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 nameStateName origin
Abbeville CountySouth CarolinaThe French town of Abbeville
Acadia ParishLouisianaThe French colonial region of Acadia
Accomack CountyVirginiaFrom accawmacke, a Native American word meaning across the water place, describing the Eastern Shore of Virginia
Ada CountyIdahoAda Riggs, the first pioneer child born in the area and the daughter of H.C. Riggs, a cofounder of Boise
Adair CountyIowaJohn Adair, a general in the War of 1812 and the eighth governor of Kentucky
Adair CountyKentucky
Adair CountyMissouri
Adair CountyOklahomaThe Adair family of the Cherokee tribe
Adams CountyColoradoAlva Adams, the fifth governor of Colorado
Adams CountyIdahoJohn Adams, the second president of the United States
Adams CountyIowa
Adams CountyMississippi
Adams CountyNebraska
Adams CountyOhio
Adams CountyPennsylvania
Adams CountyWashington
Adams CountyIllinois John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States
Adams CountyIndiana
Adams CountyWisconsin
Adams CountyNorth DakotaJohn Quincy Adams, a railroad agent who was instrumental in having the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway be built through North Dakota
Addison CountyVermontJoseph Addison, the English writer and politician
Aiken CountySouth CarolinaWilliam Aiken, the first president of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company
Aitkin CountyMinnesotaWilliam Alexander Aitken, a fur trader in the region
Alachua CountyFloridaNative American word meaning "sinkhole" in either the Muskogee or Timucua languages
Alamance CountyNorth CarolinaThe 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 CountyCaliforniaSpanish for cottonwood grove
Alamosa CountyColoradoSpanish word meaning of cottonwood
Albany CountyNew YorkKing James II of England, who was the Duke of York and Albany before his accession
Albany CountyWyomingThe city of Albany, New York
Albemarle CountyVirginiaWillem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, a British nobleman
Alcona CountyMichiganA 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 CountyMississippiJames Lusk Alcorn, the twenty-eighth governor of Mississippi
Aleutians East BoroughAlaskaIts location in the eastern segment of the Aleutian Islands
Aleutians West Census AreaAlaskaIts location in the western segment of the Aleutian Islands
Alexander CountyIllinoisWilliam M. Alexander, a pioneer in the county
Alexander CountyNorth CarolinaThe Alexander family, of whom several members were leaders in colonial North Carolina
AlexandriaVirginiaJohn Alexander, the original owner of the land that the town is located on, and his family
Alfalfa CountyOklahomaWilliam Henry David "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, the ninth governor of Oklahoma
Alger CountyMichiganRussell Alexander Alger, the twentieth governor of Michigan
Allamakee CountyIowaEither Allan Makee, a trapper and trader, or an uncertain Native American origin
Allegan CountyMichiganProbably 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 CountyMarylandFrom oolikhanna, a Lenape Native American word meaning beautiful stream. The word is the origin of the name of the Allegheny River.
Allegany CountyNew York
Alleghany CountyNorth Carolina
Alleghany CountyVirginiaThe Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny CountyPennsylvaniaFrom oolikhanna, a Lenape Native American word meaning beautiful stream. The word is the origin of the name of the Allegheny River.
Allen CountyIndianaJohn Allen, a lawyer, legislator, and lieutenant colonel killed in the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812
Allen CountyKentucky
Allen CountyOhio
Allen CountyKansasWilliam Allen, a United States senator from Ohio
Allen ParishLouisianaHenry Watkins Allen, the nineteenth governor of Louisiana
Allendale CountySouth CarolinaThe Allens family of the area, of which one member, Paul H. Allens, was the county seat's first postmaster
Alpena CountyMichiganA 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 CountyCaliforniaIts location high in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Amador CountyCaliforniaJose 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 CountyVirginiaPrincess Amelia of Great Britain, a daughter of George II
Amherst CountyVirginiaJeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, a colonial governor of Virginia and general in the French and Indian War
Amite CountyMississippiThe Amite River, which is located in the county
AnchorageAlaskaNamed for the fact that Cook Inlet, which Anchorage is located on, once was a popular anchorage for ships
Anderson CountyKansasJoseph C. Anderson, a Kansas territorial legislator
Anderson CountyKentuckyRichard Clough Anderson, Jr., a Kentucky legislator and congressman who was the first ambassador from the United States to Colombia
Anderson CountySouth CarolinaRobert Anderson, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War
Anderson CountyTennesseeJoseph Anderson, a U.S. senator from Tennessee
Anderson CountyTexasKenneth Lewis Anderson, the last vice president of the Republic of Texas
Andrew CountyMissouriAndrew Jackson Davis, an important citizen in St. Louis and Savannah, Missouri
Andrew CountyTexasRichard Andrews, the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution
Androscoggin CountyMaineThe Androscoggin Native American tribe
Angelina CountyTexasA Hainai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries and was named Angelina by them
Anne Arundel CountyMarylandAnne Arundell, the wife of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour
Anoka CountyMinnesotaA Dakota word meaning on both sides
Anson CountyNorth CarolinaGeorge Anson, 1st Baron Anson, a British admiral assigned to defend North Carolina's shipping from pirates
Antelope CountyNebraskaThe pronghorn antelope in the area
Antrim CountyMichiganCounty Antrim in Ireland
Apache CountyArizonaThe Apache Native American tribe
Appanoose CountyIowaAppanoose, a chief of the Sac and Fox Native American tribes who headed the peace party during the Black Hawk War
Appling CountyGeorgiaDaniel Appling, a soldier in the War of 1812
Appomattox CountyVirginiaThe Appomattox River, in turn named for the Appamatucks Native American tribe
Aransas CountyTexasThe Rio Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu, a Spanish outpost in early Texas
Arapahoe CountyColoradoThe Arapaho Native American tribe
Archer CountyTexasBranch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas
Archuleta CountyColoradoAntonio D. Archuleta, a Colorado state senator and his father, José Manuel Archuleta
Arenac CountyMichiganA 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 CountyArkansasThe Arkansa Native American tribe
Arlington CountyVirginiaThe 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 CountyPennsylvaniaJohn Armstrong, a general in the American Revolutionary War and delegate to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania
Armstrong CountyTexasAny one of several Texas pioneer families
Aroostook CountyMaineA Native American word meaning beautiful river
Arthur CountyNebraskaChester A. Arthur, the twenty-first president of the United States
Ascension ParishLouisianaA colonial ecclesiastical district in the area
Ashe CountyNorth CarolinaSamuel Ashe, the ninth governor of North Carolina
Ashland CountyOhioAshland, the farm and mansion of Henry Clay at Lexington, Kentucky
Ashland CountyWisconsin
Ashley CountyArkansasChester Ashley, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas
Ashtabula CountyOhioEither 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 CountyWashingtonThe Nez Percé Native American name for Eel Creek
Assumption ParishLouisianaA colonial ecclesiastical district in the area
Atascosa CountyTexasThe Spanish word for boggy
Atchison CountyKansasDavid Rice Atchison, a U.S. senator from Missouri
Atchison CountyMissouri
Athens CountyOhioAthens, Greece, as the county was the location of the state university
Atkinson CountyGeorgiaWilliam Yates Atkinson, the fifty-eighth governor of Georgia
Atlantic CountyNew JerseyThe Atlantic Ocean, on the shores of which the county is located
Atoka CountyOklahomaIts county seat of Atoka, named in turn for Atoka, a Choctaw leader
Attala CountyMississippiAttala, a fictional Native American heroine
Audrain CountyMissouriJames H. Audrain, a Missouri state legislator
Audubon CountyIowaJohn James Audubon, the famous naturalist and painter
Auglaize CountyOhioEither the Auglaize River or a Native American word meaning variously fallen timbers, overgrown with brush, or at the lick
Augusta CountyVirginiaAugusta of Saxe-Gotha, the wife of Prince Frederick of Wales and mother of George III of Great Britain
Aurora CountySouth DakotaAurora, the Ancient Roman goddess of the dawn who was called Eos by the Ancient Greeks
Austin CountyTexasStephen Fuller Austin, the person who facilitated the Anglo American colonization of Texas and is known as the Father of Texas
Autauga CountyAlabamaThe Native American village of Atagi, which was located at the confluence of Autauga Creek and the Alabama River
Avery CountyNorth CarolinaWaightstill Avery, a Revolutionary War colonel and attorney general of the state of North Carolina
Avoyelles ParishLouisianaThe Avoyels Native American tribe

B
County nameStateName origin
Baca CountyColoradoThe prominent Baca family of Trinidad, Colorado, a member of which had settled early in the area
Bacon CountyGeorgiaAugustus Octavius Bacon, a U.S. senator from Georgia
Bailey CountyTexasPeter James Bailey, a defender of the Alamo
Baker CountyFloridaJames McNair Baker, a Confederate senator
Baker CountyGeorgiaColonel John Baker, a hero of the American Revolutionary War
Baker CountyOregonEdward Dickinson Baker, a U.S. Representative from Illinois, senator from Oregon, and close friend of Abraham Lincoln
Baldwin CountyAlabamaAbraham Baldwin, a signer of the United States Constitution and U.S. congressman from Georgia
Baldwin CountyGeorgia
Ballard CountyKentuckyBland W. Ballard, a long time frontier spy and scout for George Rogers Clark and as a brevet major of the Kentucky Militia led the initial attack at the battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812. He suffered from a wound from the battle until his death in 1854.
