They were named after places in Europe, by the explorers and settlers, either as a tribute or because that's where the namers were from. York, Hampshire and Jersey are places in Britain. New York was originally named New Amsterdam by the Duthch who claimed it and settled there, when the English took it they renamed it. New Mexico from Mexico, which itself, along with much of America, was once called New Spain. Newfoundland was named cause it was Newly, or recently found, sorta a public relations name, it was New, ripe for development and settlement. Newports are similar, they are 'new and improved', better than the old port in a competing city. Some Newports just replaced the old port which really was inadequate. Newhaven is a new place of safety and rest,also a public relations name, sometimes with religious connotations, a place of refuge for the persecuted. As Americans spread west they named places after their old homes in the east. Albany, New Albany. Sometimes,especially in the west, entire towns would actually move a short distance. When the railroads came thru the Texas Panhandle and missed their town, the folks of Mobeetie moved a few miles away to be on the railroad and named the town New Mobeetie. There are also 'New" places in other parts of the world. New Guinea, New South Wales, New Zeeland. Newsome was nam... well I dunno where Some is, somewhere old I guess. Well, that's the news from the New World.