Origin of "Pennsylvania"

Pennsylvania State Name Origin

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.

Pennsylvania

Images

The state of Pennsylvania USA (image by TUBS on Wikipedia; use permitted with attribution).

Pennsylvania USA

Portrait of William Penn at 22 (public domain image on Wikipedia).

Portrait of William Penn at 22

William Penn and Indians: painting of treaty of William Penn with Indians by Benjamin West (public domain image on Wikipedia).

Treaty of William Penn with Indians

Videos

The Colony of Pennsylvania Founded in 1681