List of U.S. county name etymologies (A–D)

This is a list of U.S. county name etymologies, covering the letters A to D.

A

County name State Name origin
Abbeville County South Carolina The French town of Abbeville
Acadia Parish Louisiana The French colonial region of Acadia
Accomack County Virginia From accawmacke, a Native American word meaning across the water place, describing the Eastern Shore of Virginia
Ada County Idaho Ada Riggs, the first pioneer child born in the area and the daughter of H.C. Riggs, a cofounder of Boise
Adair County Iowa John Adair, a general in the War of 1812 and the eighth governor of Kentucky
Adair County Kentucky
Adair County Missouri
Adair County Oklahoma The Adair family of the Cherokee tribe
Adams County Colorado Alva Adams, the fifth governor of Colorado
Adams County Idaho John Adams, the second president of the United States
Adams County Illinois
Adams County Indiana
Adams County Iowa
Adams County Mississippi
Adams County Nebraska
Adams County Ohio
Adams County Pennsylvania
Adams County Washington
Adams County Wisconsin
Adams County North Dakota John Quincy Adams, a railroad agent who was instrumental in having the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway be built through North Dakota
Addison County Vermont Joseph Addison, the English writer and politician
Aiken County South Carolina William Aiken, the first president of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company
Aitkin County Minnesota William Alexander Aitken, a fur trader in the region
Alachua County Florida Native American word meaning "sinkhole" in either the Muskogee or Timucua languages
Alamance County North Carolina The Battle of Alamance, which occurred on Big Alamance Creek, which was named for a local Native American word for the blue mud found in the creek
Alameda County California Spanish for cottonwood grove
Alamosa County Colorado Spanish word meaning of cottonwood
Albany County New York King James II of England, who was the Duke of York and Albany before his accession
Albany County Wyoming The city of Albany, New York
Albemarle County Virginia Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, a British nobleman
Alcona County Michigan A word invented by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft meaning the excellent plain with al from Arabic for the, co the root of a word for plain or prairie, and na for excellent
Alcorn County Mississippi James Lusk Alcorn, the twenty-eighth governor of Mississippi
Aleutians East Borough Alaska Its location in the eastern segment of the Aleutian Islands
Aleutians West Census Area Alaska Its location in the western segment of the Aleutian Islands
Alexander County Illinois William M. Alexander, a pioneer in the county
Alexander County North Carolina The Alexander family, of whom several members were leaders in colonial North Carolina
Alexandria Virginia John Alexander, the original owner of the land that the town is located on, and his family
Alfalfa County Oklahoma William Henry David "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, the ninth governor of Oklahoma
Alger County Michigan Russell Alexander Alger, the twentieth governor of Michigan
Allamakee County Iowa Either Allan Makee, a trapper and trader, or an uncertain Native American origin
Allegan County Michigan Probably a word invented by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft meaning the lake with al from Arabic for the and egan from sa-gi-e-gan, the Chippewa word for lake. Other meanings often given are fine river or fair river.
Allegany County Maryland From oolikhanna, a Lenape Native American word meaning beautiful stream. The word is the origin of the name of the Allegheny River.
Allegany County New York
Allegany County North Carolina
Allegany County Virginia The Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny County Pennsylvania From oolikhanna, a Lenape Native American word meaning beautiful stream. The word is the origin of the name of the Allegheny River.
Allen County Indiana John Allen, a lawyer, legislator, and lieutenant colonel killed in the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812
Allen County Kentucky
Allen County Ohio
Allen County Kansas William Allen, a United States senator from Ohio
Allen Parish Louisiana Henry Watkins Allen, the nineteenth governor of Louisiana
Allendale County South Carolina The Allens family of the area, of which one member, Paul H. Allens, was the county seat's first postmaster
Alpena County Michigan A word invented by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft meaning the bird with al from Arabic for the and either pinai for partridge or penaissee for bird
Alpine County California Its location high in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Amador County California Jose Maria Amador, a soldier, rancher and miner, who in 1848 established a successful gold mining camp near the present town of Amador City, California. In Spanish, the word amador means one who loves.
Amelia County Virginia Princess Amelia of Great Britain, a daughter of George II
Amherst County Virginia Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, a colonial governor of Virginia and general in the French and Indian War
Amite County Mississippi The Amite River, which is located in the county
Anchorage Alaska Named for the fact that Cook Inlet, which Anchorage is located on, once was a popular anchorage for ships
Anderson County Kansas Joseph C. Anderson, a Kansas state legislator
Anderson County Kentucky Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., a Kentucky legislator and congressman who was the first ambassador from the United States to Colombia
Anderson County South Carolina Robert Anderson, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War
Anderson County Tennessee Joseph Anderson, a U.S. senator from Tennessee
Anderson County Texas Kenneth Lewis Anderson, the last vice president of the Republic of Texas
Andrew County Missouri Andrew Jackson Davis, an important citizen in St. Louis and Savannah, Missouri
Andrew County Texas Richard Andrews, the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution
Androscoggin County Maine The Androscoggin Native American tribe
Angelina County Texas A Hainai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries and was named Angelina by them
Anne Arundel County Maryland Anne Arundell, the wife of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
Anoka County Minnesota A Dakota word meaning on both sides
Anson County North Carolina George Anson, 1st Baron Anson, a British admiral assigned to defend North Carolina's shipping from pirates
Antelope County Nebraska The pronghorn antelope in the area
Antrim County Michigan County Antrim in Ireland
Apache County Arizona The Apache Native American tribe
Appanoose County Iowa Appanoose, a chief of the Sac and Fox Native American tribes who headed the peace party during the Black Hawk War
Appling County Georgia Daniel Appling, a soldier in the War of 1812
Appomattox County Virginia The Appomattox River, in turn named for the Appamatucks Native American tribe
Aransas County Texas The Rio Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, a Spanish outpost in early Texas
Arapahoe County Colorado The Arapaho Native American tribe
Archer County Texas Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas
Archuleta County Colorado Antonio D. Archuleta, a Colorado state senator
Arenac County Michigan A word invented by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft meaning sandy earth with arena from Latin for sandy and ac from a Native American language for earth
Arkansas County Arkansas The Arkansa Native American tribe
Arlington County Virginia The Arlington estate associated with the Washington, Custis, and Lee families. The estate, in turn, was named for the original Arlington estate in Northampton County, Virginia, established sometime before 1680, which was, in turn again, named for Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington.
