Origin of Tennessee

The name “Tennessee” evolved from Creek and Cherokee words (many state names originate from Native American languages).

The exact details for the origin of “Tennessee” have been lost over time, but Spanish explorer Captain Juan Pardo was the first to record the name in 1567; at some point he and his soldiers encountered a Native American village called “Tanasqui” in Cherokee country.

The first known historical record using the modern spelling of “Tennessee” is an official correspondence from the Governor of South Carolina in the 1750’s. Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796.