Why do americans have so many british place names with new in front?

I would think that being the original immigrants left their home countries because they wanted a change. Then decided to put New in front of the names indicating a new beginning & yet still keeping a recognized name in honor of their home country. It's a matter of pride too I guess because we all keep our fathers name as well & just add a jr to extend the generation. Then too I think now a days people have much more imagination than the folks from the migration era. It seems to me they recorded what they knew best. m0--