Origin and Meaning of the Name "Denver"

Where "Denver" Comes From

The name Denver originates from James W. Denver (1817–1892), a 19th-century American politician and military officer. The city was named in his honor during the Colorado Gold Rush era.

James W. Denver: The Namesake

• Roles: Kansas Territorial Governor (1857–1858), Congressman, Civil War General, Commissioner of Indian Affairs
• Connection: As Territorial Governor, he oversaw the region where gold was discovered (1858)
• Naming: William Larimer Jr., founder of Denver City (1858), named it to curry political favor with Governor Denver
• Irony: Denver had already resigned by the time the town was named; he visited once (1875, 1882)

Etymology of the Surname "Denver"

The surname itself has English origins:

• Locational: From Denver, Norfolk (England)
• Old English: Dene-fær = "Dane's ford" or "valley crossing"
• Domesday Book: Recorded as Denefar (1086)
• Meaning: "Crossing of the Danes" or "ford in the valley"

Denver, Colorado: Key Facts

• Founded: November 1858 (Denver City, Kansas Territory)
• Incorporated: 1861 (Colorado Territory created)
• Capital: 1867 (territorial), 1876 (statehood)
• Nickname: "Mile High City" (elevation 5,280 ft)

Other Denvers

Places named Denver exist in: Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the original Denver, Norfolk (UK).

So while the city honors James Denver, the name itself traces back to an Anglo-Saxon ford crossing in Norfolk, England.