How New York Got Its Name: The Duke of York, Not a "New" Prefix

There is no "new" component added to "York." The name is a direct honorific.

Origin

• 1664: English fleet under Colonel Richard Nicolls seized New Netherland from the Dutch.
• Renamed: The territory and its principal port (New Amsterdam) were renamed New York in honor of James, Duke of York and Albany (brother of King Charles II, later King James II/VII).
• Duke's Title: "Duke of York" is a traditional title for the British monarch's second son. The city of York in northern England dates to Roman Eboracum.

Why Not "New Amsterdam"?

The English simply replaced the Dutch name. "New" was a common colonial prefix (New England, New Hampshire, New Jersey—also named for James as proprietor of Jersey). But "York" itself is the ancient place name; "New York" = "York belonging to the Duke of York."

Albany, Too

Fort Orange (Dutch) was renamed Albany for James's Scottish title, Duke of Albany.