Solving the puzzle of Arizona’s name

Arizona hits the century mark today, a cause for celebration and curiosity about how the state got its name. Some historians and museum curators say the word “Arizona” derives from the words “small stream” in the language of one of the oldest southwest American Indian tribes.

Others say it means “arid zone” and possibly “good oak tree.”

Bernard G. Siquieros, education curator at the Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum, says the etymology of Arizona is linked to his people’s language, who call themselves the Desert People, formerly known as the Papago.

Siquieros said that long before the Spaniards and Americans arrived in the southwest, the Desert People’s dialect, which derives from the Uto- Aztecan language group, had a strong presence. The Desert People had names for landmarks such as streams, mountains, hills and basins, Siquieros said.

The O’odham word “al son” with a dot on the bottom of the s, creates the “sh” sound, Siquieros said. O’odham elders often use the word to describe the once-flowing Santa Cruz River, he said. “Al son” evolved into Arizona.

Historian Malcolm L. Comeaux, author of “Arizona,” also said the state’s name means “the place of little springs” in the language of the O’odham.

Comeaux said the state’s name can be traced to a place southwest of Nogales. The “Indians called (the place) Arizonac, meaning ‘the place of little springs.’ ”

In his book, Comeaux said a silver strike occurred in the area in 1736 and Spaniards searching for riches moved there, calling their camp Real de Arizonac. The “c” was eventually dropped.