Why is it called "lieutenant governor"?

[President Johnson]

A question I've long been asking: Why is the title for the deputy governor "lieutenant governor" and not Vice Governor? There is a Vice President as well. In German for example the lt. governor is called Vizegouverneur just as the Vizepräsident. Any one knows that?

[GeorgiaModerate]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

[Lechasseur]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

The Lieutenant Governor is also the Crown's representative in the Canadian Provinces and Australian states.

The Crown's representative at federal level in those countries is the Governor General.

[Lechasseur]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

But yeah your guess makes sense, it's likely the case even.

And when you get down to it, it makes sense, as regardless of if it's the Crown's representative at provincial level or the Governor's second in command, the idea is the same, the idea of being second in command. Just in the Commonwealth it means they represent the Crown in a territory subordinate to a territory where the Crown is represented by a Governor General, while in the US it means second in command over the whole state.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

The Lieutenant Governor is also the Crown's representative in the Canadian Provinces and Australian states.

The Crown's representative at federal level in those countries is the Governor General.

Actually, in Australia they're simply called Governors.

[Lechasseur]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

The Lieutenant Governor is also the Crown's representative in the Canadian Provinces and Australian states.

The Crown's representative at federal level in those countries is the Governor General.

Actually, in Australia they're simply called Governors.

Governor-GENERAL of Australia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_Australia

You're right that they're simply called governor at the state level (I checked).

[LoneStarDem]

Lieutenant Governor is BETTER & in some states, the most POWERFUL with influence, etc.,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Texas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_North_Carolina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Louisiana

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Virginia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Missouri

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Georgia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Arkansas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Oklahoma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_California

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Washington

I'll probably post a topic on who was the most effective & successful US State Lieutenant Governor sometime this week.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it descends from British Empire usage.  The Lieutenant Governor is the Crown's representative in some British dependencies, such as the Channel Islands.

That's been my understanding—prior to 1776, most colonies had a Royal Governor in London, who appointed a Lt. Governor to go to America on his behalf.