City of BaltimoreMarylandCecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, the founder of the Colony of Maryland
Baltimore CountyMarylandThe City of Baltimore, which was detached from Baltimore County in 1851
Bamberg CountySouth CarolinaEither 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 CountyTexasBandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for flag
Banks CountyGeorgiaRichard Banks, a prominent physician
Banner CountyNebraskaThe hope of the early settlers to make the county the "banner county" of the state
Bannock CountyIdahoThe Bannock Native American tribe
Baraga CountyMichiganFrederic Baraga, a missionary who worked with local Native Americans
Barber CountyKansasThomas W. Barber, a free-stater killed in Douglas County during the "troubles" near Lawrence which came to be known as Bloody Kansas
Barbour CountyAlabamaJames Barbour, the nineteenth governor of Virginia
Barbour CountyWest VirginiaPhilip Pendleton Barbour, a Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
Barnes CountyNorth DakotaAlanson Hamilton Barnes, a justice of the Dakota territorial supreme court
Barnstable CountyMassachusettsProbably for its county seat of Barnstable, Massachusetts, which was named for the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England
Barnwell CountySouth CarolinaA Barnwell family
Barren CountyKentuckyLarge treeless expanses found by early explorers caused by Native Americans burning tracts of forest
Barron CountyWisconsinHenry D. Barron, a Wisconsin state legislator and judge
Barrow CountyGeorgiaDavid Crenshaw Barrow, an official of the University of Georgia
Barry CountyMichiganWilliam Taylor Barry, a United States Postmaster General
Barry CountyMissouri
Bartholomew CountyIndianaJoseph 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 CountyKansasClara Barton, the organizing founder of the American Red Cross
Barton CountyMissouriDavid Barton, a U.S. senator from Missouri
Bartow CountyGeorgiaFrancis S. Bartow, a Civil War general killed at the First Battle of Bull Run
Bastrop CountyTexasBaron Felipe Enrique Neri de Bastrop, an early Dutch settler in Texas
Bates CountyMissouriFrederick Bates, the second governor of Missouri
Bath CountyKentuckySprings in the area thought to have medicinal value
Bath CountyVirginiaEither for the many warm springs within its borders or the city of Bath in England
Baxter CountyArkansasElisha Baxter, the thirteenth governor of Arkansas
Bay CountyFloridaSt. Andrews Bay, which the county is located on
Bay CountyMichiganSaginaw Bay, which the county is located on
Bayfield CountyWisconsinHenry Bayfield, a British naval officer who performed the first survey of the Great Lakes region
Baylor CountyTexasHenry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican–American War
Beadle CountySouth DakotaWilliam Henry Harrison Beadle, a leading figure and surveyor-general of the Dakota Territory
Bear Lake CountyIdahoBear Lake, which lies partly within the county and partly within Utah
Beaufort CountyNorth CarolinaHenry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, a Lord Proprietor of Carolina
Beaufort CountySouth Carolina
Beauregard ParishLouisianaPierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard, the Civil War Confederate general
Beaver CountyOklahomaIts county seat of Beaver, Oklahoma and the Beaver River, which flows through the county
Beaver CountyPennsylvaniaThe Beaver River of Pennsylvania
Beaver CountyUtahThe area's many beavers
Beaverhead CountyMontanaA rock in the Jefferson River shaped like a beaver's head
Becker CountyMinnesotaGeorge Loomis Becker, a Minnesota state legislator and mayor of St. Paul
Beckham CountyOklahomaJohn Crepps Wickliffe Beckham, the thirty-fifth governor of Kentucky
City of BedfordVirginiaJohn Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, a Secretary of State for the Southern Department of Great Britain
Bedford CountyVirginia
Bedford CountyPennsylvaniaFort Bedford, which was in turn named for the aforementioned 4th Duke of Bedford
Bedford CountyTennesseeThomas Bedford, a soldier in the Revolutionary War
Bee CountyTexasBarnard Elliott Bee, Sr., a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas
Belknap CountyNew HampshireJeremy Belknap, an early New Hampshire historian
Bell CountyKentuckyJoshua Fry Bell, a lawyer and Kentucky state legislator
Bell CountyTexasPeter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas
Belmont CountyOhioThe French word for beautiful mountain or fine mountain, describing the scenery in the area
Beltrami CountyMinnesotaGiacomo Costantino Beltrami, an Italian who explored the northern reaches of the Mississippi River
Ben Hill CountyGeorgiaBenjamin Harvey Hill, a Georgia state, Confederate, and U.S. congressman
Benewah CountyIdahoBenewah, a Coeur d'Alene leader
Bennett CountySouth DakotaEither Granville G. Bennett, a prominent South Dakota politician; or John E. Bennett, a judge of the South Dakota Supreme Court
Bennington CountyVermontThe city of Bennington, Vermont, named in turn for Benning Wentworth, governor of the New Hampshire Grants in modern-day Vermont
Benson CountyNorth DakotaBertil W. Benson, a North Dakota state senator
Bent CountyColoradoBent'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 CountyArkansasThomas Hart Benton, a U.S. senator from Missouri who pushed for westward expansion of the United States
Benton CountyIndiana
Benton CountyIowa
Benton CountyMinnesota
Benton CountyMissouri
Benton CountyOregon
Benton CountyWashington
Benton CountyMississippiConfederate 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 CountyTennesseeEither 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 CountyMichiganAn Anglicization of the French name, Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies, for the Betsie River
Bergen CountyNew JerseyFrom the original New Netherland settlement of Bergen, which means hills
Berkeley CountySouth CarolinaJohn Berkeley and William Berkeley, two Lords Proprietor of Carolina
Berkeley CountyWest VirginiaNorborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, a colonial governor of Virginia
Berks CountyPennsylvaniaThe English county of Berkshire
Berkshire CountyMassachusetts
Bernalillo CountyNew MexicoEither the nearby settlement of Bernalillo, New Mexico or the Gonzales-Bernal family
Berrien CountyGeorgiaJohn MacPherson Berrien, the tenth United States Attorney General
Berrien CountyMichigan
Bertie CountyNorth CarolinaEither James Bertie or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of Carolina
Bethel Census AreaAlaskaThe town of Bethel, Alaska which is located in the census area
Bexar CountyTexasSan Antonio de Béjar, the capital of Mexican Texas; Béjar is present-day San Antonio
