So how did the name "America" come about? · 20 April 08
Having been to the lovely towns of Bath and Bristol lately, I’ve discovered an interesting fact of America’s history which seems to greatly differ from that taught in schools presently. It is taught that it was named after Amerigo Vespucci as he made his travel to what we now know as America. However, Vespucci’s role in the naming issue, like his exploratory activity, is unclear. Some sources say that he was unaware of the widespread use of his name to refer to the new landmass.
When I was touring Bristol I was informed by the locals there that America is derived from a Welsh merchant from Bristol named Richard Amerike. This theory first proposed by a Bristol antiquary and naturalist, Alfred Hudd, believed that Richard Amerike had financed John Cabot’s voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497 as found in some documents from Westminster Abbey a few decades ago. Supposedly, Bristol fishermen had been visiting the coast of North America for at least a century before Columbus’ voyage!!
There is a further speculative theory, tending to be found only in support of the above theory concerning the naming of America, that the flag of the United States of America is influenced in part by the design of Amerike’s coat of arms. According to the American Flag Research Centre in Massachusetts, the heraldic origin of the American flag is not positively known. The popular belief however is that it derives in part from the coat of arms of George Washington, whose family bore arms of the Stars and Stripes. Amerike’s coat of arms, which also feature a stars and stripes design!!
So I guess I’ll leave it up to you guys. What do you think ? :)
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Comment
- Wow , new look ! ;)
— Mynn Apr 21, 9:57pm # - indeed haha. thought it needed refreshing
— jacob Apr 22, 7:45pm #
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