• State Name
  • from "Alta California" vs. "Baja California" of Mexico
  • from 16th century Spanish novel about mythic island of "California"
• from latin Cali = beautiful fornia....
  
  
• County Names
  • Spanish names dominate landscape, especially former Mexican territory
    
    
  • Sonoma, Monterey, San Luis Opispo, Santa Barbara
  • Santa Clara Saint Clear
  • Santa Cruz Saint Cross
  • Contra Costa = against the coast
  • Sacramento = sacraments (from Catholicism)
  • Plumas = feather
  • Sierra = large hills, from mountains (montaña)
  • Nevada = from snow
  • El Dorado = the golden county
  • Amador = name associate with love
  • Calaveras = skulls
  • Mariposa = butterfly
  • Merced = person of respect (proper name)
  • Madera = wood
  • Fresno = type of tree (found in Mexico)
  • Tulare = tules
  • Ventura = venture (from adventure)
  • Los Angeles = the angels
    
    
• City Names
  • San Francisco = Saint Francisco
  • Santa Rosa = Saint of the roses
  • Chico = little (from Rancho del Arroyo Chico)
  • Oroville = city of gold
  • Los Molinos = the (grinding) machines
  • Madera = wood
  • Manteca = lard
    
    

    "Saving the Bay" - film about tthe San Francisco Bays, environment, exploration and place names

California Index