How did Houston gets its name?

Answer 1

Houston is named after the 19th Century American General Sam Houston, who (although a slave-owner and opposed to abolition) refused to contribute to the possible break-up of the USA by joining the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He died in 1863 at the age of 60, whilst the war was still ongoing- he had also served for a while as Governor of the State of Tennessee in the late 1820s, and although a supporter of slavery was also strongly pro-Indian, having made many friends amongst the Cherokee tribe and lived amongst them for a while. His nickname was 'The Raven'. His name in turn originates as a corruption of 'Hugh's Town', Hugh being an old male name of Welsh, Irish and Old English origin. 'Hugh's Town' can also be taken to mean 'the place on the hill'.

Answer 2

Sam Houston was the leader of the Texas army during the TX revolution. He chose a small town as his capital and renamed it Houston once they won the war!
It was named after the first Presiident of the Republic of Texas.