What does "New Jersey" mean?

New Jersey was named for the English Channel Island of Jersey in honor of Sir George Carteret (one of the two men to whom the land was originally given). All State Name Origins

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787 (dates of statehood), and the first state to sign the Bill of Rights.

The region of the mid-Atlantic that includes New Jersey has had many names over the course of time. Some believe that descendants of the Native Americans who arrived over 10,000 years ago called it "Lenapehoking." The Italian explorer Giovanni Da Verrazano dubbed it "Lorraine" in 1524. A century later the Swedes called it "New Sweden" and the Dutch called it "New Netherland." The name "New Jersey" appeared for the first time in a royal grant issued by King Charles II's brother (James, Duke of York) on June 24, 1664.