- Location: France, USA
1. France: a former province now comprising the departments of Mayenne and Sarthe, although there is also a department called Maine-et-Loire in the same region of Pays de la Loire. It took its name from the River Mayenne which flows through it. The river may have taken its name from the Cenomani who lived in the area.
2. USA: a state, and a city in New York State. The name of the state may come from that of the former French province, the French establishing a colony in 1604 on the St Croix River as part of the province of Acadia; on the other hand, it has been suggested that the fishermen of the islands offshore referred to the mainland as the 'Main'. It became a part of Massachusetts in 1652, but joined the Union as the 23rd state in 1820.
