Hi to everyone on the list, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year in 2005. I wonder does anyone know how your nation got it name, and what the origin of the name 'Canada' is? I see from an old poster I have ("Territorial Evolution of Canada" from 1667-1949, comprising 23 little maps) that the name 'Canada' does not seem to appear till around 1791. It appears as Upper & Lower Canada, whereas in 1784 it was called Quebec. The area further west, called Rupert's Land did not appear to change much between 1784-1791. I do not need an immediate answer to this inquiry - after the festive season's celebrations are over will be fine. Kind regards, Malcolm Carr.

Canada... A name drives from the Huron-Iroquois 'kanta', meaning a village or settlement. First referred to by Jacques Cartier, 13 Aug 1535. Also, used as a synonym for 'New France'. The name 'Canada' appeared on maps in ca. 1547 and 1550. The name was also used by Champlain in 1603. This your Christmas present. Merry Christmas. Allen Jess 2004-12-25 Source: "The Canadian Encyclopedia", Volume 1, A-For, Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, AB. 1985. page 261-2 ----- Original Message ----- From: "carrma" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2004 4:22 AM Subject: [CAN-BC] Canada > Hi to everyone on the list, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year in 2005. > > I wonder does anyone know how your nation got it name, and what the origin of the name 'Canada' is? I see from an old poster I have ("Territorial Evolution of Canada" from 1667-1949, comprising 23 little maps) that the name 'Canada' does not seem to appear till around 1791. It appears as Upper & Lower Canada, whereas in 1784 it was called Quebec. The area further west, called Rupert's Land did not appear to change much between 1784-1791. > > I do not need an immediate answer to this inquiry - after the festive season's celebrations are over will be fine. > > Kind regards, Malcolm Carr. > > > ==== CAN-BRITISH-COLUMBIA Mailing List ==== > Check the list's archives out at > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/CAN/CAN-BRITISH-COLUMBIA.html > >

Origin of the Name "Canada" Source: http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/history&people/history_canada.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How did Canada get its name? It came borne on the wind. The word "Canada" was first heard off Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on August 13, 1535, during Jacques Cartier's second voyage of exploration. Jesuit Pierre-Francois-Xavier de Charlevoix, the great early historian of New France, says it derived from the word "Kanata," a Huron-Iroquois term for village or community. MAIN MENU: HISTORY & PEOPLE: ORIGIN OF THE NAME "CANADA" Two Indian youths Cartier had brought to France from his first voyage the previous year recognized farniliar landmarks and poinred west across the waters, calling across the deck that this was the way to the chemin de kanata (route to the village). They were pointing in the direction of the St. Lawrence River, the route to the settlement of Stadacona. Wooden sailing ships are noisy places. Timbers creak on the water, sails flap and rigging whines in the seabreezes. Even on an average day in August, land breezes at 13 km/h on the north shore of the Gulf are enough to extend light flags. Over open water, winds are stronger. The boys' words reached Cartier's ears as chemin de Canada -- road to Canada. On August 17, Cartier noted his entrance to the great river: "The aforesaid Indians have assured us that this is the way to and the beginning of ... the route to Canada." He later named the area controlled by Stadacona's chief, Donnacona, "the Province of Canada" and he called the St. Lawrence the "river of Canada." Stadacona was the site on which Quebec city would be built. The name Canada first appeared on a map of the world about 1547, on land north of the great gulf and river. It became the popular name for the colony of New France among inhabitants, and in France, as well. Voltaire in his novel Candide and in his letters called the land Canada. He also called it "a few acres of snow." But the British in the 13 colonies to the south usually referred to Canada after its capital, Quebec. Following the British conquest, the English name for the colony became the "Province of Quebec." Many of the French inhabitants resisted the name Quebec. They preferred to be identified with the original name, Canada. Eventually, the British succumbed and adopted the name Canada officially in the Canada Act of 1791, which divided the crown colony into Upper and Lower Canada. In the Act of Union in 1841, the two were reunited as the "British Province of Canada." But, of course, given their celebrated Gaulish contrariness, the proud Canadiens at that point began! to emhrace the name Quebec for their beloved homeland. When the British Colonies of North America discussed uniting, they needed a name for their new nation. There was Canada, the name of two of the colonies, of course. But the Fathers of Confederation figured Queen Victoria would like Albertsland, to honour her late husband. Among other names they considered: Albionara; Borealia; Britannia; Cabotia; Efisga, an acronym for England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Aboriginal lands (they overlooked Wales); Mesoplagia; Norland; Superior; Transatlantia, and Victorialand, after the Queen herself. Fortunately, they discarded that whole list. At Confederation in 1867, the united colonies became the Dominion of Canada, 332 years after Cartier heard the name on the wind. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.4 - Release Date: 22/12/2004