name America. |
| 1532 | Waldseemüller’s Cosmographiae Introductio text uses the name America. |
| 1538 | Mercator world map applies the name to both continents of the New World. |
| 1557 | The name America first appears in an English text – Recorde’s Whetstone of Witte. |
| 1776 | The name is adopted by the newly formed United States of America. |
As these first usages show, the name existed as early as 1507 but took decades to become the conventional term in maps and texts. It was still competing with other names like New World, West Indies, and Cabotia in the 1500s. By the 1700s, America was the universally accepted term for the continents.
How the name America impacted history
While naming the continents likely seemed insignificant at the time, the single name America had immense historical significance:
- It unified the New World into one cohesive, organic identity.
- It led Europeans to think of these new lands collectively, beyond just disjointed islands.
- It became a symbolic name that the British colonies could rally behind in declaring independence.
- It gave the United States of America more historical legitimacy in taking the name.
- It became a unique cultural signifier for the New World and a shared identity among American states.
In essence, the name America helped bring a diverse array of lands and peoples together under one label and concept. As the United States grew, America became synonymous with values like liberty, individualism, and democracy.
Growing significance as an identity
Over time, America grew from just being a convenient cartographic label to signifying an entire culture and people. For instance:
- Native tribes were collectively called American Indians
- “Americans” distinguished colonists from British subjects
- American art, music, literature emerged as distinct styles
- The American identity grew as a unifying force
The name became more than just a name – it took on meaning as a revolutionary ideal and a shared consciousness among a diverse population. America grew to represent a cultural ethos of courage, independence, liberty, ambition, and innovation. The name became as synonymous with a set of pioneering values as it was with a place.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while its origins lie in the naming decisions of European mapmakers like Martin Waldseemüller, the name America took on greater meaning than they ever could have imagined. Far more than just a convenient label for the New World, America gave name and form to the shared identity of a people charting a revolutionary new path in history. It unified disparate lands, diverse tribes, and ambitious colonies into a cohesive New World identity. And it came to embody the values, spirit, and promise that made the Americas the land of freedom and opportunity.