<P> The Catholic George Calvert , 1st Lord Baltimore ( 1579 -- 1632 ) , sought a charter from King Charles I for the territory between Massachusetts to the north and Virginia to the immediate south . After George Calvert died in April 1632 , the charter was granted to his son , Cecilius Calvert , 2nd Baron Baltimore ( 1605 -- 1675 ) , on June 20 , 1632 . Officially , the new `` Maryland Colony '' was named in honor of Henrietta Maria of France , wife of Charles I of England . Alternatively , Some Catholic scholars and historians believe Maryland may have been named after Mary , the mother of Jesus , by George Calvert , 1st Lord Baltimore prior to his death in 1632 . His original intent may never fully be known . The specific name given in the charter was phrased Terra Mariae , anglice , Maryland . The English name was preferred due to undesired associations of Mariae with the Spanish Jesuit Juan de Mariana , linked to the Inquisition . In addition , Henrietta was never referred to by both her first and middle name . Scholars also agree that under no circumstances was a territory ever named after someone 's middle name . Many agree that since the original capital of Maryland was St. Mary 's City on the north shore of the Potomac River -- and the county surrounding it , the first erected / created in the province , was named St. Mary 's County -- Maryland was most likely named after Mary , the mother of Jesus Christ . The great seal of Maryland also supports this conclusion . The obverse side of the seal reads TERRÆ MARIÆ , which translates in Latin as `` Land of Mary '' instead of TERRÆ MARIA , which would acknowledge Henrietta 's middle name . </P>
<P> The Catholic George Calvert , 1st Lord Baltimore ( 1579 -- 1632 ) , sought a charter from King Charles I for the territory between Massachusetts to the north and Virginia to the immediate south . After George Calvert died in April 1632 , the charter was granted to his son , Cecilius Calvert , 2nd Baron Baltimore ( 1605 -- 1675 ) , on June 20 , 1632 . Officially , the new `` Maryland Colony '' was named in honor of Henrietta Maria of France , wife of Charles I of England . Alternatively , Some Catholic scholars and historians believe Maryland may have been named after Mary , the mother of Jesus , by George Calvert , 1st Lord Baltimore prior to his death in 1632 . His original intent may never fully be known . The specific name given in the charter was phrased Terra Mariae , anglice , Maryland . The English name was preferred due to undesired associations of Mariae with the Spanish Jesuit Juan de Mariana , linked to the Inquisition . In addition , Henrietta was never referred to by both her first and middle name . Scholars also agree that under no circumstances was a territory ever named after someone 's middle name . Many agree that since the original capital of Maryland was St. Mary 's City on the north shore of the Potomac River -- and the county surrounding it , the first erected / created in the province , was named St. Mary 's County -- Maryland was most likely named after Mary , the mother of Jesus Christ . The great seal of Maryland also supports this conclusion . The obverse side of the seal reads TERRÆ MARIÆ , which translates in Latin as `` Land of Mary '' instead of TERRÆ MARIA , which would acknowledge Henrietta 's middle name . </P>
where did the state of maryland get its name
where did the state of maryland get its name
named after Mary , the mother of Jesus Christ .
named after Mary , the mother of Jesus Christ .