List of Michigan county name etymologies

Counties of Michigan

This is a list of Michigan county name etymologies.

11 counties, the cabinet counties, are named for members of Andrew Jackson's presidential administration.

9 counties have fictional names created by Henry Schoolcraft, usually adopted from Native American words, but sometimes having Greek, Arabic and Latin roots.

4 counties are named after Irish counties.

Alcona County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Alger County is named for Russell A. Alger, a Michigan Governor and U.S. Senator.
Allegan County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Alpena County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Antrim County is named for County Antrim in Ireland.
Arenac County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Baraga County is named for missionary Bishop Frederick Baraga, who worked with local Native Americans.
Barry County, named for William T. Barry, Postmaster General of the United States, is a Cabinet county.
Bay County lies at the head of Saginaw Bay.
Benzie County is an Americanization of the French name, Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies, for the local river.
Berrien County, named for John M. Berrien, Attorney General of the United States, is a Cabinet county.
Branch County, named for John Branch, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, is a Cabinet county.
Calhoun County, named for U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun, is a Cabinet county.
Cass County, named for territorial governor and Secretary of War Lewis Cass, is a Cabinet county.
Charlevoix County is named for French Jesuit missionary Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix.
Cheboygan County is named for the Cheboygan River, which itself comes from an Ojibwe word, probably zhaabonigan, "sewing needle"
Chippewa County is named for the Chippewa, or Ojibwe, Native American people.
Clare County is named for County Clare in Ireland.
Clinton County is named for DeWitt Clinton, the Governor of New York under whom the Erie Canal was constructed.
Crawford County may be named for Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, which was in turn named for politician William H. Crawford.
Delta County is named for the Greek "Delta" symbol, because the original shape of the county was triangular (i.e., like a delta.)
Dickinson County is named for Don M. Dickinson, U.S. Postmaster General under Grover Cleveland.
Eaton County, named for United States Secretary of War John H. Eaton, is a Cabinet county.
Emmet County is named for Irish patriot Robert Emmet.
Genesee County was named after Genesee County, New York, home of many original settlers.
Gladwin County is named for Henry Gladwin British military commander at Detroit during Pontiac's War.
Gogebic County probably comes from the Ojibwe language word bic, meaning rock.
Grand Traverse County is an Americanization of the French phrase grande travers, meaning long crossing, and originally referring to Grand Traverse Bay.
Gratiot County is named for Charles Gratiot, the military officer who built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron.
Hillsdale County is a hilly area.
Houghton County is named for Douglass Houghton, Michigan geologist and Mayor of Detroit from 1842 to 1843.
Huron County is named for Lake Huron.
Ingham County named for United States Secretary of the Treasury Samuel D. Ingham, is a Cabinet county.
Ionia County is named for the ancient Greek region Ionia.
Iosco County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Iron County is named for the iron resources found widely in the county.
Isabella County was named for Queen Isabella of Spain, who patronized Christopher Columbus.
Jackson County is named for Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States.
Kalamazoo County is named for the Kalamazoo River. See Etymology of Kalamazoo for a discussion of the river's name.
Kalkaska County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Kent County is named for New York jurist James Kent.
Keweenaw County is named for an Ojibwe word gakiiwe-wewaning meaning portage.
Lake County has several small lakes and lies near Lake Michigan.
Lapeer County is said to be an Americanization of the French la pierre meaning flint.
Leelanau County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Lenawee County is named for a Native American word meaning man.
Livingston County named for United States Secretary of State Edward Livingston, is a Cabinet county.
Luce County is named for Michigan Governor Cyrus G. Luce.
Mackinac County was originally Michilimackinac, believed to be a French interpretation of the Native American name for the place.
Macomb County is named for U.S. General Alexander Macomb, a notable officer of the War of 1812.
Manistee County was named for the Manistee River, which in turn is from the Ojibwe name, ministigweyaa meaning (river) at whose mouth there are islands.
Marquette County is named for French Jesuit missionary Pere Jacques Marquette.
Mason County is named for Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason.
Mecosta County is named for Mecosta, a Native American leader.
Menominee County is named for the Menominee Native American people.
Midland County is located near the midpoint of the Lower Peninsula.
Missaukee County is named for Missaukee, an Ottawa leader who signed land-grant treaties in 1831 and 1833.
Monroe County is named for James Monroe, the fifth U.S. President.
Montcalm County is named for the Marquis de Montcalm.
Montmorency County is probably named for a historical figure named Montmorency, but which one is unknown.
Muskegon County is named for the Muskegon River, named for the Ojibwe language word mashkiigoong meaning in the swamp or in the marsh.
Newaygo County was either named for a Ojibwe leader who signed the Saginaw Treaty of 1819 or for a Native American word meaning much water.
Oakland County was named for the many oak openings in the area.
Oceana County is named for Lake Michigan, a freshwater "ocean."
Ogemaw County is named for the Ojibwe word ogimaa, meaning chief or leader.
Ontonagon County is named for a river called Nantounagon on an early French map.
Osceola County is named for Native American leader Osceola of the Seminole nation.
Oscoda County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Otsego County is named for Otsego County, New York.
Ottawa County is named for the Native American Ottawa people.
Presque Isle County is an Americanization of the French term almost island, indicating a peninsula.
Roscommon County is named for County Roscommon in Ireland.
Saginaw County is a Native American term.
St. Clair County is either named for Arthur St. Clair, first governor of the Northwest Territory, or for Saint Clair on whose feast day Lake St. Clair was discovered.
St. Joseph County is named for Saint Joseph, the patron saint of New France.
Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandotte leader named Sanilac.
Schoolcraft County was named for explorer and ethnologist Henry Schoolcraft.
Shiawassee County is named for the Shiawassee River.
Tuscola County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft.
Van Buren County named for United States Secretary of State Martin Van Buren (later eighth President of the United States), is a Cabinet county.
Washtenaw County comes from the Native American term O-wash-ten-nong.
Wayne County is named for U.S. General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
Wexford County is named for County Wexford in Ireland.

Sources

Template:U.S. County etymologies

Sources

See also