List of U.S. county name etymologies (E–I)

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

E
County nameStateName origin
Eagle CountyColoradoThe Eagle River, which runs through the county
Early CountyGeorgiaPeter Early, Governor of Georgia from 1813 to 1815, Superior Court Judge, and U.S. Congressman
East Baton Rouge ParishLouisianaNamed for the largest city therein and the state capital, Baton Rouge, which itself comes from the French Baton Rouge, meaning "red stick". Records of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville describe large reddened poles erected by Indians with fish and bear heads attached in sacrifice. These may have designated boundaries separating the hunting grounds of the Bayou Goula and the Houma tribes.
East Carroll ParishLouisianaCharles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
East Feliciana ParishLouisianaEither from Spanish feliciana, meaning "happy land", or from "Felicite", the wife of Bernardo de Gálvez, a governor of Spanish Louisiana (1777–1783)
Eastland CountyTexasWilliam Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and the only officer to die as a result of the so-called "Black Bean" executions following the Mier expedition
Eaton CountyMichiganJohn Eaton (1790–1856), Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson
Eau Claire CountyWisconsinFrench for "clearwater", the original name of the main town in the county
Echols CountyGeorgiaRobert Milner Echols, a member of the Georgia General Assembly for 24 years and a Georgia State Senate President, who died serving as a Brigadier General during the Mexican–American War
Ector CountyTexasMathew Ector, a Confederate general in the American Civil War
Eddy CountyNew MexicoCharles B. Eddy, the first cattleman in the area
Eddy CountyNorth DakotaEzra B. Eddy, a Fargo banker
Edgar CountyIllinoisJohn Edgar (c. 1750–1832), Illinois delegate to the Northwest Territory legislature and at the time the wealthiest man in Illinois
Edgecombe CountyNorth CarolinaRichard Edgcumbe, a Member of Parliament who became first Baron Edgcumbe in 1742
Edgefield CountySouth CarolinaProbably a fanciful or contrived name
Edmonson CountyKentuckyJohn Edmonson (1764–1813), a military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Edmunds CountySouth DakotaGovernor of Dakota territory Newton Edmunds
Edwards CountyIllinoisNinian Edwards (1775–1833), third Governor of the State of Illinois and only governor of the Illinois Territory
Edwards CountyKansasJohn H. Edwards
Edwards CountyTexasHaden Harrison Edwards, an early settler
Effingham CountyGeorgiaThomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham (1746–1791), who was sympathetic to the independence movement and refused to take up arms against the revolutionaries
Effingham CountyIllinoisEither for Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham (1746–1791), who was sympathetic to the independence movement and refused to take up arms against the revolutionaries, or for a local surveyor whose last name was Effingham
El Dorado CountyCaliforniaFrom the mythical El Dorado, "The Gilded One", in relation to the county's importance during the California Gold Rush
El Paso CountyColoradoNamed for Ute Pass, an important mountain pass through the Front Range which was known to early Spanish settlers as El Paso or "The Pass"
El Paso CountyTexasShort for El Paso del Norte, which is Spanish for "The Pass of the North". It is named for the pass the Rio Grande creates through the mountains on either side of the river.
Elbert CountyColoradoSamuel Hitt Elbert, 6th Territorial Governor of Colorado (1873–1874)
Elbert CountyGeorgiaSamuel Elbert (1740–1788), a Revolutionary War hero and an early governor of Georgia
Elk CountyKansasThe Elk River
Elk CountyPennsylvaniaThe eastern elk, a subspecies of elk that was formerly native to Pennsylvania but has been extinct since 1877
Elkhart CountyIndianaThe Elkhart Native American people
Elko CountyNevadaShoshone Indian word for "white woman"
Elliott CountyKentuckyEither John Lisle Elliott or John Milton Elliott (1820–1885), legislators from Kentucky
Ellis CountyKansasGeorge Ellis
Ellis CountyOklahomaAbraham H. Ellis, a member of the Constitutional Convention
Ellis CountyTexasRichard Ellis, president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence
Ellsworth CountyKansasFort Ellsworth
Elmore CountyAlabamaJohn Archer Elmore (1762–1834), a Revolutionary War veteran
Elmore CountyIdahoThe Ida Elmore mines, locally noted for gold and silver production in the 1860s
Emanuel CountyGeorgiaDavid Emanuel, 24th Governor of Georgia (1801)
Emery CountyUtahGeorge W. Emery, 11th Governor of the Utah Territory (1875–1880)
Emmett CountyIowaRobert Emmet (1778–1803), an Irish nationalist and rebel leader
Emmet CountyMichigan
Emmons CountyNorth DakotaJames Emmons, a steamboat operator and early Bismarck merchant and entrepreneur
City of EmporiaVirginiaNamed after Emporia, Kansas
Erath CountyTexasGeorge Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution
Erie CountyNew YorkLake Erie, named in turn after the Erie people
Erie CountyOhio
Erie CountyPennsylvania
Escambia CountyAlabamaEscambia Creek, a tributary of the Conecuh River
Escambia CountyFloridaUnknown; most likely taken from a Native American word
Esmeralda CountyNevadaThe Esmeralda Mining District, which an early Nevada miner, J.M. Corey, named after the gypsy dancer Esmeralda from Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Esmeralda is Spanish for "emerald".
