Kentucky State Names

Kentucky Nicknames and Resident's Name

Appalachia

• Bluegrass State

• Hemp State

• Tobacco State

• Dark and Bloody Ground

Bluegrass State

Bluegrass is not really blue--it's green--but in the spring, bluegrass produces bluish-purple buds that when seen in large fields give a rich blue cast to the grass. Early pioneers found bluegrass growing on Kentucky's rich limestone soil, and traders began asking for the seed of the "blue grass from Kentucky." The name stuck and today Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass State.

Dark and Bloody Ground

By Daniel Boone from an Indian chief to describe battles between whites and Indians.

Origin of Kentucky State Name

From an Iroquoian word "Ken-tah-ten" meaning "land of tomorrow”

Kentucky comes from the Wyandot Indian name for "plain" in reference to the central plains of the state.

Commonwealth of Kentucky: The word Commonwealth comes from "commonweal" meaning 'for the good of all', or 'government based on the common consent of the people'. Kentucky is one (1) of just four (4) states to use this designation, the others being Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia. There is no actual difference between a state and a commonwealth.

Kentucky Postal Code

KY

Kentucky Resident's Name

Kentuckian