Bibb CountyAlabamaWilliam Wyatt Bibb, the first governor of Alabama who was a native of Georgia
Bibb CountyGeorgia
Bienville ParishLouisianaJean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, a French colonial governor of Louisiana
Big Horn CountyMontanaThe bighorn sheep in the area
Big Horn CountyWyoming
Big Stone CountyMinnesotaBig Stone Lake
Billings CountyNorth DakotaFrederick H. Billings, the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad when the county was formed
Bingham CountyIdahoHenry Harrison Bingham, a U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania
Black Hawk CountyIowaBlack Hawk, the Sac and Fox Native American chief who led a revolt against resettlement of his tribe in the Black Hawk War
Blackford CountyIndianaIsaac Newton Blackford, a speaker of the first Indiana General Assembly and judge on the Indiana Supreme Court
Bladen CountyNorth CarolinaMartin Bladen, a British politician and Commissioner of Trade and Plantations
Blaine CountyIdahoJames G. Blaine, the American statesman, secretary of state, U.S. senator, and presidential candidate
Blaine CountyMontana
Blaine CountyNebraska
Blaine CountyOklahoma
Blair CountyPennsylvaniaJohn Blair Jr., a signer of the United States Constitution and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from Pennsylvania
Blanco CountyTexasThe Blanco River, from the Spanish word for "white"
Bland CountyVirginiaRichard Bland, a colonial delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia
Bleckley CountyGeorgiaLogan Edwin Bleckley, a soldier and judge on the South Carolina Supreme Court
Bledsoe CountyTennesseeAnthony Bledsoe, a soldier in the Revolutionary War and an early settler in the area
Blount CountyAlabamaWilliam Blount, the only governor of the Southwest Territory (modern-day Tennessee)
Blount CountyTennessee
Blue Earth CountyMinnesotaThe Blue Earth River, named in turn for blue-green earth found near its mouth and used by Dakota Native Americans as a pigment
Boise CountyIdahoThe Boise River, from the French word for "wooded"
Bolivar CountyMississippiSimón Bolívar, the great South American revolutionary and general
Bollinger CountyMissouriGeorge Frederick Bollinger, a pioneer and Missouri state legislator
Bon Homme CountySouth DakotaAn 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 CountyIllinoisShadrach Bond, the first governor of Illinois
Bonner CountyIdahoEdwin L. Bonner, a pioneer ferry operator in the area
Bonneville CountyIdahoEstablished in 1911 and named after Benjamin Bonneville (1796–1878), a French-born officer in the U.S. Army, fur trapper, and explorer in the American West.[1]
Boone CountyArkansasDaniel Boone, the famous frontiersman
Boone CountyIllinois
Boone CountyIndiana
Boone CountyKentucky
Boone CountyMissouri
Boone CountyNebraska
Boone CountyWest Virginia
Boone CountyIowaDaniel Boone, the famous frontiersman, and his son, Nathan Boone, a colonel in the U. S. Dragoons
Borden CountyTexasGail Borden, Jr., a businessman, publisher, and surveyor in Texas who invented condensed milk
Bosque CountyTexasThe Bosque River
Bossier ParishLouisianaPresumably for Pierre Bossier, a U.S. representative from Louisiana
Botetourt CountyVirginiaNorborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt, a colonial governor of Virginia
Bottineau CountyNorth DakotaPierre Bottineau, a Métis guide and frontiersman in the area
Boulder CountyColoradoThe abundance of boulders in the area
Boundary CountyIdahoThe fact that it borders Washington on the west, Montana on the east, and Canada (British Columbia) on the north
Bourbon CountyKansasBourbon County, Kentucky
Bourbon CountyKentuckyThe French House of Bourbon
Bowie CountyTexasJames Bowie, the legendary knife fighter who died at the Battle of the Alamo
Bowman CountyNorth DakotaEdward M. Bowman, a Dakota Territory territorial legislator
Box Butte CountyNebraskaA large box-shaped butte located in the county
Box Elder CountyUtahThe area's many box elder trees
Boyd CountyKentuckyLinn Boyd, a U. S. congressman and Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives from Kentucky
Boyd CountyNebraskaJames E. Boyd, the eighth governor of Nebraska
Boyle CountyKentuckyJohn Boyle, a U. S. congressman and district judge from Kentucky
Bracken CountyKentuckyBracken Creek and Little Bracken Creek, two streams located in the county
Bradford CountyFloridaRichard Bradford, a soldier in the Civil War who was killed in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island
Bradford CountyPennsylvaniaWilliam Bradford, the second United States Attorney General
Bradley CountyArkansasHugh Bradley, a soldier in the War of 1812
Bradley CountyTennesseeEdward Bradley, a Tennessee militia officer in the War of 1812
Branch CountyMichiganJohn Branch, the eighth United States Secretary of the Navy
Brantley CountyGeorgiaBenjamin D. Brantley, a member of a prominent local family; or William Goodman Brantley, a Georgia state senator
Braxton CountyWest VirginiaCarter Braxton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence from Virginia
Brazoria CountyTexasThe Brazos River
Brazos CountyTexas
Breathitt CountyKentuckyJohn Breathitt, the eleventh governor of Kentucky
Breckinridge CountyKentuckyJohn Breckinridge, the fifth United States Attorney General and a U. S. senator from Kentucky
Bremer CountyIowaFredricka Bremer, a Swedish novelist
Brevard CountyFloridaTheodore Washington Brevard, a Florida State Controller in the 1850s; it was originally named St. Lucia County[2]
Brewster CountyTexasHenry Percy Brewster, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and soldier in the American Civil War
Briscoe CountyTexasAndrew Briscoe, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
City of BristolVirginiaThe city of Bristol, England
Bristol CountyMassachusetts
Bristol CountyRhode Island
Bristol Bay BoroughAlaskaBristol Bay, which is located in the borough and was named for Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol by Captain James Cook
Broadwater CountyMontanaCharles A. Broadwater, a pioneer in the area and soldier in the United States Army
Bronx CountyNew YorkJonas Bronck, an early settler in the region
Brook CountyWest VirginiaRobert Brooke, the tenth governor of Virginia
Brookings CountySouth DakotaWilmot W. Brookings, a pioneer who was one of the first settlers in the Dakota Territory
Brooks CountyGeorgiaPreston Smith Brooks, a U. S. congressman from South Carolina who famously attacked Charles Sumner, a fellow senator, with a cane
Brooks CountyTexasJohn Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and Texas state legislator
Broome CountyNew YorkJohn Broome, a lieutenant governor of New York
City and County of BroomfieldColoradoThe quantity of broom corn grown in the area. The city was incorporated in 1961, and obtained county status in 2001.
