From District to State: The Story Behind Maine's Name. Early Settlements and Colonial Rule: The first European settlements in present-day Maine date back to the early 17th century, with French and English explorers vying for control of the region. The French, who arrived in 1604, named the entire area Acadia, encompassing parts of present-day Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The English established their first settlement at the Popham Colony in 1607.