Bust of William Penn; public domain image on Wikipedia.
What does "Pennsylvania" mean?
Pennsylvania means "Penn's woods" or "Penn's land." Quaker William Penn was granted the tract of land by King Charles II of England in 1681 as repayment of debt owed to Penn's father (Admiral William Penn). Originally, Penn suggested "Sylvania" (woodland) for his land. All State Name Origins
Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 12, 1787. Order of Statehood
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania shares the designation "Commonwealth" with Virginia, Kentucky and Massachusetts. The word is of English derivation and refers to the common "weal" (well-being) of the public. In 1776, the state's first constitution referred to Pennsylvania as both "State" and "Commonwealth" (either term can be used correctly today). In Pennsylvania, all legal processes are carried out in the name of the Commonwealth.