Armstrong County Pennsylvania John Armstrong, a general in the American Revolutionary War and delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania
Armstrong County Texas Any one of several Texas pioneer families
Aroostook County Maine A Native American word meaning beautiful river
Arthur County Nebraska Chester A. Arthur, the twenty-first president of the United States
Ascension Parish Louisiana A colonial ecclesiastical district in the area
Ashe County North Carolina Samuel Ashe, the ninth governor of North Carolina
Ashland County Ohio Ashland, the farm and mansion of Henry Clay at Lexington, Kentucky
Ashland County Wisconsin
Ashley County Arkansas Chester Ashley, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas
Ashtabula County Ohio Either the Ashtabula River, or an Algonquian Native American word meaning variously fish, fish river, river of many fish, there are always enough moving, or half-way place
Asotin County Washington The Nez Percé Native American name for Eel Creek
Assumption Parish Louisiana A colonial ecclesiastical district in the area
Atascosa County Texas The Spanish word for boggy
Atchison County Kansas David Rice Atchison, a U.S. senator from Missouri
Atchison County Missouri
Athens County Ohio Athens, Greece, as the county was the location of the state university
Atkinson County Georgia William Yates Atkinson, the fifty-eighth governor of Georgia
Atlantic County New Jersey The Atlantic Ocean, on the shores of which the county is located
Atoka County Oklahoma Its county seat of Atoka, named in turn for Atoka, a Choctaw leader
Attala County Mississippi Attala, a fictional Native American heroine
Audrain County Missouri James H. Audrain, a Missouri state legislator
Audubon County Iowa John James Audubon, the famous naturalist and painter
Auglaize County Ohio Either the Auglaize River or a Native American word meaning variously fallen timbers, overgrown with brush, or at the lick
Augusta County Virginia Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the wife of Prince Frederick of Wales and mother of George III of Great Britain
Aurora County South Dakota Aurora, the Ancient Roman goddess of the dawn who was called Eos by the Ancient Greeks
Austin County Texas Stephen Fuller Austin, the person who facilitated the Anglo American colonization of Texas and is known as the Father of Texas
Autauga County Alabama The Native American village of Atagi, which was located at the confluence of Autauga Creek and the Alabama River
Avery County North Carolina Waightstill Avery, a Revolutionary War colonel and attorney general of the state of North Carolina
Avoyelles Parish Louisiana The Avoyels Native American tribe

B

County name State Name origin
Baca County Colorado The prominent Baca family of Trinidad, Colorado, a member of which had settled early in the area
Bacon County Georgia Augustus Octavius Bacon, a U.S. senator from Georgia
Bailey County Texas Peter James Bailey, a defender of the Alamo
Baker County Florida James McNair Baker, a Confederate senator
Baker County Georgia Colonel John Baker, a hero of the American Revolutionary War
Baker County Oregon Edward Dickinson Baker, a U. S. Representative from Illinois, senator from Oregon, and close friend of Abraham Lincoln
Baldwin County Alabama Abraham Baldwin, a signer of the United States Constitution and U.S. congressman from Georgia
Baldwin County Georgia
Ballard County Kentucky Bland W. Ballard, a long time frontier spy and scout for George Rogers Clark and as a brevet major of Ky Militia lead the initial attack at the battle of River RaisinWar of 1812. He suffered from a wound from the battle until his death in 1854.
City of Baltimore Maryland Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, the founder of the Colony of Maryland
Baltimore County Maryland The City of Baltimore, which was detached from Baltimore County in 1851
Bamberg County South Carolina Either Francis Marion Bamberg, a soldier in the American Civil War; or William Seaborn Bamberg, a local resident along with other members of his family
Bandera County Texas Bandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for flag
Banks County Georgia Richard Banks, a prominent physician
Banner County Nebraska The hope of the early settlers to make the county the "banner county" of the state
Bannock County Idaho The Bannock Native American tribe
Baraga County Michigan Frederic Baraga, a missionary who worked with local Native Americans
Barber County Kansas Thomas W. Barber, a free-stater killed in Douglas County during the "troubles" near Lawrence which came to be known as Bloody Kansas
Barbour County Alabama James Barbour, the nineteenth governor of Virginia
Barbour County West Virginia Philip Pendleton Barbour, a Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
Barnes County North Dakota Alanson Hamilton Barnes, a justice of the Dakota territorial supreme court
Barnstable County Massachusetts Probably for its county seat of Barnstable, Massachusetts, which was named for the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England
Barnwell County South Carolina A Barnwell family
Barren County Kentucky Large treeless expanses found by early explorers caused by Native Americans burning tracts of forest
Barron County Wisconsin Henry D. Barron, a Wisconsin state legislator and judge
Barrow County Georgia David Crenshaw Barrow, an official of the University of Georgia
Barry County Michigan William Taylor Barry, a United States Postmaster General
Barry County Missouri
Bartholomew County Indiana Joseph Bartholomew, a hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe and U.S. senator. He was an Indiana state senator at the time of Bartholomew County's formation.
Barton County Kansas Clara Barton, the organizing founder of the American Red Cross
Barton County Missouri David Barton, a U.S. senator from Missouri
Bartow County Georgia Francis S. Bartow, a Civil War general killed at the First Battle of Bull Run
Bastrop County Texas Baron Felipe Enrique Neri de Bastrop, an early German settler in Texas
Bates County Missouri Frederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri
Bath County Kentucky Springs in the area thought to have medicinal value
Bath County Virginia Either for the many warm springs within its borders or the city of Bath in England
Baxter County Arkansas Elisha Baxter, the thirteenth governor of Arkansas
Bay County Florida St. Andrews Bay, which the county is located on
Bay County Michigan Saginaw Bay, which the county is located on
Bayfield County Wisconsin Henry Bayfield, a British naval officer who performed the first survey of the Great Lakes region
Baylor County Texas Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican-American War
Beadle County South Dakota William Henry Harrison Beadle, a leading figure and surveyor-general of the Dakota Territory
Bear Lake County Idaho Bear Lake, which lies partly within the county and partly within Utah
Beaufort County North Carolina Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, a Lord Proprietor of Carolina
Beaufort County South Carolina
Beauregard Parish Louisiana Pierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard, the Civil War Confederate general
Beaver County Oklahoma Its county seat of Beaver, Oklahoma and the Beaver River, which flows through the county
Beaver County Pennsylvania The Beaver River of Pennsylvania
Beaver County Utah The area's many beavers
Beaverhead County Montana A rock in the Jefferson River shaped like a beaver's head
Becker County Minnesota George Loomis Becker, a Minnesota state legislator and mayor of St. Paul
Beckham County Oklahoma John Crepps Wickliffe Beckham, the thirty-fifth governor of Kentucky
City of Bedford Virginia John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, a Secretary of State for the Southern Department of Great Britain
Bedford County Virginia
Bedford County Pennsylvania Fort Bedford, which was in turn named for the aforementioned 4th Duke of Bedford
Bedford County Tennessee Thomas Bedford, a soldier in the Revolutionary War
Bee County Texas Barnard Elliott Bee, Sr., a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas
Belknap County New Hampshire Jeremy Belknap, an early New Hampshire historian
Bell County Kentucky Joshua Fry Bell, a lawyer and Kentucky state legislator
Bell County Texas Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas
Belmont County Ohio The French word for beautiful mountain or fine mountain, describing the scenery in the area
Beltrami County Minnesota Giacomo Costantino Beltrami, an Italian who explored the northern reaches of the Mississippi River
Ben Hill County Georgia Benjamin Harvey Hill, a Georgia state, Confederate, and U.S. congressman
Benewah County Idaho Benewah, a Coeur d'Alene leader
Bennett County South Dakota Either Granville C. Bennett, a prominent South Dakota politician; or John E. Bennett, a judge of the South Dakota Supreme Court
Bennington County Vermont The city of Bennington, Vermont, named in turn for Benning Wentworth, governor of the New Hampshire Grants in modern-day Vermont
Benson County North Dakota Bertil W. Benson, a North Dakota state senator
Bent County Colorado Bent's Fort which was located on the north bank of the Arkansas River, near present-day La Junta, and the Bent brothers who founded the fort
Benton County Arkansas Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. senator from Missouri who pushed for westward expansion of the United States
Benton County Indiana
Benton County Iowa
Benton County Minnesota
Benton County Missouri
Benton County Oregon
Benton County Washington
Benton County Mississippi Confederate Brigadier General Samuel Benton from Holly Springs, Mississippi. Local lore has it that when the county was formed in 1870, locals suggested the name Benton to the Reconstruction legislature as being Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. senator from Missouri who pushed for westward expansion of the United States, but the county was actually named for the Confederate general.
