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.
where did the state of maryland get its name
named after Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.