ORIGIN OF “AMERICA”

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 21, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 46.

ORIGIN OF “AMERICA”

That America was named after Americus Vespucius is an error. Vespucius was called Americus just for the same reason we say Chinese Gordon, namely, to distinguish him from others of the same patronymic. Vespucius’ first name was Alberico. Nor is there any such name as Americo or Amerigo or any like name to be found among the Spanish or Italians. Our Columbus and Vespucius both coasted along the Mosquito at the foot of the Sierra, called in the Indian language “Amerikay,” written by the Spanish Amerique, meaning the “region of winds.” Only one edition of Vespucius’ letter on his third voyage has the name Amerigo in place of his real name, Alberico, which nineteen editions had. This was in 1506, and was done, no doubt, to distinguish him. The great Sierra was the conspicuous point seen by explorers up to 1507; and officers and men telling their stories, spoke of the country Amerikay, or Amerique, as the Spaniards write it. So says the Paris Geographical Society on the strength of profound researches.—Capital Journal.