by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2026
After Columbus voyaged to the New World, European countries established settlements in North America and South America from the 15th to the 18th centuries. These European settlements involved explorers, missionaries, and settlers, leading to extensive claims of land, trading posts, and devastating changes for the indigenous peoples who had lived there for millennia. Many names of geographic places in North America and South America are derived from these European ventures. The Spanish tended to name cities, towns, and settlements after Roman Catholic saints – San Francisco, California, named after Saint Francis of Assisi, and San Antonio, Texas, named in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. The English frequently named cities, towns, and settlements after royalty and places in England – Jamestown, Virginia, named for King James I of England, and New London, Connecticut, named after London, England.
- Spain: Had early and extensive colonization, especially in Florida, the Southwest United States (New Mexico, California, Texas), Central America, and South America.
- Great Britain (England): Established permanent settlements like Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620), ultimately controlling the Atlantic seaboard and much of eastern North America.
- France: Explored and settled Canada (Quebec, 1608) and the Mississippi River basin (Louisiana), creating “New France”.
- Netherlands (Dutch): Founded New Netherland in the Hudson River Valley (New York City area) and established trading posts.
- Russia: Claimed and settled Alaska.
- Sweden: Established New Sweden along the Delaware River in what is now Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
States Named After Royalty
Georgia – King George II of Great Britain
King George II of Great Britain; Credit – Wikipedia
Georgia, one of the thirteen original colonies, is named after King George II of Great Britain, who granted the charter for the colony in 1732. The Province of Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe and named in the King’s honor as part of British efforts to create a buffer zone against Spanish Florida. King George II was the British monarch at the time the colony was founded. The charter for the new colony was granted in 1732, and the colony officially began in 1733. Georgia was admitted to the Union on January 2, 1788, as the fourth state.
Louisiana – King Louis XIV of France
King Louis XIV of France: Credit – Wikipedia
The French claimed the Louisiana Territory that now encompasses Louisiana in 1682 during the reign of King Louis XIV of France, who it was named after. It became the political, commercial, and population center of the larger colony of New France. From 1762 to 1801, Louisiana was under Spanish rule, briefly returning to French rule before being sold by Napoleon Bonaparte to the United States in 1803, as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, as the eighteenth state.
Maryland – Queen Henrietta Maria of England
Queen Henrietta Maria of England; Credit – Wikipedia
The Province of Maryland, one of the thirteen original colonies, was founded in 1634 during the reign of King Charles I of England by George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, who sought to provide a religious haven for Catholics persecuted in England. It was named in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, born a French princess, the wife of King Charles I of England. Maryland was admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, as the seventh state.
New York – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England, Scotland, and Ireland
King James II of England, Scotland & Ireland; Credit – Wikipedia
Stemming from Henry Hudson’s 1609 expedition, in 1621, the Dutch established the colony of New Netherland, which consisted of parts of the current states of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. In 1664, King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York, raised a fleet to take the Dutch colony of New Netherland, renaming it the Province of New York, after James, Duke of York, later King James II of England. New York was one of the thirteen original colonies. New York was admitted to the Union on July 26, 1788, as the eleventh state.
North Carolina and South Carolina – King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland
Charles I, King of England, Scotland & Ireland; Credit – Wikipedia
North Carolina and South Carolina are named after King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland (reigned 1625 – 1649) and King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland (reigned 1660 – 1685). The name “Carolina” comes from Carolus, the Latin version of Charles, and was originally applied to the combined territory before it was split into two separate colonies. King Charles I made the original land grant in 1629, and the territory was named “Carolana” in his honor, which means “land of Charles”. King Charles II re-granted the territory to eight Lords Proprietors in 1663. In 1712, the Carolina colony split into North Carolina and South Carolina because of governance disputes. Both North Carolina and South Carolina were among the thirteen original colonies. South Carolina was admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the eighth state, and North Carolina was admitted to the Union on November 21, 1789, as the twelfth state.
