Staten Island

Staten Island is another New York name that was originally Dutch and then anglicized by the English. The English did this to many of the street names from the original Dutch street grid of New Amsterdam. In the case of Staten Island, it was originally referred to by the Dutch as Staaten Eylandt, which Jelly-Schapiro writes means “States’ Island.” This piece of land was named for the governing body of Holland, the States-General.

When the English took over, they dubbed the island Richmond County, for the illegitimate son of Charles II, Charles Lennox Duke of Richmond. Richmond County became the Borough of Richmond in 1898 and the name Staten Island, which harkens back to New York City’s Dutch roots, was not officially recognized as the New York borough name until 1975.