The Origins of the Name Canada

by Ihor Cap

Introduction

How did Canada get its name? Most Canadians, if asked about the origins of the name “Canada”, will admittedly lament their ignorance of that part of Canadian history. Of those that do remember, they might even recall the “official” version of how Canada got its name, the one they received from the Heritage Minutes: Jacques Cartier TV commercial “A Part Of Our Heritage – Canada.” After all, Canadian history is not a subject taught in the schools, per se. Education remains in provincial jurisdiction so each region features their preferred understandings of Canada’s history. As such, there are many competing theories on how Canada came to be known and called. All of them fascinating and equally compelling, but only three theories tend to capture the hearts and minds of historians and researchers more so than the others. They are presented here momentarily.

Background

According to Dr. Velyhors’kyj (1955), the ones that had no staying power were “Vinland” which Lief Ericson (Leifr Eiríksson in Old Norse) used when he arrived to the shores of Labrador in the year 1000 and “Cabotia” named after the Italian navigator and explorer Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot in English or Jean Cabot in French) “who found new isle” – (today Newfoundland) in 1497. John Cabot’s employer, King Henry VII, recorded this venture as such in his notebook in 1498. This is almost certainly the first recording ever known to exist about this grand territory, and that only complicated and further exacerbated the historians’ searches for the true origins and meaning of the word “Canada.” Even before the passing of the British North America Act of 1867 which established Canada as a semi-independent country, over thirty some suggestions were entertained to give the country a new name, writes Velyhors’kyj (1955) in the topo- and anthroponymic series ONOMASTICA X: The Term and Name “Canada”. “Albertsland, Albionora, Borealia, Britannia, Cabotia, Colonia, Efisga (a combination of the first letters of England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Aboriginal lands), Hochelaga, Norland, Superior, Transatlantia, Tuponia (an acrostic for the United Provinces of North America), and Victoria” were among them, writes Hamilton (1978) in The Macmillan book of Canadian place names.

The Three Main Theories on the Origins and Meaning of “Canada”

Velyhors’kyj (1955) asserts that the origins and meaning of the word “Canada” still remains elusive namely because so much time has passed before researchers started to trace its origin. Nevertheless, he sums up the three main theories in these words:

I. Local origin theory.

Dauphin Map of Canada - circa 1543 -Project Gutenberg, Wikimedia Commons

The theory of local origin branches off into several minor views, depending on what language is considered in regard to the name “Canada”: (a) the language of the Indian Huron and Iroquois tribes; (b) of the Algonguins; (c) of the Montagne tribe; (d) or of the Cree Indians. Furthermore, it also depends on what was really called “Canada”. Most of the research workers are inclined to think that the name “Canada” is taken from the language of the Iroquois. The name “Canada” was used as a name for the whole of the eastern peninsula, stretching from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River up to lake Ontario; as a name for a province; for a part of a province, lying between the Island of Coudre; for both sides of the St. Lawrence River; for the St. Lawrence River; for the Montreal district, a lake, an unknown land, a town, a village, a settlement, a group of houses or wigwams, etc., or generally as a name for foreigners, or an unknown country, and so forth. (p.5)

II. European origin theory.

Canada 3 cents Jacques Cartier 1934, Wikimedia Commons

The theory of European origin branches off in two directions, conditioned by whether the research workers regard: (a) the Spanish (“aca nada”), or (b) the Portuguese language(“aqui nada”) as the language of its origin. Both phrases mean the same thing: “nothing here”, which could have been used both by the Spanish and the Portuguese sailors, after failing to find a way to the East Indies, or failing to find any gold. The natives, who heard this phrase repeated many times, might have accepted it, in its abbreviated form, as a name for their country. There are more followers of the Spanish theory.
     The so-called German theory of Dr. Burgmeister is really the Spanish theory, deriving the name “Canada” from the Spanish word “Canada” as used in Argentina.
A few French research workers try to find the origin of the name “Canada” in France. (pp.5-6)

III. Oriental origin theory.

     The followers of the oriental theory affirm that the name “Canada” was either (a) brought over from the East Indies (Davies), or that the country was named after its discovery in honour of the Hindu philosopher Kanada (Johnson). (p.6)

Conclusion

This article began with the general guiding question asking “How did Canada get its name?” Dr. Ivan Velyhors’kyj exhausted all the Canadian sources available in Canada to study this question. Three main theories were given overriding precedence. In the end, Dr. Velyhors’kyj leans towards the local origin theory. The Canadian Board on Geographic Names in Ottawa promised to unravel this mystery, noted Dr. Velyhors’kyj. Its successor today, the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC) also tends to promulgate the local origin explanation.

Main Reference:

Велигорський, Іван. (1955). Назвознавство Ч.10: Слово й назва “Канада“. Вінніпеґ, Манітоба. Накладом Української Вільної Академії Наук. 1-30 . [Velyhors’kyj, Ivan. (1955). ONOMASTICA X: The Term and Name “Canada”. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Published by Ukrainian Free Academy of Sciences. 1-30.]

Other References:
Hamilton, William B. (1978): The Macmillan book of Canadian place names, Macmillan of Canada, Toronto, p. 21.
Author Information:
Ihor Cap is a web author and Member of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in Canada.