Virginia and West Virginia – Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland, known as the Virgin Queen
Queen Elizabeth I, Queen of England & Ireland; Credit – Wikipedia
To help counter Spain’s colonies in the Caribbean, Queen Elizabeth I of England supported Walter Raleigh’s 1584 expedition to the Atlantic coast of North America. Captain Arthur Barlowe used the name Virginia in the expedition’s report. It may have been suggested by Raleigh or Elizabeth I, perhaps noting her status as the “Virgin Queen” or that they viewed the land as being untouched. In 1607, the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World. Virginia was one of the thirteen original colonies. It was admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788, as the tenth state.
West Virginia was originally part of Virginia. Residents of the western and northern counties of Virginia set up a separate government in 1861. Most voted to separate from Virginia, and the new state was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the thirty-fifth state.
Counties and Boroughs in the United States Named After Royalty
In the United States, a county is an administrative subdivision of a state with defined geographic boundaries and some level of government. The term “county” is used in 48 states, except Louisiana, whose subdivisions are called parishes, and Alaska, whose subdivisions are called boroughs. This does not purport to be a complete list.
- Albany County, New York – James, Duke of York and Albany, later King James II of England
- Amelia County, Virginia – Princess Amelia of Great Britain, daughter of King George II
- Augusta County, Virginia – Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Princess of Wales, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales
- Bourbon County, Kentucky – French House of Bourbon, in honor of King Louis XVI of France
- Brunswick County, North Carolina – King George I of Great Britain and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Brunswick County, Virginia – King George I of Great Britain and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Caroline County, Virginia – Caroline of Ansbach, Queen of Great Britain, wife of King George II
- Charles City County, Virginia – King Charles I of England, when he was Prince of Wales
- Charleston County, South Carolina – King Charles II of England
- Charlotte County, Florida – Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George III of the United Kingdom
- Cumberland County, Maine – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- Cumberland County, New Jersey – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- Cumberland County, Tennessee – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- Cumberland County, Virginia – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- Dutchess County, New York – The Duchess of York, born Maria Beatrice of Modena, wife of James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- Dukes County, Massachusetts – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- Frederick County, Virginia – Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II
- Georgetown County, South Carolina – King George II of Great Britain
- Haakon County, South Dakota – King Haakon VII of Norway
- Hanover County, Virginia – King George I of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover
- Henrico County, Virginia – Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King James I
- Isabella County, Michigan – Isabella I, Queen of Castile and León
- James City County, Virginia – King James I of England
- King and Queen County, Virginia – King William III of England and Queen Mary II of England
- King George County, Virginia – King George I of Great Britain
- King William County, Virginia – King William III of England
- Kings County, New York – King Charles II of England
- Louisa County, Virginia – Princess Louisa of Great Britain, daughter of King George II
- Lunenburg County, Virginia – King George II of Great Britain and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Mecklenburg County, North Carolina – Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George III
- Mecklenburg County, Virginia – Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George III
- Montezuma County, Colorado – Montezuma II, Emperor of the Aztec Empire
- Nassau County, New York – King William III of England, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau
- New York County, New York – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- Orange County, New York – King William III of England, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau
- Orange County, North Carolina – Prince William V of Orange, Stadtholder of the Dutch
- Republic
- Orange County, Vermont – King William III of England, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau
- Orange County, Virginia – King William III of England, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau
- Orangeburg County, South Carolina – Prince William V of Orange, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.
- Orleans Parish, Louisiana – Philippe I, Duke of Orleans, son of King Louis XIII of France
- Prince Edward County, Virginia – Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
- Prince George’s County, Virginia – Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland, husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain
- Prince George’s County, Maryland – Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland, husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain
- Prince William County, Virginia – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II of Great Britain
- Queen Anne’s County, Maryland – Queen Anne of Great Britain
- Queens County, New York – Queen Catherine of England, born Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II of England
- Richmond County (Staten Island, part of New York City), New York – Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, illegitimate son of King Charles II of England
- St. Helena Parish, Louisiana – Roman Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great
- St. Louis County, Minnesota – King Louis IX of France
- St. Louis County, Missouri – King Louis IX of France
- Ulster County, New York – James, Duke of York and Earl of Ulster, later King James II of England
- Williamsburg County, South Carolina – King William III of England, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau
- York County, Maine – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- York County, Pennsylvania – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- York County, South Carolina – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
Cities and Towns in the United States Named After Royalty
This does not purport to be a complete list.