Benton County Tennessee Either David Benton, a soldier in the colonial Tennessee Militia; or Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. senator from Missouri who pushed for westward expansion of the United States.
Benzie County Michigan An Anglicization of the French name, Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies, for the Betsie River
Bergen County New Jersey From the original New Netherland settlement of Bergen, which means hills
Berkeley County South Carolina John Berkeley and William Berkeley, two Lords Proprietor of Carolina
Berkeley County West Virginia Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, a colonial governor of Virginia
Berks County Pennsylvania The English county of Berkshire
Berkshire County Massachusetts
Bernalillo County New Mexico Either the nearby settlement of Bernalillo, New Mexico or the Gonzales-Bernal family
Berrien County Georgia John MacPherson Berrien, the tenth United States Attorney General
Berrien County Michigan
Bertie County North Carolina Either James Bertie or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of Carolina
Bethel Census Area Alaska The town of Bethel, Alaska which is located in the census area
Bexar County Texas San Antonio de Béjar, the capital of Mexican Texas; Béjar is present-day San Antonio
Bibb County Alabama William Wyatt Bibb, the first governor of Alabama who was a native of Georgia
Bibb County Georgia
Bienville Parish Louisiana Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, a French colonial governor of Louisiana
Big Horn County Montana The bighorn sheep in the area
Big Horn County Wyoming
Big Stone County Minnesota Big Stone Lake
Billings County North Dakota Frederick H. Billings, the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad when the county was formed
Bingham County Idaho Henry Harrison Bingham, a U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania
Black Hawk County Iowa Black Hawk, the Sac and Fox Native American chief who led a revolt against resettlement of his tribe in the Black Hawk War
Blackford County Indiana Isaac Newton Blackford, a speaker of the first Indiana General Assembly and judge on the Indiana Supreme Court
Bladen County North Carolina Martin Bladen, a British politician and Commissioner of Trade and Plantations
Blaine County Idaho James G. Blaine, the American statesman, secretary of state, U.S. senator, and presidential candidate
Blaine County Montana
Blaine County Nebraska
Blaine County Oklahoma
Blair County Pennsylvania John Blair, a signer of the United States Constitution and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from Pennsylvania
Blanco County Texas The Blanco River, from the Spanish word for "white"
Bland County Virginia Richard Bland, a colonial delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia
Bleckley County Georgia Logan Edwin Bleckley, a soldier and judge on the South Carolina Supreme Court
Bledsoe County Tennessee Anthony Bledsoe, a soldier in the Revolutionary War and an early settler in the area
Blount County Alabama William Blount, the only governor of the Southwest Territory (modern-day Tennessee)
Blount County Tennessee
Blue Earth County Minnesota The Blue Earth River, named in turn for blue-green earth found near its mouth and used by Dakota Native Americans as a pigment
Boise County Idaho The Boise River, from the French word for "wooded"
Bolivar County Mississippi Simón Bolívar, the great South American revolutionary and general
Bollinger County Missouri George Frederick Bollinger, a pioneer and Missouri state legislator
Bon Homme County South Dakota An unknown man whose grave was found on an island in the Missouri River located in the county. A wooden cross marked the grave simply "Bon Homme," the French words for "good man."
Bond County Illinois Shadrach Bond, the first governor of Illinois
Bonner County Idaho Edwin L. Bonner, a pioneer ferry operator in the area
Bonneville County Idaho Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, a French explorer of the Great Basin area
Boone County Arkansas Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman
Boone County Illinois
Boone County Indiana
Boone County Kentucky
Boone County Missouri
Boone County Nebraska
Boone County West Virginia
Boone County Iowa Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman, and his son, Nathan Boone, a colonel in the U. S. Dragoons
Borden County Texas Gail Borden, Jr., a businessman, publisher, and surveyor in Texas who invented condensed milk
Bosque County Texas The Bosque River
Bossier Parish Louisiana Presumably for Pierre Jean Baptiste Evariste Bossier, a U.S. representative from Louisiana
Botetourt County Virginia Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, a colonial governor of Virginia
Bottineau County North Dakota Pierre Bottineau, a Métis guide and frontiersman in the area
Boulder County Colorado The abundance of boulders in the area
Boundary County Idaho The fact that it borders Washington on the west, Montana on the east, and Canada (British Columbia) on the north
Bourbon County Kansas Bourbon County, Kentucky
Bourbon County Kentucky The French House of Bourbon
Bowie County Texas James Bowie, the legendary knife fighter who died at the Battle of the Alamo
Bowman County North Dakota Edward M. Bowman, a U.S. representative from the Dakota Territory
Box Butte County Nebraska A large box-shaped butte located in the county
Box Elder County Utah The area's many box elder trees
Boyd County Kentucky Linn Boyd, a U. S. congressman and Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives from Kentucky
Boyd County Nebraska James E. Boyd, the eighth governor of Nebraska
Boyle County Kentucky John Boyle, a U. S. congressman and district judge from Kentucky
Bracken County Kentucky Bracken Creek and Little Bracken Creek, two streams located in the county
Bradford County Florida Richard Bradford, a soldier in the Civil War who was killed in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island
Bradford County Pennsylvania William Bradford, the second United States Attorney General
Bradley County Arkansas Hugh Bradley, a soldier in the War of 1812
Bradley County Tennessee Edward Bradley, a Tennessee militia officer in the War of 1812
Branch County Michigan John Branch, the eighth United States Secretary of the Navy
Brantley County Georgia Benjamin D. Brantley, a member of a prominent local family; or William Goodman Brantley, a Georgia state senator
Braxton County West Virginia Carter Braxton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence from Virginia
Brazoria County Texas The Brazos River
Brazos County Texas
Breathitt County Kentucky John Breathitt, the eleventh governor of Kentucky
Breckinridge County Kentucky John Breckinridge, the fifth United States Attorney General and a U. S. senator from Kentucky
Bremer County Iowa Fredricka Bremer, a Swedish novelist
Brevard County Florida Theodore Washington Brevard, a Florida State Controller in the 1850s; it was originally named St. Lucia County[1]
Brewster County Texas Henry Percy Brewster, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and soldier in the American Civil War
Briscoe County Texas Andrew Briscoe, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
City of Bristol Virginia The city of Bristol, England
Bristol County Massachusetts
Bristol County Rhode Island
Bristol Bay Borough Alaska Bristol Bay, which is located in the borough and was named for Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol by Captain James Cook
Broadwater County Montana Charles A. Broadwater, a pioneer in the area and soldier in the United States Army
Bronx County New York Jonas Bronck, an early settler in the region
Brook County West Virginia Robert Brooke, the tenth governor of Virginia
Brookings County South Dakota Wilmot W. Brookings, a pioneer who was one of the first settlers in the Dakota Territory
Brooks County Georgia Preston Smith Brooks, a U. S. congressman from South Carolina who famously attacked Charles Sumner, a fellow senator, with a cane
Brooks County Texas John Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and Texas state legislator
Broome County New York John Broome, a lieutenant governor of New York
City and County of Broomfield Colorado The quantity of broom corn grown in the area. The city was incorporated in 1961, and obtained county status in 2001.
