Origin of the Name "South Carolina"

The name South Carolina derives from the Latin Carolus ("Charles"), honoring King Charles I of England.

Timeline

• 1663: Charles II granted the Carolina charter to eight Lords Proprietors, naming the territory "Carolina" after his father, Charles I.
• 1712: Northern and southern administrations separated de facto.
• 1729: The crown bought out the proprietors; North Carolina and South Carolina became distinct royal colonies. The prefix "South" distinguished the lower colony.

Both colonies were named for the same monarch; the directional qualifier resolved administrative confusion.