PENNSYLVANIA - Pennsylvania, a state renowned for its pivotal role in American history and its diverse landscapes, carries a name with a fascinating and personal origin story. Before it became the "Keystone State" and one of the original thirteen U.S. states, the land was known as the Province of Pennsylvania or sometimes the Pennsylvania Colony. This designation directly reflects its founder and the circumstances of its establishment in the late 17th century.
A Royal Grant and a Visionary Founder
The story of Pennsylvania's name begins with William Penn, an English Quaker, writer, and influential religious thinker. In 1681, Penn approached King Charles II of England to settle a significant debt the Crown owed to his late father, Admiral Sir William Penn. Instead of a monetary repayment, Penn requested and was granted a vast tract of land in North America. This royal charter gave Penn proprietorship over the territory, allowing him to establish a colony.
Penn envisioned this new colony as a "Holy Experiment" – a place where people of different religious backgrounds, especially his fellow Quakers who faced persecution in England, could live and worship freely.
The Naming of "Penn's Woods"
When it came to naming his new territory, William Penn had a specific idea. He initially wanted to call the land "Sylvania," a Latin term meaning "woods" or "forestland," reflecting the region's heavily forested natural landscape.
However, King Charles II had other intentions. To honor Penn's father for his distinguished service to the Crown, the King insisted on adding the family name "Penn" to "Sylvania." Thus, the name "Pennsylvania" was officially bestowed upon the colony.
The name "Pennsylvania" therefore translates directly to "Penn's Woods."
A Humble Founder
Interestingly, historical accounts suggest that William Penn, a man of deep Quaker humility, was somewhat uneasy with the colony being so directly named after his family. He reportedly feared it would appear vain or self-aggrandizing and even attempted, unsuccessfully, to have the "Penn" prefix removed or to pay to have it changed. Despite his reservations, the name designated by the King endured and has become an indelible part of American identity.
From Province to State
Under the designation Province of Pennsylvania (or Pennsylvania Colony), William Penn established a government based on principles of religious tolerance, representative assembly, and fair dealings (notably, his treaties with the local Lenape Native Americans). This foundation attracted diverse settlers, setting the stage for Pennsylvania's crucial role in the formation of the United States, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia.
So, before it became the integral U.S. state we know today, the land was officially the Province of Pennsylvania or the Pennsylvania Colony. Its name is a unique historical marker, a direct tribute to Admiral Sir William Penn, blended with his son William Penn's appreciation for the territory's abundant forests. It's a name that encapsulates royal favor, a founder's vision, and the natural landscape of a burgeoning American colony.
