Orleans is a city in France. Before 1803, the entire area (and much more) surrounding NO was a French territory. Jefferson bought it from Napolean, which is why there is a "french quarter" and the Fleur dis lis.
The Charlotte Hornets moniker was given to the region during the Revolution by none other than Lord Cornwallis himself. September 8, 1780, Cornwallis and the Brits left Camden SC victorious, bound for Charlotte to occupy the city, to fortify it, and to gather loyal supporters. But when they got there, the citizens of Mecklenburg county put up 16 days of fierce fighting, pounding away at the British resolve, causing Cornwallis to proclaim the area a "hornets nest of the rebellion"...