How Tasmania got to be Called Tasmania

About 12,000 years ago, Tasmania was cut off the mainland of Australia and the Aboriginal people living there remained isolated. They developed differently than those that remained on the mainland, as far as culture and physicality is concerned.  In 1642, Abel Tasman found the land and named it after his higher-up, Anthony Van Diemen. Before this, the people of Tasmania knew their land as Trowunna. Although Tasman named the land after his superior, the actual name of Tasman started to catch up instead. A naturalist in 1803 named a plant Tasmannia Ianceolata. A couple of mapmakers in 1808 also named their map both Van Diemen Land and Tasmania, which is the first time Tasmania was discovered in print. By the 1820's the name had become what people had started using. Following that, there was a book published that stated Van Diemen Land should be called Tasmania instead, and then some form of currency was printed with the name Tasmania on it, as well as other characterizes images-- such as kangaroos, of course. The name just started becoming the norm and maps, clubs, newspapers, etc. started using the name. People also started to use the name Tasmania because the name Van Diemen Land brought about a negative connotation, since people were aware of what had happened to the people of Tasmania. In 1855, the name was officially changed through Queen Victoria. It became officially used January 1, 1856 and was celebrated at a Grand Tasmanian Regatta. 

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