Broward CountyFloridaNapoleon Bonaparte Broward, the nineteenth governor of Florida
Brown CountyIllinoisJacob Jennings Brown, a general in the War of 1812
Brown CountyIndiana
Brown CountyOhio
Brown CountyWisconsin
Brown CountyKansasAlbert Gallatin Brown, the fourteenth governor of Mississippi and a U.S. senator from Mississippi
Brown CountyMinnesotaJoseph Renshaw Brown, a prominent pioneer, newspaperman, and Minnesota territorial legislator
Brown CountyNebraskaAny two of five members of the Nebraska state legislature named Brown at the time of the county's formation
Brown CountySouth DakotaAlfred Brown, a Dakota territorial legislator
Brown CountyTexasHenry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco prior to the Texas Revolution
Brule CountySouth DakotaProbably the Brulé, a branch of the Sioux Native American tribe
Brunswick CountyNorth CarolinaKing George I of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick
Brunswick CountyVirginiaThe region of Brunswick in present-day Germany
Bryan CountyGeorgiaJonathan Bryan, a Georgia colonial legislator in the 17th century
Bryan CountyOklahomaWilliam Jennings Bryan, the lawyer, forty-first United States Secretary of State, and thrice-time presidential candidate
Buchanan CountyIowaJames Buchanan, the fifteenth president of the United States
Buchanan CountyMissouri
Buchanan CountyVirginia
Buckingham CountyVirginiaEither the English county of Buckinghamshire; or an unknown Duke of Buckingham (extinct at the time of the county's formation)
Bucks CountyPennsylvaniaThe English county of Buckinghamshire
City of Buena VistaVirginiaThe Buena Vista Company, which raised the money for the city's founding
Buena Vista CountyIowaThe Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican–American War
Buffalo CountyNebraskaThe American Bison which once roamed the present county
Buffalo CountySouth DakotaProbably the American Bison
Buffalo CountyWisconsinThe Buffalo River
Bullitt CountyKentuckyAlexander Scott Bullitt, a co-author of the Kentucky state constitution and the first lieutenant governor of Kentucky
Bulloch CountyGeorgiaArchibald Bulloch, the second governor of Georgia
Bullock CountyAlabamaEdward C. Bullock, a soldier in the Confederate States Army
Buncombe CountyNorth CarolinaEdward Buncombe, a soldier in the Revolutionary War
Bureau CountyIllinoisPierre de Bureo, a French trader with Native American in the area
Burke CountyGeorgiaEdmund 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 CountyNorth CarolinaThomas Burke, the third governor of North Carolina
Burke CountyNorth DakotaJohn Burke, the tenth governor of North Dakota
Burleigh CountyNorth DakotaWalter Atwood Burleigh, a U.S. representative from the Dakota Territory
Burleson CountyTexasEdward Burleson, a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution
Burlington CountyNew JerseyA corruption of the name of Bridlington, England
Burnet CountyTexasDavid Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas
Burnett CountyWisconsinThomas P. Burnett, a Wisconsin state legislator
Burt CountyNebraskaFrancis Burt, the first governor of the Nebraska Territory
Butler CountyAlabamaWilliam Butler, a soldier who fought in the Creek War
Butler CountyIowaWilliam Orlando Butler, a Kentucky statesman, U.S. representative, vice presidential candidate, and general in the Mexican–American War
Butler CountyMissouri
Butler CountyKansasAndrew Pickens Butler, a U.S. senator from South Carolina
Butler CountyKentuckyRichard Butler, a general who was killed at the Battle of the Wabash
Butler CountyOhio
Butler CountyPennsylvania
Butler CountyNebraskaEither 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 CountyCaliforniaEither the Marysville Buttes or Sutter Buttes
Butte CountyIdahoThe buttes scattered throughout the county
Butte CountySouth DakotaOne or more unknown buttes.
Butts CountyGeorgiaSam Butts, a soldier killed in the War of 1812

C
County nameStateName origin
Cabarrus CountyNorth CarolinaStephen Cabarrus, a North Carolina state legislator
Cabell CountyWest VirginiaWilliam H. Cabell, the fourteenth governor of Virginia
Cache CountyUtahThe caches of furs collected in the area by Rocky Mountain Fur Company trappers
Caddo CountyOklahomaThe Caddo Native American tribe
Caddo ParishLouisiana
Calaveras CountyCaliforniaCalaveras, 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 ParishLouisianaSupposedly for Calcasieu, an Atakapas Native American leader, whose name is said to mean crying eagle
Caldwell CountyKentuckyJohn Caldwell, a U. S. senator and the second lieutenant governor of Kentucky
Caldwell CountyMissouriEither 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 CountyNorth CarolinaJoseph Caldwell, the first president of the University of North Carolina, who advocated public school and railroad systems in North Carolina
Caldwell CountyTexasProbably for Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution
Caldwell ParishLouisianaThe locally prominent Caldwell family
Caledonia CountyVermontThe Latin name for Scotland
Calhoun CountyAlabamaJohn C. Calhoun, the U.S. statesman, seventh vice president of the United States, Secretary of State, and U.S. senator from South Carolina
Calhoun CountyArkansas
Calhoun CountyFlorida
Calhoun CountyGeorgia
Calhoun CountyIllinois
Calhoun CountyIowa
Calhoun CountyMichigan
Calhoun CountyMississippi
Calhoun CountySouth Carolina
Calhoun CountyTexas
Calhoun CountyWest Virginia
Callahan CountyTexasJames Hughes Callahan, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Callaway CountyMissouriJames Callaway, a "Missouri ranger" killed by Native Americans during the War of 1812
Calloway CountyKentuckyRichard Calloway, an early pioneer in Kentucky
Calumet CountyWisconsinCalumet, the French word for a Menominee peace pipe
Calvert CountyMarylandThe Calvert family, whose male members bore the title of Baron Baltimore and included the founders of the colony of Maryland
Camas CountyIdahoThe local camassia plant
Cambria CountyPennsylvaniaThe county's original status as Cambria Township of Somerset County, Pennsylvania; Cambria is an ancient name for Wales
Camden CountyGeorgiaCharles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a member of the British Parliament who opposed the Stamp Act in the 1760s
Camden CountyMissouri
Camden CountyNew Jersey
Camden CountyNorth Carolina
Cameron CountyPennsylvaniaSimon 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 ParishLouisiana
Cameron CountyTexasEwen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Camp CountyTexasJohn Lafayette Camp, a Texas state politician
Campbell CountyKentuckyJohn Campbell, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, founder of Louisville, and Kentucky state senator
Campbell CountySouth DakotaNewton B. Campbell, territorial legislator
Campbell CountyTennesseeArthur Campbell, a Virginia House of Burgesses representative
Campbell CountyVirginiaWilliam Campbell, a Continental Army general of the Revolutionary War
Campbell CountyWyomingJohn 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 CountyOklahomaThe Canadian River, which flows through the county
Candler CountyGeorgiaAllen Daniel Candler, the fifty-sixth governor of Georgia
Cannon CountyTennesseeNewton Cannon, the tenth governor of Tennessee
Canyon CountyIdahoEither the Boise River or Snake River canyon
Cape Girardeau CountyMissouriSupposedly for Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an early French colonial officer in the area
Cape May CountyNew JerseyCape May, a peninsula named for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, the Dutch sea captain who discovered it
Carbon CountyMontanaCoal deposits in the region
Carbon CountyPennsylvania
Carbon CountyUtah
Carbon CountyWyoming
Caribou CountyIdahoThe Caribou Mountains
