New England gets its name from Captain John Smith, who explored the region in 1614 and coined the term while describing it to English investors. The name later became official when a royal charter and company arrangements formalized the region’s governance. Overview
- Origin of the name
- Captain John Smith named the area “New England” during his 1614 voyage along the northeastern coast of what is now the United States. He explained that the region was the New World’s counterpart to England in terms of latitude and general likeness, following naming conventions of the time. This attribution is the most commonly cited origin of the name.
- Geographic scope
- The term “New England” came to designate the northeastern United States, specifically the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This regional grouping solidified after early settlements and governance structures took shape in the 17th century.
- Historical timeline
- Smith’s description and map helped popularize the name, and by 1620 the name was reinforced in formal charters and colonial administration, contributing to its lasting usage today.
Key nuances
- Alternative explanations sometimes appear in popular sources, but the dominant scholarly view is that Smith’s 1614 naming, tied to the “New World” naming pattern and its latitudinal correspondence to England, established the term. The Pilgrims’ later use of the name in Plymouth and broader colonial writings helped cement its persistence.
- The six-state region is commonly recognized in modern contexts, with New York not considered part of New England, though historical naming conventions sometimes appear in broader discussions about early European settlements in North America.
If you’d like, I can add a brief timeline with the key events from Smith’s voyage through the establishment of the Plymouth Council for New England and its chartering date, with concise citations after each point.
