By John S. Huff

The origin of the name of our state has had many interpretations and translations. Even today, on various websites, you can find several explanations. The most logical and accurate interpretation shows the name to have begun in about 1734-1736 in a community some fifty miles southwest of Nogales on today’s Arizona/Mexico border.

According to historian Jay Wagoner, a Yaqui Indian named Antonio Siraumea, in October of 1736, discovered chunks of silver (planchas de plata) lying on the ground in a canyon located near the rancheria of "Arissona," a visita of the nearby mission. Siraumea’s silver find resulted in Spanish prospectors rushing to the area which was then known as the mining town of Real de Arissona in Sonora, Mexico. It was ordered by Juan Bautista de Anza I, then chief justice of Sonora, that all the silver found be impounded at a ranch 15 miles away owned by Bernardo de Urrea. His "Rancho Arizona" became the base of operations awaiting Mexico City’s decision as to whom the silver belonged. By this action, the name "Arizona" became a household word all over the region. Some four tons of silver were removed from the area in the initial rush of 1736. According to a letter written by de Anza, one chunk weighed 2,500 pounds!

Several other interesting attempts at interpreting and translating the word "Arizona" have been put forth by various authors.

In Will Barnes’s, "Arizona Place Names," he gives a different origin for our state’s name. He explains: "Arizonac" was the site near which were valuable silver mines. Ores taken from the surrounding mountains were transported to Arizonac and shipped from there to Mexico City. Will Barnes states that Arizonac is from Papago (now Tohono O’odham) Indian words "ali" (small) and "shonak" (a place of springs) or "place of small springs." Historian James McClintock wrote that the Spaniards dropped the letter "c" and adapted the Indian name to Spanish phonetics. It was also claimed that the Spaniards destroyed the village around 1790 and the name disappeared for a time.

Jose Francisco Velasco, an official in the state of Sonora, published a book in 1850 to describe the attributes of his state and thus attract new settlers. He described the mineral wealth of Sonora in one of the chapters and, of course, the old story of Arizonac was included. He believed that the name referred to an arroyo near the historic 1736 silver discovery (though his book erroneously gives the discovery date as 1769). This book revived the name and drew many miners who were searching for silver.

Explorer, prospector, author and politician, Charles Poston, came to Arizona in 1854. He had read Velasco’s book and was looking for a fortune in silver. He found deposits in the Tubac region just north of Sonora where the Spaniards had built a presidio in 1752. Following the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the Arizona region was made part of the Territory of New Mexico. Poston and other early settlers attracted by the mining activity wanted a territory for Arizona, separate from New Mexico. Several measures were introduced in Congress to establish the Territory of Arizona. They wanted to use the name Arizona, originating from the silver strike in Arizonac. Poston was generally credited with pushing the name, "Arizona," which may have originated from his reading of Velasco’s book. Poston’s efforts by lobbying both the congress and President Lincoln later earned him the title of "Father of Arizona." He worked tirelessly to gain territorial status for Arizona which was finally granted in 1863.

In Part II next week, more explanations, arguments and bottom line!

(John S. Huff is a volunteer at Sharlot Hall Museum.)

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(map0257Poston) Reuse only bypermission.

This Butterfield map of 1859 shows the Arizona region as part of New Mexico Territory (est. 1850). Inset is Charles Poston (courtesy National Archives) who worked tirelessly to gain territorial status for Arizona, granted in 1863 with current boundaries set. His efforts earned him the title of "Father of Arizona." "Rancho Arizona," where the name originated, is located on this map just below the border in Sonora at a point below the ‘R’ in ARIZONA.