Carlisle CountyKentuckyJohn Griffin Carlisle, a Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from Kentucky
Carlton CountyMinnesotaReuben B. Carlton, a pioneer in the area
Caroline CountyMarylandLady 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 CountyVirginiaCaroline of Ansbach, the consort of King George II of Great Britain
Carroll CountyArkansasCharles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving and only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence
Carroll CountyGeorgia
Carroll CountyIllinois
Carroll CountyIndiana
Carroll CountyIowa
Carroll CountyKentucky
Carroll CountyMaryland
Carroll CountyMississippi
Carroll CountyMissouri
Carroll CountyNew Hampshire
Carroll CountyOhio
Carroll CountyVirginia
Carroll CountyTennesseeWilliam Carroll, the sixth governor of Tennessee
Carson CityNevadaChristopher Houston "Kit" Carson, the famous frontier scout and soldier
Carson CountyTexasSamuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas
Carter CountyKentuckyWilliam Grayson Carter, a Kentucky state senator
Carter CountyMissouriZimri A. Carter, a pioneer in the area
Carter CountyMontanaThomas Henry Carter, a U.S. senator from Montana
Carter CountyOklahomaBen 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 CountyTennesseeLandon Carter, a speaker of the senate of the State of Franklin
Carteret CountyNorth CarolinaJohn Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret
Carver CountyMinnesotaJonathan Carver, an early explorer in the area
Cascade CountyMontanaThe Great Falls of the Missouri River, which were located in the county
Casey CountyKentuckyWilliam Casey, an early pioneer in western Kentucky
Cass CountyIllinoisLewis Cass, Governor of Michigan and U.S. cabinet member
Cass CountyIndiana
Cass CountyIowa
Cass CountyMichigan
Cass CountyMinnesota
Cass CountyMissouri
Cass CountyNebraska
Cass CountyTexas
Cass CountyNorth DakotaGeorge Washington Cass, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Cassia CountyIdahoEither for Cassia Creek or Mormon Battalion member James John Cazier
Castro CountyTexasHenri Castro, consul general to France for the Republic of Texas and founder of a colony in Texas
Caswell CountyNorth CarolinaRichard Caswell (1729–1789), member of the first Continental Congress and first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence
Catahoula ParishLouisianaCatahoula Lake, formerly within the parish's boundaries (now within La Salle Parish) and named from a Tensas word meaning "big, clear lake"
Catawba CountyNorth CarolinaThe Native American Catawba Nation
Catoosa CountyGeorgiaDerived from the Cherokee "Gatusi," signifying a prominent hill or point on a mountain.[3]
Catron CountyNew MexicoThomas B. Catron, advocate for statehood and first U.S. senator from New Mexico
Cattaraugus CountyNew YorkA Seneca word meaning "bad smelling banks", referring to the odor of natural gas which leaked from local rock formations
Cavalier CountyNorth DakotaCharles Cavalier of Pembina, one of the area's earliest European-American settlers
Cayuga CountyNew YorkThe Cayuga nation of Native Americans
Cecil CountyMarylandCecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), founder of the Maryland colony
Cedar CountyIowaThe Cedar River, which runs through the county
Cedar CountyMissouriThe abundance of juniper trees (known as Eastern Red Cedar) in the county
Cedar CountyNebraska
Centre CountyPennsylvaniaIts geographical location in relation to the rest of the counties in the state
Cerro Gordo CountyIowaThe Battle of Cerro Gordo in the Mexican–American War
Chaffee CountyColoradoJerome B. Chaffee, a pioneer and one of Colorado's first two U.S. senators
Chambers CountyAlabamaHenry H. Chambers (1790–1826), U.S. senator
Chambers CountyTexasThomas Jefferson Chambers, an early lawyer in Texas
Champaign CountyIllinoisNamed by John W. Vance of Vermilion County, Illinois in 1833, after Champaign County, Ohio, where Vance was originally from
Champaign CountyOhioFrench for "a plain", describing the land in the area
Chariton CountyMissouriThe Chariton River, whose naming origin is disputed
Charles City CountyVirginiaKing Charles I of England
Charles CountyMarylandCharles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
Charles Mix CountySouth DakotaCharles Eli Mix, commissioner of Indian Affairs
Charleston CountySouth CarolinaKing Charles II of England
Charlevoix CountyMichiganPierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682–1761), Jesuit traveller and historian of New France
Charlotte CountyFloridaDirectly 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, from the native Calusa people and their leaders, known as Carlos to the Spanish.)
Charlotte CountyVirginiaCharlotte, queen consort of King George III
City of CharlottesvilleVirginia
Charlton CountyGeorgiaRobert Milledge Charlton, a U.S. senator from Georgia
Chase CountyKansasSalmon P. Chase, senator and governor from Ohio and Chief Justice of the United States
Chase CountyNebraskaChampion S. Chase, a mayor of Omaha who served as Nebraska's first attorney general
Chatham CountyGeorgiaWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, one of England's most celebrated prime ministers
Chatham CountyNorth Carolina
Chattahoochee CountyGeorgiaThe Chattahoochee River, which forms the county's western boundary, whose name probably comes from a Creek Indian word for "painted rock"
Chattooga CountyGeorgiaThe Chattooga River, one of two Georgia rivers bearing that name
Chautauqua CountyKansasChautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua CountyNew YorkA Seneca word meaning "where the fish was taken out"
Chaves CountyNew MexicoJosé Francisco Chaves, a 19th-century New Mexico political and military figure
Cheatham CountyTennesseeEdward Cheatham, state legislator
Cheboygan CountyMichiganThe Cheboygan River
Chelan CountyWashingtonA Native American word meaning "deep water", likely referring to Lake Chelan
Chemung CountyNew YorkA Lenape word meaning "big horn", which was the name of a local Native American village
Chenango CountyNew YorkAn Onondaga word meaning "large bull-thistle"
Cherokee CountyAlabamaThe Cherokee Nation
Cherokee CountyIowa
Cherokee CountyKansas
Cherokee CountyNorth Carolina
Cherokee CountyOklahoma
Cherokee CountySouth Carolina
Cherokee CountyTexas
Cherry CountyNebraskaSamuel A. Cherry
City of ChesapeakeVirginiaThe Chesapeake tribe of Native Americans
Cheshire CountyNew HampshireThe English county of Cheshire
Chester CountyPennsylvaniaThe English city of Chester in the county of Cheshire
Chester CountySouth CarolinaChester, Pennsylvania
Chester CountyTennesseeTennessee state legislator Robert I. Chester
Chesterfield CountySouth CarolinaPhilip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield
Chesterfield CountyVirginia
Cheyenne CountyColoradoThe Cheyenne Native American people
Cheyenne CountyKansas
Cheyenne CountyNebraska
Chickasaw CountyIowaThe Chickasaw Native American people
Chickasaw CountyMississippi
Chicot CountyArkansasPoint Chicot on the Mississippi River
Childress CountyTexasGeorge Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Chilton CountyAlabamaWilliam Parish Chilton (1810–1871), Alabama Supreme Court Justice and Confederate congressman
Chippewa CountyMichiganThe Ojibwe Native American people, also known as the Chippewa
Chippewa CountyWisconsin
Chippewa CountyMinnesotaThe Chippewa River
Chisago CountyMinnesotaChisago Lake
Chittenden CountyVermontThomas Chittenden, Vermont's first governor
Choctaw CountyAlabamaThe Choctaw Nation of Native Americans
Choctaw CountyMississippi
Choctaw CountyOklahoma
Chouteau CountyMontanaJean Pierre Chouteau and his son Pierre Chouteau, Jr., members of the Chouteau fur-trading family
Chowan CountyNorth CarolinaThe Chowan Native American tribe[4]
