Which U.S. state was named after a British island?
Virginia
Maryland
New Jersey
Rhode Island
Fact: New Jersey was named in honor of the island of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands situated in the English Channel between England and France. In 1664, after the English seized the territory from the Dutch, King Charles II granted the land to Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley as a reward for their loyalty during the English Civil War. To honor his service and homeland, the colony was given the name “New Jersey.” This naming tradition was common among early settlers, who often brought familiar place names from Europe to the New World.
Correct Answer: New Jersey