Broward County Florida Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, the nineteenth governor of Florida
Brown County Illinois Jacob Jennings Brown, a general in the War of 1812
Brown County Indiana
Brown County Ohio
Brown County Wisconsin
Brown County Kansas Albert Gallatin Brown, the fourteenth governor of Mississippi and a U.S. senator from Mississippi
Brown County Minnesota Joseph Renshaw Brown, a prominent pioneer, newspaperman, and Minnesota territorial legislator
Brown County Nebraska Any two of five members of the Nebraska state legislature named Brown at the time of the county's formation
Brown County South Dakota Alfred Brown, a Dakota territorial legislator
Brown County Texas Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco prior to the Texas Revolution
Brule County South Dakota Probably the Brulé, a branch of the Sioux Native American tribe
Brunswick County North Carolina King George I of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick
Brunswick County Virginia The region of Brunswick in present-day Germany
Bryan County Georgia Jonathan Bryan, a Georgia colonial legislator in the 17th century
Bryan County Oklahoma William Jennings Bryan, the lawyer, forty-first United States Secretary of State, and thrice-time presidential candidate
Buchanan County Iowa James Buchanan, the fifteenth president of the United States
Buchanan County Missouri
Buchanan County Virginia
Buckingham County Virginia Either the English county of Buckinghamshire; or an unknown Duke of Buckingham (extinct at the time of the county's formation)
Bucks County Pennsylvania The English county of Buckinghamshire
City of Buena Vista Virginia The Buena Vista Company, which raised the money for the city's founding
Buena Vista County Iowa The Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War
Buffalo County Nebraska The American Bison which once roamed the present county
Buffalo County South Dakota Probably the American Bison
Buffalo County Wisconsin The Buffalo River
Bullitt County Kentucky Alexander Scott Bullitt, a co-author of the Kentucky state constitution and the first lieutenant governor of Kentucky
Bulloch County Georgia Archibald Bulloch, the second governor of Georgia
Bullock County Alabama Edward C. Bullock, a soldier in the Confederate States Army
Buncombe County North Carolina Edward Buncombe, a soldier in the Revolutionary War
Bureau County Illinois Pierre de Bureo, a French trader with Native American in the area
Burke County Georgia Edmund Burke, a member of the British Parliament who advised the repeal of the Stamp Act in the 1760s and reconciliation with the American colonies
Burke County North Carolina Thomas Burke, the third governor of North Carolina
Burke County North Dakota John Burke, the tenth governor of North Dakota
Burleigh County North Dakota Walter Atwood Burleigh, a U.S. representative from the Dakota Territory
Burleson County Texas Edward Burleson, a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution
Burlington County New Jersey A corruption of the name of Bridlington, England
Burnet County Texas David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas
Burnett County Wisconsin Thomas P. Burnett, a Wisconsin state legislator
Burt County Nebraska Francis Burt, the first governor of the Nebraska Territory
Butler County Alabama William Butler, a soldier who fought in the Creek War
Butler County Iowa William Orlando Butler, a Kentucky statesman, U.S. representative, vice presidential candidate, and general in the Mexican-American War
Butler County Missouri
Butler County Kansas Andrew Pickens Butler, a U.S. senator from South Carolina
Butler County Kentucky Richard Butler, a general who was killed at the Battle of the Wabash
Butler County Ohio
Butler County Pennsylvania
Butler County Nebraska Either David Butler, the first governor of Nebraska; or William Orlando Butler, a Kentucky statesman, U.S. representative, vice presidential candidate, and general in the Mexican-American War who also declined an appointment to become the first governor of the Nebraska Territory
Butte County California Either the Marysville Buttes or Sutter Buttes
Butte County Idaho The buttes scattered throughout the county
Butte County South Dakota One or more unknown buttes.
Butts County Georgia Sam Butts, a soldier killed in the War of 1812

C

County name State Name origin
Cabarrus County North Carolina Stephen Cabarrus, a North Carolina state legislator
Cabell County West Virginia William H. Cabell, the fourteenth governor of Virginia
Cache County Utah The caches of furs collected in the area by Rocky Mountain Fur Company trappers
Caddo County Oklahoma The Caddo Native American tribe
Caddo Parish Louisiana
Calaveras County California Calaveras, the Spanish word for skulls, reportedly for the bones of fighters left behind after a Native American war that were discovered by Captain Gabriel Moraga
Calcasieu Parish Louisiana Supposedly for Calcasieu, an Atakapas Native American leader, whose name is said to mean crying eagle
Caldwell County Kentucky John Caldwell, a U. S. senator and the second lieutenant governor of Kentucky
Caldwell County Missouri Either for John Caldwell, a Native American scout; John Caldwell, a U.S. senator and the second lieutenant governor of Kentucky; or Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution
Caldwell County North Carolina Joseph Caldwell, the first president of the University of North Carolina, who advocated public school and railroad systems in North Carolina
Caldwell County Texas Probably for Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution
Caldwell Parish Louisiana The locally prominent Caldwell family
Caledonia County Vermont The Latin name for Scotland
Calhoun County Alabama John C. Calhoun, the U.S. statesman, seventh vice president of the United States, Secretary of State, and U.S. senator from South Carolina
Calhoun County Arkansas
Calhoun County Florida
Calhoun County Georgia
Calhoun County Illinois
Calhoun County Iowa
Calhoun County Michigan
Calhoun County Mississippi
Calhoun County South Carolina
Calhoun County Texas
Calhoun County West Virginia
Callahan County Texas James Hughes Callahan, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Callaway County Missouri James Callaway, a "Missouri ranger" killed by Native Americans during the War of 1812
Calloway County Kentucky Richard Calloway, an early pioneer in Kentucky
Calumet County Wisconsin Calumet, the French word for a Menominee peace pipe
Calvert County Maryland The Calvert family, whose male members bore the title of Baron Baltimore and included the founders of the colony of Maryland
Camas County Idaho The local camassia plant
Cambria County Pennsylvania The county's original status as Cambria Township of Somerset County, Pennsylvania; Cambria is an ancient name for Wales
Camden County Georgia Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a member of the British Parliament who opposed the Stamp Act in the 1760s
Camden County Missouri
Camden County New Jersey
Camden County North Carolina
Cameron County Pennsylvania Simon Cameron, the twenty-sixth Secretary of War of the United States in the first year of the American Civil War and a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania
Cameron Parish Louisiana
Cameron County Texas Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Camp County Texas John Lafayette Camp, a Texas state politician
Campbell County Kentucky John Campbell, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, founder of Louisville, and Kentucky state senator
Campbell County South Dakota Newton B. Campbell, territorial legislator
Campbell County Tennessee Arthur Campbell, a Virginia House of Burgesses representative
Campbell County Virginia William Campbell, a Continental Army general of the Revolutionary War
Campbell County Wyoming John Allen Campbell (1835–1880), first governor of the Wyoming Territory (1869–1875); or for John Archibald Campbell, a governor of the Wyoming Territory and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; or Robert Campbell, an explorer of the area
Canadian County Oklahoma The Canadian River, which flows through the county
Candler County Georgia Allen Daniel Candler, the fifty-sixth governor of Georgia
Cannon County Tennessee Newton Cannon, the tenth governor of Tennessee
Canyon County Idaho Either the Boise River or Snake River canyon
Cape Girardeau County Missouri Supposedly for Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an early French colonial officer in the area
Cape May County New Jersey Cape May, a peninsula named for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, the Dutch sea captain who discovered it
Carbon County Montana Coal deposits in the region
Carbon County Pennsylvania
Carbon County Utah
Carbon County Wyoming
Caribou County Idaho The Caribou Mountains
Carlisle County Kentucky John Griffin Carlisle, a Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from Kentucky
Carlton County Minnesota Reuben B. Carlton, a pioneer in the area
Caroline County Maryland Lady Caroline Eden, the daughter of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, sister of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, and wife of Robert Eden, the last colonial governor of Maryland
