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a German mapmaker named Martin Waldseemüller named America after the Italian explorer and merchant, Amerigo Vespucci.

Another version of the story of the naming of America is based on the voyages of John Cabot (who made the maps upon which Vespucci based his) and the man who financed Cabot's voyages, Richard Americ (also written Amerike). Although none of Cabot's original maps exist any more. It was reported at the time that he wrote the name America on them in honour of his financial benefactor.

Two points that speak against Waldseemüller naming America after Amerigo Vespucci are:

It was not practice to name countries after "commoners" using their first names. This right was reserved for royalty.

In later editions of his maps, Waldseemüller attempted change the name of the new continent to "Terra Incognita" or "unknown land", which he would not have done had he actually named it after Vespucci.

For more information on the theory that America is derived from Americ, see the elated link below

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