Google responds: Why is Georgia called Georgia?

Why is Georgia called Georgia?

Google has revealed this is the most frequently asked question about Georgia by people all over the world.

The online search engine has data collecting software to enable it to keep tabs on what questions are asked on various topics. This allowed it to auto-complete sentences, so when a user began to type a question into the search bar, Google offered a list of the most popular queries associated with that topic.

As a result, Google autocomplete can reveal the most common questions and stereotypes people have toward other countries.

Queries about a country’s wealth and size were frequently asked however the biggest question about Georgia stemmed from its dual-meaning name.

Mixing up the country in the Caucasus region with the American state was the most common mistake, which posed the question: "Why is the country and the state both called Georgia?”

It is believed the country’s name derived from the Persian and Arabic name for Georgians (Gurj), and this reached Western Europe through the crusaders and pilgrims.

In their native tongue, Georgians call themselves the Kartveli and their country Sakartvelo. But for many centuries the Kartveli have been associated with George, the Roman soldier and Christian martyr. The Arabs, Ottomans, and Persians chose to name Sakartvelo after its beloved patron saint.

On the other hand, the American state of Georgia was named after King George II of England, who granted the State its charter in 1732.

Evidence has shown there was no direct connection between the names of the country in Eastern Europe and the state in the American deep-south but this continues to cause ongoing misunderstanding from people all over the world.

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