Caroline County Virginia Caroline of Ansbach, the consort of King George II of Great Britain
Carroll County Arkansas Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving and only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence
Carroll County Georgia
Carroll County Illinois
Carroll County Indiana
Carroll County Iowa
Carroll County Kentucky
Carroll County Maryland
Carroll County Mississippi
Carroll County Missouri
Carroll County New Hampshire
Carroll County Ohio
Carroll County Virginia
Carroll County Tennessee William Carroll, the sixth governor of Tennessee
Carson City Nevada Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson, the famous frontier scout and soldier
Carson County Texas Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas
Carter County Kentucky William Grayson Carter, a Kentucky state senator
Carter County Missouri Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer in the area
Carter County Montana Thomas Henry Carter, a U.S. senator from Montana
Carter County Oklahoma Ben W. Carter, a captain in the United States Army and a Cherokee who married and settled among the Chickasaws, whose son was a state senator for over forty years following statehood
Carter County Tennessee Landon Carter, a speaker of the senate of the State of Franklin
Carteret County North Carolina John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret
Carver County Minnesota Jonathan Carver, an early explorer in the area
Cascade County Montana The Great Falls of the Missouri River, which were located in the county
Casey County Kentucky William Casey, an early pioneer in western Kentucky
Cass County Illinois Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan and U.S. cabinet member
Cass County Indiana
Cass County Iowa
Cass County Michigan
Cass County Minnesota
Cass County Missouri
Cass County Nebraska
Cass County Texas
Cass County North Dakota George Washington Cass, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Cassia County Idaho Either for Cassia Creek or Mormon Battalion member James John Cazier
Castro County Texas Henri Castro, consul general to France for the Republic of Texas and founder of a colony in Texas
Caswell County North Carolina Richard Caswell (1729–1789), member of the first Continental Congress and first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence
Catahoula Parish Louisiana Catahoula Lake, formerly within the parish's boundaries (now within La Salle Parish) and named from a Tensas word meaning "big, clear lake"
Catawba County North Carolina The Native American Catawba Nation
Catoosa County Georgia Derived from the Cherokee "Gatusi," signifying a prominent hill or point on a mountain.[2]
Catron County New Mexico Thomas B. Catron, advocate for statehood and first U.S. senator from New Mexico
Cattaraugus County New York A Seneca word meaning "bad smelling banks", referring to the odor of natural gas which leaked from local rock formations
Cavalier County North Dakota Charles Cavalier of Pembina, one of the area's earliest European-American settlers
Cayuga County New York The Cayuga nation of Native Americans
Cecil County Maryland Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), founder of the Maryland colony
Cedar County Iowa The Cedar River, which runs through the county
Cedar County Missouri The abundance of juniper trees (known as Eastern Red Cedar) in the county
Cedar County Nebraska
Centre County Pennsylvania Its geographical location in relation to the rest of the counties in the state
Cerro Gordo County Iowa The Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War
Chaffee County Colorado Jerome B. Chaffee, a pioneer and one of Colorado's first two U.S. senators
Chambers County Alabama Henry H. Chambers (1790–1826), U.S. senator
Chambers County Texas Thomas Jefferson Chambers, an early lawyer in Texas
Champaign County Illinois Named by John W. Vance of Vermilion County, Illinois in 1833, after Champaign County, Ohio, where Vance was originally from
Champaign County Ohio French for "a plain", describing the land in the area
Chariton County Missouri The Chariton River, whose naming origin is disputed
Charles City County Virginia King Charles I of England
Charles County Maryland Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
Charles Mix County South Dakota Charles Eli Mix, commissioner of Indian Affairs
Charleston County South Carolina King Charles II of England
Charlevoix County Michigan Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682–1761), Jesuit traveller and historian of New France
Charlotte County Florida Directly named for Charlotte Harbor, a bay of the Gulf of Mexico that borders on the county, which in turn was named for Charlotte, queen consort of King George III. (The bay was originally named "Carlos" by the area's earlier Spanish explorers, probably from "Calos" for the Calusa, a group of Native Americans from the area.)
Charlotte County Virginia Charlotte, queen consort of King George III
City of Charlottesville Virginia
Charlton County Georgia Robert Milledge Charlton, a U.S. senator from Georgia
Chase County Kansas Salmon P. Chase, senator and governor from Ohio and Chief Justice of the United States
Chase County Nebraska Champion S. Chase, a mayor of Omaha who served as Nebraska's first attorney general
Chatham County Georgia William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, one of England's most celebrated prime ministers
Chatham County North Carolina
Chattahoochee County Georgia The Chattahoochee River, which forms the county's western boundary, whose name probably comes from a Creek Indian word for "painted rock"
Chattooga County Georgia The Chattooga River, one of two Georgia rivers bearing that name
Chautauqua County Kansas Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County New York A Seneca word meaning "where the fish was taken out"
Chaves County New Mexico José Francisco Chaves, a 19th-century New Mexico political and military figure
Cheatham County Tennessee Edward Cheatham, state legislator
Cheboygan County Michigan The Cheboygan River
Chelan County Washington A Native American word meaning "deep water", likely referring to Lake Chelan
Chemung County New York A Lenape word meaning "big horn", which was the name of a local Native American village
Chenango County New York An Onondaga word meaning "large bull-thistle"
Cherokee County Alabama The Cherokee Nation
Cherokee County Iowa
Cherokee County Kansas
Cherokee County North Carolina
Cherokee County Oklahoma
Cherokee County South Carolina
Cherokee County Texas
Cherry County Nebraska Samuel A. Cherry
City of Chesapeake Virginia The Chesapeake tribe of Native Americans
Cheshire County New Hampshire The English county of Cheshire
Chester County Pennsylvania The English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire
Chester County South Carolina Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester County Tennessee Tennessee state legislator Robert I. Chester
Chesterfield County South Carolina Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Chesterfield County Virginia
Cheyenne County Colorado The Cheyenne Native American people
Cheyenne County Kansas
Cheyenne County Nebraska
Chickasaw County Iowa The Chickasaw Native American people
Chickasaw County Mississippi
Chicot County Arkansas Point Chicot on the Mississippi River
Childress County Texas George Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Chilton County Alabama William Parish Chilton (1810–1871), Alabama Supreme Court Justice and Confederate congressman
Chippewa County Michigan The Ojibwe Native American people, also known as the Chippewa
Chippewa County Wisconsin
Chippewa County Minnesota The Chippewa River
Chisago County Minnesota Chisago Lake
Chittenden County Vermont Thomas Chittenden, Vermont's first governor
Choctaw County Alabama The Choctaw Nation of Native Americans
Choctaw County Mississippi
Choctaw County Oklahoma
Chouteau County Montana Jean Pierre Chouteau and his son Pierre Chouteau, Jr., members of the Chouteau fur-trading family
Chowan County North Carolina The Chowan Native American tribe[3]
Christian County Illinois Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County Kentucky William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the Revolutionary War
Christian County Missouri
Churchill County Nevada Fort Churchill, named in turn for Sylvester Churchill (1783–1862), a general in the Mexican–American War
Cibola County New Mexico The Seven Cities of Cibola
Cimarron County Oklahoma The Cimarron River, from the early Spanish name, Río de los Carneros Cimarrón, which is usually translated as "River of the Wild Sheep"
Citrus County Florida The county's citrus trees
Clackamas County Oregon The Clackamas tribe of Native Americans living in the area
Claiborne County Mississippi William C. C. Claiborne (1775–1817), Governor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory
Claiborne County Tennessee
Claiborne Parish Louisiana
Clallam County Washington From Klallam, meaning "the strong people"
Clare County Michigan County Clare, Ireland
