New York State Symbols

New York state symbols: official state symbols include the eastern bluebird, rose, sugar maple, Excelsior motto, Empire State nickname, and beaver.

Abbreviation

Albany

Capital

1788

Statehood

Symbols

Overview

Among the official state symbols of New York are the eastern bluebird, rose, and sugar maple — each tied to the state's farms, gardens, and forests beyond the cities. The Excelsior motto, Empire State nickname, and beaver connect civic ambition, commerce history, and the fur trade that shaped early New York.

Best-known symbol The Empire State

Oldest in this guide Excelsior, 1778

Working animal Working Dog

New York State Symbols — Complete List

Category	Official Symbol	Adopted
State Flag	New York State Flag	1901
State Bird	Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis	1970
State Flower	Rose Rosa	1955
State Tree	Sugar Maple Acer saccharum	1956
State Motto	Excelsior Latin	1778
State Nickname	The Empire State	—
State Animal	Beaver Castor canadensis	1975
State Dog	Service dog Canis lupus familiaris	2015
State Beverage	Milk	1981
State Colors	Blue and Gold	2015
License Plate Slogan	Empire State	1951
State Seal	Great Seal of New York	1778

What Does New York Mean?

New York became the 11th state in 1788, after the colonial period that began under Dutch and then English control. The name honors the Duke of York after the English took control of New Netherland and renamed New Amsterdam as New York.

The state name is colonial and dynastic, but the symbols are broader. Excelsior gives New York its upward motto, the Empire State nickname gives it scale, and the beaver, sugar maple, rose, milk, and working dog bring the guide back to land, labor, and daily life.

New York's postal abbreviation is NY, and residents are New Yorkers. Empire State remains the state's strongest shorthand.

Key Meaning and Background

Origin: Named for the Duke of York after English control replaced Dutch New Netherland.
Statehood: New York ratified the Constitution in 1788, making it the 11th state.
Motto: Excelsior means Ever Upward.

Usage Examples and Context

State: Refers to New York, a state that includes New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes, and western New York.
City: New York also commonly refers to New York City, though this hub covers the state.
People: People from New York are called New Yorkers.

Nicknames and Short Forms

The Empire State: Main nickname, tied to New York's scale, wealth, and influence.
Excelsior State: Informal identity drawn from the state motto.
Abbreviation: NY; older short form N.Y.

Newest and Oldest Symbols

Oldest listed Excelsior, 1778

Older symbols tend to anchor the state's public identity: flag, bird, flower, motto, or nickname.

Newest listed Blue and Gold (2015), Service dog (2015)

Recent designations often show how states keep adding wildlife, foods, breeds, and cultural traditions.

What New York's Symbols Say About the State

New York's Empire State nickname and Excelsior motto make a powerful pair. One claims scale; the other claims upward motion.

The American beaver is the symbol that keeps the hub from becoming only civic grandeur. It points to fur-trade history, waterways, and the animal on the state seal tradition.

The sugar maple, rose, milk, and working dog pull New York away from a city-only reading. They make room for forests, farms, gardens, and service work.