Meaning and Origin
What does the name Jamaica mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Jamaica
User Submitted Origins
African
67%
Jamaican
17%
English
17%
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Ja*mai"ca
One of the West Indian islands.
Other Dictionary Sources
- An island in the West Indies to the south of Cuba and to the west of Haiti
- A country on the island of Jamaica; became independent of England in 1962; much poverty; the major industry is tourism
Wiktionary
From Taíno Xaymaca (“land of wood and water”).
- A country in the Caribbean.
- The island comprising most of that country.
After Kuchamakin, a Massachusett leader; from Massachusett.
- Jamaica Plain, Boston, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.
From the Massachusett word for “beaver”. Compare next etymology.
- Jamaica, Vermont, a town in Vermont.
Originally Jameco, from Lenape [Term?] (“beaver”). Compare previous etymology.
- Jamaica, Queens, a neighborhood of Queens, New York.
Jamaica was also found in the following language(s): Catalan, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish