Origin of the Name Canada

In 1535, two Aboriginal youths used the Huron-Iroquois word "kanata,"
which means "village" or "settlement," to tell Jacques Cartier the way
to Stadacona (site of present-day Québec City).Cartier used "Canada"
to refer not only to Stadacona, but also the entire area subject to
Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona. By 1547, the first world map to show
the discoveries made on Cartier's second voyage applied to word
"Canada" to the area north of the gulf and river St. Lawrence. By 1550,
maps were also placing the name south of the river. The first use of
"Canada" as an official name came in 1791 when the Constitutional
Act (or Canada Act) divided Québec, then considerably larger, into the
provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. In 1841, they were
united to become the Province of Canada. At the time of
Confederation, the new country took the name of Canada.






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