What does Pennsylvania mean?
People say that Pennsylvania was named after William Penn, who founded the Province of Pennsylvania. Nope. He wanted to name it “New Wales.” (New York, New Jersey…) But King Charles II “suggested” it be named after Penn’s father, Admiral William Penn. The admiral had loaned the king money, which was repaid with a grant of that land. So what does Pennsylvania actually mean? Sylvania is Latin for forest or woods. Thus Pennsylvania means Penn’s Woods.