15 Places That Don't Mean What You Think: Explained
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.

Hartford is the capital of Connecticut and sits on the Connecticut River in the central part of the state. Settled in 1636 by colonists led by Thomas Hooker, the town was named after Hertford, England, the hometown of an early settler, Samuel Stone. It became the sole capital of Connecticut in 1875 and has been the seat of state government since. Hartford earned the nickname the 'Insurance Capital of the World' because so many major insurance companies and financial institutions have been headquartered there for generations. The city's historic role in American industry and commerce is reflected in landmarks such as Mark Twain's former home, which stands near the state capitol. Hartford remains a center of finance, government, and healthcare in New England.
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Named after Hertford, England, the hometown of Samuel Stone, one of the original settlers.
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.
From Montenegro to Naples, these 20 place names that were literally translated show how languages rebuild geography — and what the originals mean.
Want to explore where Hartfordites live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region