Clarendon County South Carolina Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Clarion County Pennsylvania The Clarion River, which was named by surveyor Daniel Stanard in 1817, who said "The ripple of the river sounds like a distant clarion."[4]
Clark County Arkansas William Clark, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Clark County Missouri
Clark County Washington
Clark County Idaho Sam K. Clark, an Idaho state senator and early settler in the area
Clark County Illinois George Rogers Clark, the hero of the western front of the Revolutionary War, and older brother of William Clark
Clark County Indiana
Clark County Kentucky
Clark County Ohio
Clark County Kansas Charles F. Clark
Clark County Nevada William A. Clark (1839–1925), a Montana copper magnate and United States senator who was largely responsible for the building of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad through the area
Clark County South Dakota Newton Clark, territorial legislator
Clark County Wisconsin Either George Rogers Clark (1752–1812), Revolutionary War general, or A.W. Clark, founder of Clark's Mill
Clarke County Alabama John Clarke (1766–1832), general from Georgia
Clarke County Georgia Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke
Clarke County Iowa James Clarke, third governor of the Iowa Territory
Clarke County Mississippi Joshua G. Clark
Clarke County Virginia George Rogers Clark, the hero of the western front of the American Revolutionary War, and older brother of William Clark
Clatsop County Oregon The Clatsop people, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement
Clay County Alabama Henry Clay (1777–1852), U.S. legislator from Kentucky
Clay County Florida
Clay County Georgia
Clay County Illinois
Clay County Indiana
Clay County Kansas
Clay County Minnesota
Clay County Mississippi
Clay County Missouri
Clay County Nebraska
Clay County North Carolina
Clay County South Dakota
Clay County Tennessee
Clay County Texas
Clay County West Virginia
Clay County Arkansas John M. Clayton, a state senator
Clay County Iowa Henry Clay, Jr. (1807–1847), officer in the Mexican–American War
Clay County Kentucky Green Clay (1757–1826), a Kentucky politician and cousin of Henry Clay who fought in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812
Clayton County Georgia Judge Augustin Smith Clayton, who held the county's first sessions of the superior court and later served in both the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate
Clayton County Iowa John M. Clayton (1796–1856), United States senator from Delaware
Clear Creek County Colorado Clear Creek, which runs through the county
Clearfield County Pennsylvania The cleared fields from logging in the area
Clearwater County Idaho The Clearwater River
Clearwater County Minnesota The Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake, both within the county
Cleburne County Alabama Patrick Cleburne (1828–1864), major general in the Confederate States Army
Cleburne County Arkansas
Clermont County Ohio Unknown. Clermont is French for "clear mountain"
Cleveland County Arkansas Grover Cleveland (1837–1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States
Cleveland County Oklahoma
Cleveland County North Carolina Benjamin Cleveland (1738–1806), a colonel in the Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain
Clinch County Georgia General Duncan Lamont Clinch, who served in the War of 1812, defeated the Seminole leader Osceola in Florida, and later served in the U.S. Congress
Clinton County Illinois DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal
Clinton County Indiana
Clinton County Iowa
Clinton County Kentucky
Clinton County Michigan
Clinton County Pennsylvania
Clinton County Missouri George Clinton, fourth Vice President of the United States and first and third Governor of New York
Clinton County New York
Clinton County Ohio
Cloud County Kansas William F. Cloud, Union Army officer
Coahoma County Mississippi A Native American word meaning "red panther"
Coal County Oklahoma Coal, the primary economic product of the region at the time
Cobb County Georgia Thomas Willis Cobb, a US representative and senator
Cochise County Arizona Cochise, the Apache leader
Cochran County Texas Robert E. Cochran (1810–1836), a defender of the Alamo
Cocke County Tennessee William Cocke (1747–1828), one of Tennessee's first U.S. senators
Coconino County Arizona The Coconino Native American people, a Hopi designation for the Havasupai and Yavapai people
Codington County South Dakota The Reverend G. S. Codington
Coffee County Alabama John Coffee (1772–1833), frontiersman, planter, and veteran of the Creek War and War of 1812
Coffee County Georgia
Coffee County Tennessee
Coffey County Kansas A. M. Coffey
Coke County Texas Richard Coke, the fifteenth governor of Texas (1874–1876)
Colbert County Alabama George Colbert (?–1839) and Levi Colbert (?–1834), Chickasaw chiefs
Cole County Missouri Stephen Cole, pioneer
Coleman County Texas Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto
Coles County Illinois Edward Coles (1786–1868), second Governor of Illinois
Colfax County Nebraska Schuyler Colfax, 17th Vice President of the United States
Colfax County New Mexico
Colleton County South Carolina Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet
Collier County Florida Barron Collier (1873–1939), an advertising entrepreneur who developed much of the land in southern Florida
Collin County Texas Collin McKinney (1766–1861), an author of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Collingsworth County Texas James Collinsworth, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first chief justice of the Republic of Texas
City of Colonial Heights Virginia From the Coloniels, French troops under the command of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, who occupied the site in 1781 during the Revolutionary War
Colorado County Texas The Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "red")
Colquitt County Georgia U.S. Senator Walter T. Colquitt
Columbia County Arkansas Columbia, a female personification of the United States, derived from Christopher Columbus
Columbia County Florida
Columbia County Georgia
Columbia County New York
Columbia County Pennsylvania
Columbia County Wisconsin
Columbia County Oregon The Columbia River, itself named after the ship Columbia Rediviva of Captain Robert Gray, first American explorer to enter the river
Columbia County Washington
Columbiana County Ohio Christopher Columbus
Columbus County North Carolina
Colusa County California Two Mexican land grants; Coluses (1844) and Colus (1845)
Comal County Texas The Comal River (Comal is Spanish for "basin")
Comanche County Kansas The Comanche Native Americans, from the Spanish Camino Ancho, meaning "broad trail"
Comanche County Oklahoma
Comanche County Texas
Concho County Texas The Concho River (Concho is Spanish for "shell")
Concordia Parish Louisiana From an early land grant called New Concordia; or from the "concord" reached by local authorities over a mutual surrender of slaves; or for a mansion called Concord which was owned by Governor de Lemos
Conecuh County Alabama The Conecuh River, which flows through the county
Conejos County Colorado The Spanish word for "rabbit"; the swift-moving Conejos River also runs through the county
Contra Costa County California The Spanish phrase for "opposite coast", referring to its position across San Francisco Bay from the city of San Francisco
Converse County Wyoming A. R. Converse, a banker and rancher from Cheyenne
Conway County Arkansas Henry Wharton Conway (1793–1827), territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives
Cook County Georgia General Philip Cook, who fought in the Seminole Wars and the Civil War and was Georgia's Secretary of State for over 20 years
Cook County Illinois The early Illinois statesman Daniel Pope Cook
Cook County Minnesota Major Michael Cook of Faribault: Civil War veteran and territorial and state senator, 1857–62
Cooke County Texas William Gordon Cooke, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Cooper County Missouri Sarshel Benjamin Cooper, pioneer settler
Coos County New Hampshire Native American word meaning "crooked", in reference to a bend in the Connecticut River
Coos County Oregon The Coos tribe of Native Americans who lived in the region
Coosa County Alabama The Coosa River, which flows through the county, after a Native American village
Copiah County Mississippi Native American word meaning "calling panther"
Corson County South Dakota Dighton Corson, a Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court
Cortland County New York Pierre Van Cortlandt, first Lieutenant Governor of New York
Coryell County Texas James Coryell, a frontiersman who was killed by Native Americans
Coshocton County Ohio A Lenape village, the name of which means "union of waters"
Costilla County Colorado The settlement of Costilla, New Mexico (at the time the county was named (1861), the settlement was in Colorado- an 1868 boundary revision placed it in New Mexico). Costilla is a Spanish word meaning either "little rib" or "furring timber".