Christian CountyIllinoisChristian County, Kentucky
Christian CountyKentuckyWilliam Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the Revolutionary War
Christian CountyMissouri
Churchill CountyNevadaFort Churchill, named in turn for Sylvester Churchill (1783–1862), a general in the Mexican–American War
Cibola CountyNew MexicoThe Seven Cities of Cibola
Cimarron CountyOklahomaThe Cimarron River, from the early Spanish name, Río de los Carneros Cimarrón, which is usually translated as "River of the Wild Sheep"
Citrus CountyFloridaThe county's citrus trees
Clackamas CountyOregonThe Clackamas tribe of Native Americans living in the area
Claiborne CountyMississippiWilliam C. C. Claiborne (1775–1817), Governor of Louisiana and Governor of Mississippi Territory
Claiborne CountyTennessee
Claiborne ParishLouisiana
Clallam CountyWashingtonFrom Klallam, meaning "the strong people"
Clare CountyMichiganCounty Clare, Ireland
Clarendon CountySouth CarolinaEdward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon
Clarion CountyPennsylvaniaThe Clarion River, which was named by surveyor Daniel Stanard in 1817, who said "The ripple of the river sounds like a distant clarion."[5]
Clark CountyArkansasWilliam Clark, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Clark CountyMissouri
Clark CountyWashington
Clark CountyIdahoSam K. Clark, an Idaho state senator and early settler in the area
Clark CountyIllinoisGeorge Rogers Clark, the hero of the western front of the Revolutionary War, and older brother of William Clark
Clark CountyIndiana
Clark CountyKentucky
Clark CountyOhio
Clark CountyKansasCharles F. Clark
Clark CountyNevadaWilliam 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 CountySouth DakotaNewton Clark, territorial legislator
Clark CountyWisconsinEither George Rogers Clark (1752–1812), Revolutionary War general, or A.W. Clark, founder of Clark's Mill
Clarke CountyAlabamaJohn Clarke (1766–1832), general from Georgia
Clarke CountyGeorgiaRevolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke
Clarke CountyIowaJames Clarke, third governor of the Iowa Territory
Clarke CountyMississippiJoshua G. Clark
Clarke CountyVirginiaGeorge Rogers Clark, the hero of the western front of the American Revolutionary War, and older brother of William Clark
Clatsop CountyOregonThe Clatsop people, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement
Clay CountyAlabamaHenry Clay (1777–1852), U.S. legislator from Kentucky
Clay CountyFlorida
Clay CountyGeorgia
Clay CountyIllinois
Clay CountyIndiana
Clay CountyKansas
Clay CountyMinnesota
Clay CountyMississippi
Clay CountyMissouri
Clay CountyNebraska
Clay CountyNorth Carolina
Clay CountySouth Dakota
Clay CountyTennessee
Clay CountyTexas
Clay CountyWest Virginia
Clay CountyArkansasJohn M. Clayton, a state senator
Clay CountyIowaHenry Clay, Jr. (1807–1847), officer in the Mexican–American War
Clay CountyKentuckyGreen Clay (1757–1826), a Kentucky politician and cousin of Henry Clay who fought in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812
Clayton CountyGeorgiaJudge 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 CountyIowaJohn M. Clayton (1796–1856), United States senator from Delaware
Clear Creek CountyColoradoClear Creek, which runs through the county
Clearfield CountyPennsylvaniaThe cleared fields from logging in the area
Clearwater CountyIdahoThe Clearwater River
Clearwater CountyMinnesotaThe Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake, both within the county
Cleburne CountyAlabamaPatrick Cleburne (1828–1864), major general in the Confederate States Army
Cleburne CountyArkansas
Clermont CountyOhioUnknown. Clermont is French for "clear mountain"
Cleveland CountyArkansasGrover Cleveland (1837–1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States
Cleveland CountyOklahoma
Cleveland CountyNorth CarolinaBenjamin Cleveland (1738–1806), a colonel in the Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain
Clinch CountyGeorgiaGeneral 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 CountyIllinoisDeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal
Clinton CountyIndiana
Clinton CountyIowa
Clinton CountyKentucky
Clinton CountyMichigan
Clinton CountyPennsylvania
Clinton CountyMissouriGeorge Clinton, fourth Vice President of the United States and first and third Governor of New York
Clinton CountyNew York
Clinton CountyOhio
Cloud CountyKansasWilliam F. Cloud, Union Army officer
Coahoma CountyMississippiA Native American word meaning "red panther"
Coal CountyOklahomaCoal, the primary economic product of the region at the time
Cobb CountyGeorgiaThomas Willis Cobb, a US representative and senator
Cochise CountyArizonaCochise, the Apache leader
Cochran CountyTexasRobert E. Cochran (1810–1836), a defender of the Alamo
Cocke CountyTennesseeWilliam Cocke (1747–1828), one of Tennessee's first U.S. senators
Coconino CountyArizonaThe Coconino Native American people, a Hopi designation for the Havasupai and Yavapai people
Codington CountySouth DakotaThe Reverend G. S. Codington
Coffee CountyAlabamaJohn Coffee (1772–1833), frontiersman, planter, and veteran of the Creek War and War of 1812
Coffee CountyGeorgia
Coffee CountyTennessee
Coffey CountyKansasA. M. Coffey
Coke CountyTexasRichard Coke, the fifteenth governor of Texas (1874–1876)
Colbert CountyAlabamaGeorge Colbert (?–1839) and Levi Colbert (?–1834), Chickasaw chiefs
Cole CountyMissouriStephen Cole, pioneer
Coleman CountyTexasRobert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto
Coles CountyIllinoisEdward Coles (1786–1868), second Governor of Illinois
Colfax CountyNebraskaSchuyler Colfax, 17th Vice President of the United States
Colfax CountyNew Mexico
Colleton CountySouth CarolinaSir John Colleton, 1st Baronet
Collier CountyFloridaBarron Collier (1873–1939), an advertising entrepreneur who developed much of the land in southern Florida
Collin CountyTexasCollin McKinney (1766–1861), an author of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Collingsworth CountyTexasJames Collinsworth, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first chief justice of the Republic of Texas
City of Colonial HeightsVirginiaFrom 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 CountyTexasThe Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "red")
Colquitt CountyGeorgiaU.S. Senator Walter T. Colquitt
Columbia CountyArkansasColumbia, a female personification of the United States, derived from Christopher Columbus
Columbia CountyFlorida
Columbia CountyGeorgia
Columbia CountyNew York
Columbia CountyPennsylvania
Columbia CountyWisconsin
Columbia CountyOregonThe Columbia River, itself named after the ship Columbia Rediviva of Captain Robert Gray, first American explorer to enter the river
Columbia CountyWashington
Columbiana CountyOhioChristopher Columbus
Columbus CountyNorth Carolina
Colusa CountyCaliforniaTwo Mexican land grants; Coluses (1844) and Colus (1845)
Comal CountyTexasThe Comal River (Comal is Spanish for "basin")
Comanche CountyKansasThe Comanche Native Americans, from the Spanish Camino Ancho, meaning "broad trail"
Comanche CountyOklahoma
Comanche CountyTexas
Concho CountyTexasThe Concho River (Concho is Spanish for "shell")
Concordia ParishLouisianaFrom 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 CountyAlabamaThe Conecuh River, which flows through the county
Conejos CountyColoradoThe Spanish word for "rabbit"; the swift-moving Conejos River also runs through the county
Contra Costa CountyCaliforniaThe Spanish phrase for "opposite coast", referring to its position across San Francisco Bay from the city of San Francisco
Converse CountyWyomingA. R. Converse, a banker and rancher from Cheyenne
Conway CountyArkansasHenry Wharton Conway (1793–1827), territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives
Cook CountyGeorgiaGeneral Philip Cook, who fought in the Seminole Wars and the Civil War and was Georgia's Secretary of State for over 20 years
Cook CountyIllinoisThe early Illinois statesman Daniel Pope Cook
Cook CountyMinnesotaMajor Michael Cook of Faribault: Civil War veteran and territorial and state senator, 1857–62
Cooke CountyTexasWilliam Gordon Cooke, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Cooper CountyMissouriSarshel Benjamin Cooper, pioneer settler
Coös CountyNew HampshireNative American word meaning "crooked", in reference to a bend in the Connecticut River
Coos CountyOregonThe Coos tribe of Native Americans who lived in the region
Coosa CountyAlabamaThe Coosa River, which flows through the county, after a Native American village
Copiah CountyMississippiNative American word meaning "calling panther"
Corson CountySouth DakotaDighton Corson, a Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court
Cortland CountyNew YorkPierre Van Cortlandt, first Lieutenant Governor of New York
Coryell CountyTexasJames Coryell, a frontiersman who was killed by Native Americans
Coshocton CountyOhioA Lenape village, the name of which means "union of waters"
Costilla CountyColoradoThe 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 CountyTexasGeorge Washington Cottle, who died defending the Alamo
Cotton CountyOklahomaCotton, the principal economic base of the county
Cottonwood CountyMinnesotaThe Cottonwood River, named for the cottonwood trees along its shores
City of CovingtonVirginiaLeonard Covington (1768–1813), brigadier general in the War of 1812 and U.S. congressman
Covington CountyAlabama
Covington CountyMississippi
Coweta CountyGeorgiaThe 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 CountyKansasMatthew Cowley, Union Army lieutenant
Cowlitz CountyWashingtonThe Cowlitz tribe of Native Americans
Craig CountyOklahomaGranville Craig, a prominent Cherokee
Craig CountyVirginiaRobert Craig (1792–1892), U.S. Representative from Virginia
Craighead CountyArkansasThomas Craighead (1798–1862), a state senator who actually opposed the creation of the county
Crane CountyTexasWilliam Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University
Craven CountyNorth CarolinaWilliam, Earl of Craven, who was a Lord Proprietor of colonial North Carolina
Crawford CountyArkansasWilliam H. Crawford, U.S. Treasury Secretary
Crawford CountyGeorgia
Crawford CountyIllinois
Crawford CountyIowa
Crawford CountyMissouri
Crawford CountyWisconsin
Crawford CountyIndianaEither U.S. Treasury Secretary William H. Crawford or Revolutionary War soldier William Crawford
Crawford CountyKansasSamuel J. Crawford, third Governor of Kansas
Crawford CountyMichiganWilliam Crawford, Revolutionary War soldier
Crawford CountyOhio
Crawford CountyPennsylvania
Creek CountyOklahomaThe Muscogee (Creek) people
Crenshaw CountyAlabamaAnderson Crenshaw (1783–1847), settler of Butler County, Alabama
Crisp CountyGeorgiaCharles Frederick Crisp, a jurist and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Crittenden CountyArkansasRobert Crittenden (1797–1834), Governor of the Arkansas Territory
Crittenden CountyKentuckyJohn J. Crittenden, Governor of Kentucky (1848–1850)
Crockett CountyTennesseeDavy Crockett (1786–1836), frontier humorist, congressman, and defender of the Alamo
Crockett CountyTexas
Crook CountyOregonGeneral George Crook (1828–1980), a U.S. Army officer who served in the American Civil War and various Indian Wars
Crook CountyWyoming
Crosby CountyTexasStephen Crosby, a land commissioner
Cross CountyArkansasDavid C. Cross, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War and local politician
Crow Wing CountyMinnesotaThe Crow Wing River, itself named for an island at the river's mouth in the shape of a crow's wing
Crowley CountyColoradoJohn H. Crowley, state senator
Culberson CountyTexasDavid Browning Culberson, a lawyer and soldier in the Civil War
Cullman CountyAlabamaColonel John G. Cullmann (1823–1895), founder of the county seat
Culpeper CountyVirginiaThomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial governor of Virginia, 1677–1683
Cumberland CountyIllinoisThe Cumberland Road, or Cumberland, Maryland, or the Cumberland River in Kentucky
Cumberland CountyKentuckyThe Cumberland River
Cumberland CountyMainePrince William, Duke of Cumberland
Cumberland CountyNew Jersey
Cumberland CountyNorth Carolina
Cumberland CountyVirginia
Cumberland CountyPennsylvaniaThe historical county of Cumberland, England
Cumberland CountyTennesseeThe Cumberland Mountains
Cuming CountyNebraskaThomas B. Cuming, an early governor of the territory
Currituck CountyNorth CarolinaTraditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank"
Curry CountyNew MexicoGeorge Curry, a governor of New Mexico Territory from 1907 to 1910
Curry CountyOregonGeorge Law Curry (1820–1878), a governor of the Oregon Territory
Custer CountyColoradoGeneral George Armstrong Custer, who died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Custer CountyMontana
Custer CountyNebraska
Custer CountyOklahoma
Custer CountySouth Dakota
Custer CountyIdahoThe General Custer Mine, in turn named for General George Armstrong Custer
Cuyahoga CountyOhioThe Cuyahoga River, which means "crooked river" in an Iroquoian language

D
County nameStateName origin
Dade CountyFloridaFormer name of Miami-Dade County, Florida, from Major Francis L. Dade, who was killed in 1835 during the Second Seminole War
Dade CountyGeorgiaMajor Francis L. Dade, who was killed in 1835 during the Second Seminole War
Dade CountyMissouri
Daggett CountyUtahEllsworth Daggett (1810–1880), the first Utah Surveyor General
Dakota CountyMinnesotaDakota language word meaning "Allies", after the Dakota branch of the Sioux Native American tribe
Dakota CountyNebraska
Dale CountyAlabamaSamuel Dale (1772–1841), brigadier general and state legislator
Dallam CountyTexasJames Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher
Dallas CountyAlabamaAlexander James Dallas (1759–1817), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Dallas CountyArkansasGeorge Mifflin Dallas, eleventh vice president of the United States
Dallas CountyIowa
Dallas CountyMissouri
Dallas CountyTexas
Dane CountyWisconsinNathan Dane (1752–1835), delegate to the First Continental Congress, 1785–1788
Daniels CountyMontanaMansfield A. Daniels, an early rancher and storekeeper
City of DanvilleVirginiaThe Dan River, which flows through the city
Dare CountyNorth CarolinaVirginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child born of English parents in America
Darke CountyOhioGeneral William Darke (1736–1801), Revolutionary War officer
Darlington CountySouth CarolinaThe town of Darlington in England
Dauphin CountyPennsylvaniaLouis Joseph, Dauphin of France, the first son of Louis XVI
Davidson CountyNorth CarolinaWilliam Lee Davidson (1746–1781), a Revolutionary War brigadier general who died at the Battle of Cowan's Ford
Davidson CountyTennessee
Davie CountyNorth CarolinaRevolutionary War cavalry leader and North Carolina statesman William Richardson Davie
Daviess CountyIndianaMilitary man Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Daviess CountyKentucky
Daviess CountyMissouri
Davis CountyIowaGarrett Davis (1801–1872), congressman
Davis CountyUtahDaniel C. Davis (1804–1850), Mormon Battalion captain
Davison CountySouth DakotaHenry C. Davison, early resident of county
Dawes CountyNebraskaJames W. Dawes, the sixth governor of Nebraska
Dawson CountyGeorgiaJurist and politician William Crosby Dawson
Dawson CountyMontanaAndrew Dawson, a trapping official and major in the United States Army
Dawson CountyNebraskaJacob Dawson, the first postmaster in the settlement of Lancaster (present-day Lincoln, the state capital)