- Alfred, Maine – Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, King of the Anglo-Saxons
- Annapolis, Maryland – Queen Anne of Great Britain (in her own right)
- Augusta, Georgia – Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Princess of Wales, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales
- Brunswick, Vermont – Prince Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
- Cape Elizabeth, Maine – Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine, Queen of Bohemia, wife of Friedrich V, Elector of the Palatinate, daughter of King James I of England (also James VI, King of Scots)
- Charleroi, Pennsylvania – King Carlos II of Spain
- Charleston, Mississippi – King Charles II of England
- Charleston, South Carolina – King Charles II of England
- Charlestown, Rhode Island – King Charles II of England
- Charlotte, New York – Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV of the United Kingdom
- Charlottesville, Virginia – Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV of the United Kingdom
- Charlotte, North Carolina – Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George II
- Charlotte, Vermont – Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of the United Kingdom, wife of King George II
- Chester, Vermont – King George IV of the United Kingdom, the Earl of Chester, one of his titles while Prince of Wales
- Christiana, Delaware – Queen Christina of Sweden (in her own right)
- Christiana, Pennsylvania – Queen Christina of Sweden (in her own right)
- Cumberland, Maryland – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- Cumberland, Rhode Island – Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II
- East St. Louis, Illinois – King Louis IX of France
- Fernandina Beach, Florida – King Ferdinand VII of Spain
- Fort Ann, New York – Queen Anne of Great Britain (in her own right)
- Fort Edward, New York – Prince Edward of Wales, Duke of York and Albany, son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
- Fredericksburg, Virginia – Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II of Great Britain
- Hildebran, North Carolina – Pope Gregory VII (born Hildebrand of Sovana), ruler of the Papal States
- Jamestown, Rhode Island – King James II of England
- Jamestown, Virginia – King James I of England
- Kinston, North Carolina – King George III of Great Britain
- Louisa, Virginia – Princess Louisa of Great Britain, daughter of King George II
- Louisville, Kentucky – King Louis XVI of France
- Lunenburg, Massachusetts – King George II of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Lunenburg, Vermont – Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Maryland, New York – Queen Henrietta Maria of England, wife of King Charles I of England
- New Brunswick, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, and South Brunswick, all neighboring towns in New Jersey – King George II of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- New Orleans, Louisiana – Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France
- New York City – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
- Orleans, Massachusetts – Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
- Orange, Connecticut – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orange, Massachusetts – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orange, New Jersey – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orange, Ohio – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orange, Vermont – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orange, Virginia – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Orangeburg, South Carolina – William III, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England
- Prince Frederick, Maryland – Prince Frederick of Wales, son of King George II of Great Britain
- Princeville, Hawaii – Prince Albert Kamehameha of Hawaii, son of King Kamehameha IV of Hawaii
- Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Virginia – Princess Anne, later Queen Anne of Great Britain (in her own right)
- Queen Anne, Maryland – Queen Anne of Great Britain (in her own right)
- Queen Anne, Seattle – Queen Anne of Great Britain (in her own right)
- Queens Village, Queens – Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England, wife of King Charles II
- San Luis Rey, Oceanside, California – King Louis IX of France
- St. Louis, Missouri – King (Saint) Louis IX of France
- Victoria, Kansas – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (in her own right)
- Victoria, Virginia – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (in her own right)
- Virginia City, Nevada – Queen Elizabeth I of England (in her own right), a reference to her epithet, The Virgin Queen
- Williamsburg, Virginia – King William III of England
- York, Maine – James, Duke of York, later King James II of England
Works Cited
- Netchev, Simeon. (2021, September 20). Map of the European Colonization of North America, 1492-1750. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14633/map-of-the-european-colonization-of-north-america/
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, March 31). Georgia (U.S. state). Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(U.S._state)
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2025). List of places in the United States named after royalty. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, May 21). Louisiana. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, September 26). Maryland. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland
- Wikipedia. (2020, June 24). New York (state). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state)
