the name virginia was first applied by sir walter raleigh and queen elizabeth i in 1584. after the english civil war in the mid 17th century, the virginia colony was nicknamed "the old dominion" by king charles ii. he gave virginia colony the name for its loyalty to the crown during the era of the commonwealth of england. when virginia colony was first settled it was a huge geographic area that was england's claim on all of north america. after the united states was formed, the entire states of west virginia, kentucky, indiana and illinois, and portions of ohio were all later created from the territory that was once known in the colony of virginia.