Dawson CountyTexasNicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre
Day CountySouth DakotaMerrit H. Day, territorial legislator
De Baca CountyNew MexicoEzequiel Cabeza De Baca, the second governor of New Mexico
De Soto ParishLouisianaHernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador
Deaf Smith CountyTexasErastus Deaf Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texas Revolution
Dearborn CountyIndianaU.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
Decatur CountyGeorgiaCommodore Stephen Decatur, a naval leader in the War of 1812 and who defeated the Barbary Coast pirates at Tripoli in 1815
Decatur CountyIndiana
Decatur CountyIowa
Decatur CountyKansas
Decatur CountyTennessee
Deer Lodge CountyMontanaDeer 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 CountyOhioThe 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 CountyAlabamaBaron Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), a German soldier who fought on the side of the Americans in the Revolutionary War
DeKalb CountyGeorgia
DeKalb CountyIllinois
DeKalb CountyIndiana
DeKalb CountyMissouri
DeKalb CountyTennessee
Del Norte CountyCaliforniaFrom the Spanish word for "northern", because Del Norte County is the northwesternmost county in the state
Delaware CountyIndianaThe Lenape (or "Delaware") Native American people
Delaware CountyOhio
Delaware CountyIowaThe state of Delaware, or for Delaware County, New York
Delaware CountyNew YorkThomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), an early colonial leader in Virginia
Delaware CountyOklahomaThe Delaware District of the old Cherokee Nation
Delaware CountyPennsylvaniaThe Delaware River, in turn named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), an early colonial leader in Virginia
Delta CountyColoradoThe 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 CountyMichiganThe Greek letter Delta, referring to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties
Delta CountyTexasThe Greek letter Delta, referring to the triangular shape of the county
Denali BoroughAlaskaDenali (Mount McKinley), the tallest North American mountain, from Dena'ina for "great one"
Dent CountyMissouriJames Dent, settler
Denton CountyTexasJohn B. Denton, a preacher, lawyer, and soldier
City and County of DenverColoradoJames W. Denver, a former governor of the Kansas Territory which the place was part of at the time
Des Moines CountyIowaThe Des Moines River
Deschutes CountyOregonThe Deschutes River, from the French words meaning "of the falls"
Desha CountyArkansasBenjamin Desha, a soldier in the War of 1812
DeSoto CountyFloridaHernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador
DeSoto CountyMississippi
Deuel CountyNebraskaThe Deuel family
Deuel CountySouth DakotaJacob S. Deuel, pioneer legislator
Dewey CountyOklahomaEither for Admiral George Dewey (1837–1917) or derived from its original name, County "D", during the land run of 1892 and later changed
Dewey CountySouth DakotaWilliam P. Dewey, territorial surveyor-general
DeWitt CountyIllinoisDeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal
DeWitt CountyTexasGreen DeWitt, an empresario who founded an early colony in Texas
Dickens CountyTexasJ. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo
Dickenson CountyVirginiaWilliam J. Dickenson, delegate to the Virginia General Assembly
Dickey CountyNorth DakotaDakota territorial legislator George H. Dickey
Dickinson CountyIowaDaniel S. Dickinson (1800–1866), United States senator from New York
Dickinson CountyKansas
Dickinson CountyMichiganDonald M. Dickinson (1846–1917), Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration
Dickson CountyTennesseeU.S. Representative William Dickson (1770–1816)
Dillingham Census AreaAlaskaThe 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 CountySouth CarolinaJ. W. Dillon
Dimmit CountyTexasPhilip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution
Dinwiddie CountyVirginiaRobert Dinwiddie, lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758
Divide CountyNorth DakotaCreated by division from Williams County
Dixie CountyFloridaA common nickname for the southern United States
Dixon CountyNebraskaThe Dixon family
Doddridge CountyWest VirginiaPhilip Doddridge, U.S. congressman from Virginia
Dodge CountyGeorgiaWilliam E. Dodge, a New York businessman who owned large tracts of forest land in Georgia
Dodge CountyMinnesotaHenry Dodge (1782–1867), twice governor of Wisconsin
Dodge CountyWisconsin
Dodge CountyNebraskaAugustus C. Dodge, a United States senator from Iowa who was a supporter of the Kansas–Nebraska Act
Dolores CountyColoradoThe 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 CountyNew MexicoThe 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 CountyKansasA. W. Doniphan
Donley CountyTexasStockton P. Donley, a frontier lawyer
Dooly CountyGeorgiaColonel John Dooly, a Revolutionary War hero who helped prosecute Tories in 1779 and was killed by them the following year
Door CountyWisconsinA dangerous water passage near the Door Peninsula known as porte des morts', French for "door of the dead"
Dorchester CountyMarylandThe town of Dorchester, Dorset, in England; the Earl of Dorset was a friend of the Calvert family
Dorchester CountySouth CarolinaThe town of Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dougherty CountyGeorgiaJudge Charles Dougherty of Athens, Georgia
Douglas CountyColoradoStephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), prominent Illinois Democrat and rival of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency
Douglas CountyGeorgia
Douglas CountyIllinois
Douglas CountyKansas
Douglas CountyMinnesota
Douglas CountyMissouri
Douglas CountyNebraska
Douglas CountyNevada
Douglas CountyOregon
Douglas CountySouth Dakota
Douglas CountyWashington
Douglas CountyWisconsin
Drew CountyArkansasThomas Stevenson Drew (1802–1879), third Governor of Arkansas
Dubois CountyIndianaToussaint Dubois, who fought in the War of 1812
Dubuque CountyIowaJulien Dubuque (1762–1810), first permanent white settler in Iowa
Duchesne CountyUtahUncertain; 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 CountyMassachusettsJames II of England, Duke of York
Dundy CountyNebraskaElmer Scipio Dundy, a U.S. Circuit Court judge from Nebraska
Dunklin CountyMissouriDaniel Dunklin (1790–1844), fifth governor of Missouri
Dunn CountyNorth DakotaJohn P. Dunn, an early civic leader of Bismarck
Dunn CountyWisconsinCharles Dunn, state senator and chief justice of the Wisconsin Territory
DuPage CountyIllinoisThe DuPage River, which flows through the county
Duplin CountyNorth CarolinaBritish nobleman Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787)
Durham CountyNorth CarolinaThe 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 CountyNew YorkMary of Modena, the Duchess of York, in 1683
Duval CountyFloridaWilliam Pope Duval (1784–1854), the first governor of the Florida Territory
Duval CountyTexasBurr H. Duval (1809–1836), a soldier in the Texas Revolution who died in the Goliad Massacre
Dyer CountyTennesseeTennessee state legislator Robert Henry Dyer

See also

References
  1. Idaho.gov - Bonneville County Archived August 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine - accessed 2009-05-31
  2. "Brevard County Maps". Exploring Florida History. University of Florida. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  3. "Catoosa County". Georgia Counties. State of Georgia. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  4. "Chowan County Profile". Website. epodunk. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  5. Clarion County Historical Society, Walking Among Our Ancestors: Book One: Ashland Township, Mechling Bookbindery (2003) ISBN 0-9744657-3-9
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