Cottle County Texas George Washington Cottle, who died defending the Alamo
Cotton County Oklahoma Cotton, the principal economic base of the county
Cottonwood County Minnesota The Cottonwood River, named for the cottonwood trees along its shores
City of Covington Virginia Leonard Covington (1768–1813), brigadier general in the War of 1812 and U.S. congressman
Covington County Alabama
Covington County Mississippi
Coweta County Georgia The Coweta Indians, a Creek tribe headed by William McIntosh, Jr., the half-Scot, half-Creek who relinquished lands to the federal government in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs
Cowley County Kansas Matthew Cowley, Union Army lieutenant
Cowlitz County Washington The Cowlitz tribe of Native Americans
Craig County Oklahoma Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee
Craig County Virginia Robert Craig (1792–1892), U.S. Representative from Virginia
Craighead County Arkansas Thomas Craighead (1798–1862), a state senator who actually opposed the creation of the county
Crane County Texas William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University
Craven County North Carolina William, Earl of Craven, who was a Lord Proprietor of colonial North Carolina
Crawford County Arkansas William H. Crawford, U.S. Treasury Secretary
Crawford County Georgia
Crawford County Illinois
Crawford County Iowa
Crawford County Missouri
Crawford County Wisconsin
Crawford County Indiana Either U.S. Treasury Secretary William H. Crawford or Revolutionary War soldier William Crawford
Crawford County Kansas Samuel J. Crawford, third Governor of Kansas
Crawford County Michigan William Crawford, Revolutionary War soldier
Crawford County Ohio
Crawford County Pennsylvania
Creek County Oklahoma The Muscogee (Creek) people
Crenshaw County Alabama Anderson Crenshaw (1783–1847), settler of Butler County, Alabama
Crisp County Georgia Charles Frederick Crisp, a jurist and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Crittenden County Arkansas Robert Crittenden (1797–1834), Governor of the Arkansas Territory
Crittenden County Kentucky John J. Crittenden, Governor of Kentucky (1848–1850)
Crockett County Tennessee Davy Crockett (1786–1836), frontier humorist, congressman, and defender of the Alamo
Crockett County Texas
Crook County Oregon General George Crook (1828–1980), a U.S. Army officer who served in the American Civil War and various Indian Wars
Crook County Wyoming
Crosby County Texas Stephen Crosby, a land commissioner
Cross County Arkansas David C. Cross, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War and local politician
Crow Wing County Minnesota The Crow Wing River, itself named for an island at the river's mouth in the shape of a crow's wing
Crowley County Colorado John H. Crowley, state senator
Culberson County Texas David Browning Culberson, a lawyer and soldier in the Civil War
Cullman County Alabama Colonel John G. Cullmann (1823–1895), founder of the county seat
Culpeper County Virginia Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial governor of Virginia, 1677–1683
Cumberland County Illinois The Cumberland Road, or Cumberland, Maryland, or the Cumberland River in Kentucky
Cumberland County Kentucky The Cumberland River
Cumberland County Maine Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
Cumberland County New Jersey
Cumberland County North Carolina
Cumberland County Virginia
Cumberland County Pennsylvania The historical county of Cumberland, England
Cumberland County Tennessee The Cumberland Mountains
Cuming County Nebraska Thomas B. Cuming, an early governor of the territory
Currituck County North Carolina Traditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank"
Curry County New Mexico George Curry, a governor of New Mexico Territory from 1907 to 1910
Curry County Oregon George Law Curry (1820–1878), a governor of the Oregon Territory
Custer County Colorado General George Armstrong Custer, who died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Custer County Montana
Custer County Nebraska
Custer County Oklahoma
Custer County South Dakota
Custer County Idaho The General Custer Mine, in turn named for General George Armstrong Custer
Cuyahoga County Ohio The Cuyahoga River, which means "crooked river" in an Iroquoian language

D

County name State Name origin
Dade County Florida Former name of Miami-Dade County, Florida, from Major Francis L. Dade, who was killed in 1835 during the Second Seminole War
Dade County Georgia Major Francis L. Dade, who was killed in 1835 during the Second Seminole War
Dade County Missouri
Daggett County Utah Ellsworth Daggett (1810–1880), the first Utah Surveyor General
Dakota County Minnesota Dakota language word meaning "Allies", after the Dakota branch of the Sioux Native American tribe
Dakota County Nebraska
Dale County Alabama Samuel Dale (1772–1841), brigadier general and state legislator
Dallam County Texas James Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher
Dallas County Alabama Alexander James Dallas (1759–1817), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Dallas County Arkansas George Mifflin Dallas, eleventh vice president of the United States
Dallas County Iowa
Dallas County Missouri
Dallas County Texas
Dane County Wisconsin Nathan Dane (1752–1835), delegate to the First Continental Congress, 1785–1788
Daniels County Montana Mansfield A. Daniels, an early rancher and storekeeper
City of Danville Virginia The Dan River, which flows through the city
Dare County North Carolina Virginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child born of English parents in America
Darke County Ohio General William Darke (1736–1801), Revolutionary War officer
Darlington County South Carolina The town of Darlington in England
Dauphin County Pennsylvania Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France, the first son of Louis XVI
Davidson County North Carolina William Lee Davidson (1746–1781), a Revolutionary War brigadier general who died at the Battle of Cowan's Ford
Davidson County Tennessee
Davie County North Carolina Revolutionary War cavalry leader and North Carolina statesman William Richardson Davie
Daviess County Indiana Military man Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Daviess County Kentucky
Daviess County Missouri
Davis County Iowa Garrett Davis (1801–1872), congressman
Davis County Utah Daniel C. Davis (1804–1850), Mormon Battalion captain
Davison County South Dakota Henry C. Davison, early resident of county
Dawes County Nebraska James W. Dawes, the sixth governor of Nebraska
Dawson County Georgia Jurist and politician William Crosby Dawson
Dawson County Montana Andrew Dawson, a trapping official and major in the United States Army
Dawson County Nebraska Jacob Dawson, the first postmaster in the settlement of Lancaster (present-day Lincoln, the state capital)
Dawson County Texas Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre
Day County South Dakota Merrit H. Day, territorial legislator
De Baca County New Mexico Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca, the second governor of New Mexico
De Soto Parish Louisiana Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador
Deaf Smith County Texas Erastus Deaf Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texas Revolution
Dearborn County Indiana U.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
Decatur County Georgia Commodore Stephen Decatur, a naval leader in the War of 1812 and who defeated the Barbary Coast pirates at Tripoli in 1815
Decatur County Indiana
Decatur County Iowa
Decatur County Kansas
Decatur County Tennessee
Deer Lodge County Montana Deer Lodge Valley, which in turn was either named for the Native American name "Lodge of the White-tailed Deer" or a salt lick where deer came in droves
