Tennessee State Names

Tennessee Name Etymology and State Nicknames

Appalachia

• Volunteer State

• Big Bend State

• Mother of Southwestern Statesmen

• The River with the Big Bend

• Hog State

• Hominy State

• Butternuts

• Hog and Hominy State

Origin of Tennessee State Name

Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown.

The state of Tennessee was named after the Little Tennessee River. Originally "Tanasi" the river took its name from two Cherokee villages on its banks.

Nicknames

Tennessee has had several State Name, but the most popular is "The Volunteer State." The nickname originated during the War of 1812 when thousands of Tennesseans enlisted in response to Governor Willie Blount's call for volunteers. Other nicknames include the "Big Bend State," which refers to the Indian name of the Tennessee River; "The River with the Big Bend"; and "Hog and Hominy State," now obsolete but formerly applied because "the corn and pork products of Tennessee were in such great proportions between 1830 and 1840"; and "The Mother of Southwestern Statesmen," because Tennessee furnished the United States three presidents and a number of other leaders who served with distinction in high government office.

Volunteer State

The nickname originated during the War of 1812 when thousands of Tennesseans enlisted in response to Governor Willie Blount's call for volunteers.

Big Bend State

Indian name of the Tennessee River.

Mother of Southwestern Statesmen

The three United States presidents who were Tennesseans and a number of other leaders who served with distinction in high government office.

The River with the Big Bend

Indian name of the Tennessee River.

Hog State

Production of pigs products of Tennessee were in such great proportions between 1830 and 1840

Hominy State

Production of corn products of Tennessee were in such great proportions between 1830 and 1840

Butternuts

Because of the tan color of their uniforms in the War Between the States

Slogans

(formerly Sounds Good to Me )

(formerly Follow Me To Tennessee)

The Stage Is Set For You

Tennessee Postal Code

TN

Tennessee Resident's Name

Tennessean, Tennesseean

Tennesseans sometimes are referred to as "Volunteers," "Big Benders"and "Butternuts." The first two are derived from the nickname of the state, while the tag of "Butternuts" was first applied to Tennessee soldiers during the War Between the States because of the tan color of their uniforms. Later, it sometimes was applied to people across the entire state.