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What does the name "Idaho" mean?

Question #121350. Asked by star_gazer.
Last updated Dec 23 2016.

great2beme
Answer has 4 votes
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great2beme
19 year member
803 replies

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
It comes from Kiowa-Apache(Athabaskan) idaahe "enemy"

link http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Idaho

May 09 2011, 2:46 PM
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star_gazer star
Answer has 4 votes
star_gazer star
23 year member
5236 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
The exact origin of the name remains a mystery.
The same year Congress created Colorado Territory, a county called Idaho County was created in eastern Washington Territory. The county was named after a steamship named Idaho, which was launched on the Columbia River in 1860. It is unclear whether the steamship was named before or after Willing's claim was revealed. Regardless, a portion of Washington Territory, including Idaho County, was used to create Idaho Territory in 1863.

Despite this lack of evidence for the origin of the name, many textbooks well into the 20th century repeated as fact Willing's account that the name "Idaho" derived from the Shoshone term "ee-da-how".

The name "Idaho" may be derived from a Plains Apache word which means "enemy." The Comanches used this word to refer to the Idaho Territory.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho#Origin_of_name




Response last updated by Terry on Sep 07 2016.
May 09 2011, 4:27 PM
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Zbeckabee star
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Zbeckabee star
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
One of the most intriguing mysteries 0f ldaho history is the origin and meaning of the name "Idaho." The name is generally assumed to be an adaptation of an Indian word from one of the northwest tongues signifying either gem of the mountains" or "sunrise." Studies by competent
linguists reveal, however, that "Idaho" is one of many Indian "words" supplied by the white man. Research shows that "Idaho" was first considered as the name for 'he growing Pike's Peak mining area but that "Colorado" was finally chosen by Congress. It is not definitely known how
"Idaho" originated or how it reached the northwest, but it eventually replaced "Montana" for the new mining territory in the Pacific North-west when the Idaho bill was passed by Congress on March 3, 1863.

link http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/geog/explore/essay.pdf

Probably made up by George M. "Doc" Willing as a practical joke; originally claimed to have been derived from a word in a Native American language that meant "Gem of the Mountains."[27] The name was initially proposed for the state of Colorado until its origins were discovered. Years later it fell into common usage, and was proposed for the state it now names.[28]

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Willing

Response last updated by CmdrK on Dec 23 2016.
May 10 2011, 8:43 AM
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