August 1, 2009

Kanata, Kanada, Canucks | What's in a name?


Here are some trivia about the name of Canada: Kanata, Kanada and Canucks.

Canucks
Canuck is a slang term for Canadians. According to the Random House Dictionary, the term Canuck is first recorded about 1835 as an Americanism, originally referring specifically to a French Canadian. This was probably the original meaning, though in Canada and other countries, Canuck now more often refers to any Canadian.

Canucks
A hockey team in Vancouver is called Vancouver Canucks.

Kanata
The name Canada originated around 1535 from the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoian word kanata meaning village, settlement, or land. Read about the origin of the name of Canada here.

Kanada
Sometimes you will also encounter some materials or read in an online publications or forums where the name Kanada is used instead of Canada. Ever wonder why?. There are two possible reasons. The first reason could be a simple mistake on part of the writer and the second could be a sign of protest, a satiric misspelling.