Essex CountyMassachusettsThe English county of Essex
Essex CountyNew Jersey
Essex CountyNew York
Essex CountyVirginia
Essex CountyVermontEither the English county of Essex, or Essex County, New York (itself named after the English county)
Estill CountyKentuckyJames Estill (1750–1782), a military captain killed at the Battle of Little Mountain
Etowah CountyAlabamaThe Etowah Indian Mounds
Eureka CountyNevadaFrom the Greek word meaning "I have found it"
Evangeline ParishLouisianaAcadian heroine of the poem Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Evans CountyGeorgiaClement A. Evans, a Confederate general who led the last charge of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox

F
County nameStateName origin
Fairbanks North Star BoroughAlaskaThe city of Fairbanks (itself named for Charles W. Fairbanks, U.S. senator from Indiana and later the 26th Vice President of the United States) and Polaris, the North Star
City of FairfaxVirginiaThomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the proprietor of the Northern Neck (which in colonial times included what is now Northern Virginia)
Fairfax CountyVirginia
Fairfield CountyConnecticutThe town of Fairfield, Connecticut, which was named after the salt marshes that once bordered the coast
Fairfield CountyOhioThe Fairfield area of the original Lancaster in England
Fairfield CountySouth CarolinaProbably fanciful, but often attributed to a description by British General Charles Cornwallis
Fall River CountySouth Dakota
Fallon CountyMontanaBenjamin O'Fallon, a federal Indian agent
Falls CountyTexasWaterfalls on the Brazos River
City of Falls ChurchVirginiaThe Falls Church, a historic church in the city. The church in turn was named because it was located on what had been the main road to the Great Falls of the Potomac River in colonial times.[1]
Fannin CountyGeorgiaColonel James Fannin (1809–1836), hero of the Texas Revolution
Fannin CountyTexas
Faribault CountyMinnesotaJean-Baptiste Faribault (1775–1860), an early settler and fur trader in the region
Faulk CountySouth DakotaAndrew Jackson Faulk, 3rd Governor of Dakota Territory (1866–1869)
Faulkner CountyArkansasSanford Faulkner (1806–1874), a Confederate soldier and the composer of the former state song "The Arkansas Traveler"
Fauquier CountyVirginiaFrancis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of the Virginia Colony (1758–1768)
Fayette CountyAlabamaFrom La Fayette, the original spelling for the title used by Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), a French general who played a major role in the Revolutionary War
Fayette CountyGeorgia
Fayette CountyIllinois
Fayette CountyIndiana
Fayette CountyIowa
Fayette CountyKentucky
Fayette CountyOhio
Fayette CountyPennsylvania
Fayette CountyTennessee
Fayette CountyTexas
Fayette CountyWest Virginia
Fentress CountyTennesseeJames Fentress, a Tennessee state legislator
Fergus CountyMontanaFather of Andrew Fergus, one of the area's first settlers
Ferry CountyWashingtonElisha P. Ferry, first Governor of the State of Washington (1889–1893)
Fillmore CountyMinnesotaMillard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States (1850–1853)
Fillmore CountyNebraska
Finney CountyKansasDavid Wesley Finney, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (1881–1885)
Fisher CountyTexasSamuel Rhoads Fisher, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Flagler CountyFloridaHenry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913), founder of the Florida East Coast Railway
Flathead CountyMontanaFlathead Nation of Native Americans
Fleming CountyKentuckyJohn Fleming (1735–1791), an early settler of Kentucky
Florence CountySouth CarolinaFlorence, a daughter of W.W. Harllee, a president of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad
Florence CountyWisconsinOriginally named for a mining company, which was itself named in honor of Mrs. Florence Hulst, wife of Dr. N.P. Hulst of Milwaukee
Floyd CountyGeorgiaGeneral John Floyd (1769–1839), Indian fighter and U.S. Representative from Georgia
Floyd CountyIndianaEither one of three people: Colonel John Floyd of Virginia, early settler Davis Floyd (1776–1834), or early settler John Floyd
Floyd CountyIowaCharles Floyd (1782–1804), a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who died in Iowa
Floyd CountyKentuckyJohn Floyd (1750–1783), surveyor and pioneer
