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What is the first mention/use of the word "America" in print in an English written/translated source

English Language & Usage Asked on December 10, 2020

I am aware of the fundamental history of the etymology of the word "America" in regards to the land it represents: how Leif Eriksson first-named the Brave New World Vinland, and afterward Columbus and the rest of Spain mistakenly regarded it as part of India, and then finally how Waldseemüller coined it in favor of homaging the voyages of Italian explorer Americus (Latinized variant of Amerigo Vespucci), and that it is well-believed the first occurrence of the word "America" in reference to the country, in print (a woodcut printing) is found on Waldseemüller’s map from 1507, which introduced to Europe the concept of the Brave New World as being considered a separate continent, with Waldseemüller’s illustrious words imprinted onto the map:

America ab inventore nuncupata

Manuscript containing the above phrase
Source for image: Wikipedia

But where my interest really sparks in is the first mention/use of the word "America" in regards to the country in the English language specifically. I certainly understand revealing the very first usage of the word, or any word for that matter, in an English-written/translated book/map, etc., is improbable, unless the word is so distinct as to be able to dissect the exact coinage, and even then there may be numerous sources where the word is used "earliest", and furthermore since the word "America" was not invented by an English-speaker, nor was imprinted into English until, surely, some notable time after its birth, but nevertheless I will try my luck here and see what happens.

I am also aware of the different, archaic variants of the word "America", but I am very distinctly looking for uses of the exact word "America" and nothing else, although if a book contains an early, strange-spelling of the word, but still evidently intends the use of the word "America" in describing any part of the country whatsoever, that would be entirely acceptable.

Any insight on the topic would be exceedingly appreciated.

P.S. Since I am already on the subject of the word "America" in early print, and if you clicked onto my question one could safely assume you have some at least interest in the subject, I thought this would be appreciated to many:
Master William Shakespeare makes reference to America numerous times (it is believed The Tempest makes reference to Bermuda) but more distinguishly, in the Comedy of Errors the character Antipholus of Syracuse says:

Ant. Where America, the Indies?

Picture cut from a facsimile of the First Folio (1623)

3 Answers

A new iuterlude [sic] (1520) has the following:

This sayde north parte is callyd Europa,
And this south parte callyd Affrica,
This eest parte is callyd Ynde,
But this newe landys founde lately
Ben callyd America by cause only
Americus dyd furst them fynde.

I used the BYU website to search the EEBO corpus, which only contains books, so it’s possible that there are earlier examples out there.

Correct answer by Laurel on December 10, 2020

Merriam-Webster has

Beginning in the 17th century, America was used metaphorically by English writers to refer to a place in which one longs to reach.

  • Licence my roaving hands, and let them go / Before, behind, between, above, below. / O my America! my new-found-land / My Kingdom, safeliest when with one man man'd. — John Donne, "To His Mistress Going to Bed," 1654

But there may be earlier claims.

Answered by Edwin Ashworth on December 10, 2020

It was first printed in Waldseemüller map in 1507.

The Waldseemüller map or Universalis Cosmographia ("Universal Cosmography") is a printed wall map of the world by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, originally published in April 1507. It is known as the first map to use the name "America".
The name America is placed on what is now called South America on the main map. As explained in Cosmographiae Introductio, the name was bestowed in honor of the Italian Amerigo Vespucci.

Here's the map showing the word 'America':

Waldseemüller map

[Wikipedia]



Also from Library of Congress Blog:

While the colonies may have established it, “America” was given a name long before. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer who set forth the then revolutionary concept that the lands that Christopher Columbus sailed to in 1492 were part of a separate continent. A map created in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller was the first to depict this new continent with the name “America,” a Latinized version of “Amerigo.”

Waldseemüller map

“America” is identified in the top portion of this segment of the 1507 Waldseemüller map. Geography and Map Division.



The earliest use of the word 'America' is present in Laurel's answer (circa 1520), but I'll add some additional quotations:


America, a countrey late founde in the weste parte of the worlde, by Americus Vesputi∣us the yere of our lorde a thousand foure hū∣dred .lxxvii.

[Bibliotheca Eliotæ Eliotis librarie.]
Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.
Londini: In officina Thomae Bertheleti ..., M.D.XLII [1542]


Also from Sir Thomas Elyot as Lexicographer 1538:

America, a countrey late founde in the east by Amercum Vesputium (Gg.ij.v)



The prouince cauled Peru, was also named no∣ua Cathilia by them that fyrste founde it. This region is the west parte of America: and is situ∣ate in the longitude of .290. degrees, procea∣dynge from the West to the East. And south∣warde begynneth fiue degrees beyonde the E∣quinoctial

[The decades of the newe worlde or west India]..... (very long title)
Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden. Anghiera, Pietro Martire d', 1457-1526., Eden, Richard, 1521?-1576. Londini: In ædibus Guilhelmi Powell [for Edwarde Sutton], Anno. 1555.



in deede it is of it selfe with the rest of America, in lyke ma∣ner as Europe, Affryk, & Asia, be one continent or maigne lande vnited togeather. In the fyrst and seconde chapters of this De∣cade,

[The history of trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys]....... done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden. Newly set in order, augmented, and finished by Richarde VVilles.
Anghiera, Pietro Martire d', 1457-1526., Eden, Richard, 1521?-1576., Willes, Richard, fl. 1558-1573.
Imprinted at London: By Richarde Iugge, 1577.


Ocean, is the cape or poynt cau¦led Cabouerde or Caput viride (that is) the greene cape,* to the wh•¦che the P•rtugales fyrst directe theyr course when they sayle to America or the lande of Brasile.

[The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations]......
Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.
Anghiera, Pietro Martire d', 1457-1526., Eden, Richard, 1521?-1576.
Londini: In ædibus Guilhelmi Powell [for Edwarde Sutton], Anno. 1555.

Answered by Decapitated Soul on December 10, 2020

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