A fascinating question. Most writers assume that the name was given by Sir Walter Ralegh. He writes during his imprisonment that the land claimed by the English was called Virginia. According to the account in Virginia the Old Dominion by Matthew Page Andrews, an expedition was organized by Walter Ralegh and placed under the command of Captains Arthur Barlow Marleau and Philip Amadas, which explored Cape Hatteras in July 1584. They named Roanoke Island, but after their report in London, “Elizabeth herself became the ‘princely godmother’ for the country at large and called it Virginia, in honor of herself as the Virgin Queen.” Andrew cites as authority The Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia (R. H. Major, ed) by William Strachey. Strachey took his source from Hakluyt Society Publications, No 6 (London 1849), page 140. I am assuming the reference is to Richard Hakluyt, who was a compatriot of Walter Ralegh and active in the organization of the early Ralegh voyages. If the Hakluyt Society Publications could be referenced, perhaps more details might indicate the basis of Hakluyt’s attribution directly to Elizabeth. The Literary Encyclopedia references Hakluyt’s publications on the early voyages as Divers Voyages (1582), Principal Navigations, Voyages, and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589), and its second edition, much enlarged, The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and Discoueries of the English Nation (in three volumes, 1598, 1599, 1600). It is probable that the Hakluyt Society Publications were a republication of the earlier volumes. Richard E. Dixon > [Original Message] > From: Judith Bailey Gabor <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Date: 2/9/2009 3:58:03 PM > Subject: [VA-HIST] Virginia: the term > > Last month, I inquired as to the date of the first use of the term > VIRGINIA. > > Not a peep from anyone. Maybe the question is trivial because it is > assumed that all listers know the answer. > > The first mention I have found was a Thomas Harriot report from 1586, > published in 1588. > > In 1587, John White's granddaughter was named Virginia Dare - supposedly > for the virgin queen. > > Any ideas on this topic? > > Thanks, Judith Bailey Gabor > > ______________________________________ > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html