Defiance County Ohio The city of Defiance, Ohio, which was built on the site of Fort Defiance, built by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the late 18th century
DeKalb County Alabama Baron Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), a German soldier who fought on the side of the Americans in the Revolutionary War
DeKalb County Georgia
DeKalb County Illinois
DeKalb County Indiana
DeKalb County Missouri
DeKalb County Tennessee
Del Norte County California From the Spanish word for "northern", because Del Norte County is the northwesternmost county in the state
Delaware County Indiana The Lenape (or "Delaware") Native American people
Delaware County Ohio
Delaware County Iowa The state of Delaware, or for Delaware County, New York
Delaware County New York Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), an early colonial leader in Virginia
Delaware County Oklahoma The Delaware District of the old Cherokee Nation
Delaware County Pennsylvania The Delaware River, in turn named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), an early colonial leader in Virginia
Delta County Colorado The town of Delta, Colorado, which itself is named for its location on the broad river delta formed by the Gunnison River and the Uncompahgre River
Delta County Michigan The Greek letter Delta, referring to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties
Delta County Texas The Greek letter Delta, referring to the triangular shape of the county
Denali Borough Alaska Denali (Mount McKinley), the tallest North American mountain, from Dena'ina for "great one"
Dent County Missouri James Dent, settler
Denton County Texas John B. Denton, a preacher, lawyer, and soldier
City and County of Denver Colorado James W. Denver, a former governor of the Kansas Territory which the place was part of at the time
Des Moines County Iowa The Des Moines River
Deschutes County Oregon The Deschutes River, from the French words meaning "of the falls"
Desha County Arkansas Benjamin Desha, a soldier in the War of 1812
DeSoto County Florida Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador
DeSoto County Mississippi
Deuel County Nebraska The Deuel family
Deuel County South Dakota Jacob S. Deuel, pioneer legislator
Dewey County Oklahoma Either for Admiral George Dewey (1837–1917) or derived from its original name, County "D", during the land run of 1892 and later changed
Dewey County South Dakota William P. Dewey, territorial surveyor-general
DeWitt County Illinois DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal
DeWitt County Texas Green DeWitt, an empresario who founded an early colony in Texas
Dickens County Texas J. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo
Dickenson County Virginia William J. Dickenson, delegate to the Virginia General Assembly
Dickey County North Dakota Dakota territorial legislator George H. Dickey
Dickinson County Iowa Daniel S. Dickinson (1800–1866), United States senator from New York
Dickinson County Kansas
Dickinson County Michigan Donald M. Dickinson (1846–1917), Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration
Dickson County Tennessee U.S. Representative William Dickson (1770–1816)
Dillingham Census Area Alaska The city of Dillingham, the largest settlement in the area, in turn named after U.S. Senator Paul Dillingham (1843–1923), who had toured Alaska extensively with his Senate subcommittee in 1903
Dillon County South Carolina J. W. Dillon
Dimmit County Texas Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution
Dinwiddie County Virginia Robert Dinwiddie, lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758
Divide County North Dakota Created by division from Williams County
Dixie County Florida A common nickname for the southern United States
Dixon County Nebraska The Dixon family
Doddridge County West Virginia Philip Doddridge, U.S. congressman from Virginia
Dodge County Georgia William E. Dodge, a New York businessman who owned large tracts of forest land in Georgia
Dodge County Minnesota Henry Dodge (1782–1867), twice governor of Wisconsin
Dodge County Wisconsin
Dodge County Nebraska Augustus C. Dodge, a United States senator from Iowa who was a supporter of the Kansas–Nebraska Act
Dolores County Colorado The Dolores River, itself originally named by Spanish explorers as El Río de Nuestra Señora de Delores ("The River of Our Lady of Sorrows")
Doña Ana County New Mexico The town of Doña Ana, the county's first seat, which in turn was named for Doña Ana Robledo, a 17th-century woman known for her charitable giving
Doniphan County Kansas A. W. Doniphan
Donley County Texas Stockton P. Donley, a frontier lawyer
Dooly County Georgia Colonel John Dooly, a Revolutionary War hero who helped prosecute Tories in 1779 and was killed by them the following year
Door County Wisconsin A dangerous water passage near the Door Peninsula known as porte des morts', French for "door of the dead"
Dorchester County Maryland The town of Dorchester, Dorset, in England; the Earl of Dorset was a friend of the Calvert family
Dorchester County South Carolina The town of Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dougherty County Georgia Judge Charles Dougherty of Athens, Georgia
Douglas County Colorado Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), prominent Illinois Democrat and rival of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency
Douglas County Georgia
Douglas County Illinois
Douglas County Kansas
Douglas County Minnesota
Douglas County Missouri
Douglas County Nebraska
Douglas County Nevada
Douglas County Oregon
Douglas County South Dakota
Douglas County Washington
Douglas County Wisconsin
Drew County Arkansas Thomas Stevenson Drew (1802–1879), third Governor of Arkansas
Dubois County Indiana Toussaint Dubois, who fought in the War of 1812
Dubuque County Iowa Julien Dubuque (1762–1810), first permanent white settler in Iowa
Duchesne County Utah Uncertain; perhaps Fort Duchesne; or Du Chasne, a French fur trapper in the 1830s; or French historian André Duchesne (1584–1640); or Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769–1852), founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart in the state; or an Indian chief in past years; or a Ute word translated as "dark canyon"
Dukes County Massachusetts James II of England, Duke of York
Dundy County Nebraska Elmer Scipio Dundy, a U.S. Circuit Court judge from Nebraska
Dunklin County Missouri Daniel Dunklin (1790–1844), fifth governor of Missouri
Dunn County North Dakota John P. Dunn, an early civic leader of Bismarck
Dunn County Wisconsin Charles Dunn, state senator and chief justice of the Wisconsin Territory
DuPage County Illinois The DuPage River, which flows through the county
Duplin County North Carolina British nobleman Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787)
Durham County North Carolina The city of Durham, which was named in honor of Dr. Bartlett S. Durham, who donated the land on which the railroad station was located
Dutchess County New York Mary of Modena, the Duchess of York, in 1683
Duval County Florida William Pope Duval (1784–1854), the first governor of the Florida Territory
Duval County Texas Burr H. Duval (1809–1836), a soldier in the Texas Revolution who died in the Goliad Massacre
Dyer County Tennessee Tennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brevard County Maps". Exploring Florida History. University of Florida. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  2. ↑ "Catoosa County". Georgia Counties. State of Georgia. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  3. ↑ "Chowan County Profile". Website. epodunk. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  4. ↑ Clarion County Historical Society, Walking Among Our Ancestors: Book One: Ashland Township, Mechling Bookbindery (2003) ISBN 0-9744657-3-9
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