It was reputedly named after Sir John Temple, a member of the British Privy Council in 1751.
It is commonly thought that Plymouth, MA is named after the English coastal town of Plymouth, from which the Pilgrim Fathers set out in the Mayflower; however, this is incorrect. In 1614 Captain John...
That IS his name. Yo Yo Ma is a renowned cellist and composer.
Masters of Arts
The MA after a name signifies the type of credential a person has, in this case it would be a Masters of Arts in something.
Massachusetts