Which is the meaning of the name “Illinois.”

This map is intriguing. Prepared by the Atlas of True Names, it shows each state with the translated meaning of the state’s name. I wondered about the accuracy of the effort when I saw Utah described as “Land of the Sun,” when everyone here knows that Utah means “people of the mountains;’ however, a bit more digging revealed that linguistically, the word “Ute” means “the high land” or “the land of the sun,” which by metonymy could be extended to meaning the people who live in a high place, or the mountains.

Anyway, it’s presented here for your gratuitous enjoyment. Check out the other maps offered by the Atlas… I’d love to have some of these in hard copy on my walls.

The Old Wolf has spoken.