Floyd CountyTexasDolphin Ward Floyd, who died defending the Alamo during the Texas Revolution
Floyd CountyVirginiaJohn B. Floyd, 31st Governor of Virginia (1849–1852)
Fluvanna CountyVirginiaFrom a name meaning "Anne's River" in honor of Queen Anne of Britain
Foard CountyTexasRobert Levi Foard, an attorney and Civil War soldier
Fond du Lac CountyWisconsinFrench for "bottom of the lake" or "foot of the lake"
Ford CountyIllinoisThomas Ford (1800–1850), 8th Governor of Illinois (1842–1846)
Ford CountyKansasJames Hobart Ford, a Union general during the Civil War
Forest CountyPennsylvaniaNamed for the prevalence of forested land in the area
Forest CountyWisconsin
Forrest CountyMississippiNathan Bedford Forrest, a notorious Confederate General during the Civil War
Forsyth CountyGeorgiaJohn Forsyth (1780–1841), Secretary of State under President Martin Van Buren
Forsyth CountyNorth CarolinaColonel Benjamin Forsyth, who was killed in the War of 1812
Fort Bend CountyTexasFort Bend, a military blockhouse built at a bend in the Brazos River
Foster CountyNorth DakotaEither James S. Foster, or his brother George I. Foster
Fountain CountyIndianaAn alternate spelling for the surname of James Fontaine, an officer who was killed at the Battle of the Maumee in 1790
Franklin CountyAlabamaBenjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
Franklin CountyArkansas
Franklin CountyFlorida
Franklin CountyGeorgia
Franklin CountyIllinois
Franklin CountyIndiana
Franklin CountyIowa
Franklin CountyKansas
Franklin CountyKentucky
Franklin CountyMaine
Franklin CountyMassachusetts
Franklin CountyMississippi
Franklin CountyMissouri
Franklin CountyNebraska
Franklin CountyNew York
Franklin CountyNorth Carolina
Franklin CountyOhio
Franklin CountyPennsylvania
Franklin CountyTennessee
Franklin CountyVermont
City of FranklinVirginia
Franklin CountyVirginia
Franklin CountyWashington
Franklin ParishLouisiana
Franklin CountyIdahoFranklin D. Richards (1821–1899), an early apostle of the LDS Church
Franklin CountyTexasGenerally believed to have been named after Judge Benjamin C. Franklin, the first appointed justice in the Republic of Texas
Frederick CountyMarylandFrederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, the final proprietor of the Maryland colony
Frederick CountyVirginiaPrince Frederick Lewis of Wales, the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain
City of FredericksburgVirginiaFrederick, Prince of Wales (1707–1751)
Freeborn CountyMinnesotaWilliam S. Freeborn (1816–1900), a member of the Territorial Legislature
Freestone CountyTexasNamed because water in the area was found to be free of minerals
Fremont CountyColoradoJohn C. Frémont, an explorer of the American West, officer during the Mexican–American War, and presidential candidate in 1856
Fremont CountyIdaho
Fremont CountyIowa
Fremont CountyWyoming
Fresno CountyCaliforniaFresno Creek, ultimately from the Spanish word fresno, meaning "ash tree"
Frio CountyTexasThe Frio River, ultimately from the Spanish word frio, meaning "cold"
Frontier CountyNebraska
Fulton CountyArkansasWilliam S. Fulton (1795–1844), the last Governor of the Arkansas Territory prior to statehood
Fulton CountyGeorgiaEither Robert Fulton, inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat, or Hamilton Fulton, Chief Engineer of the State of Georgia in 1853
Fulton CountyIllinoisRobert Fulton, inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat
Fulton CountyIndiana
Fulton CountyKentucky
Fulton CountyNew York
Fulton CountyOhio
Fulton CountyPennsylvania
Furnas CountyNebraskaRobert W. Furnas, 7th Governor of Nebraska (1873–1875)

G
County nameStateName origin
Gadsden CountyFloridaJames Gadsden (1788–1858), American diplomat and namesake of the Gadsden Purchase
Gage CountyNebraskaReverend W.D. Gage, who served as the chaplain of the first territorial legislature
Gaines CountyTexasJames Gaines, merchant who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence
City of GalaxVirginiaNamed for Galax, a flowering plant
Gallatin CountyIllinoisAlbert Gallatin (1761–1849), fourth and longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury
Gallatin CountyKentucky
Gallatin CountyMontana
Gallia CountyOhioLatin name for France, owing to the large population of French settlers in the area
Galveston CountyTexasBernardo de Gálvez, 5th Governor of Spanish Louisiana (1777–1783)
Garden CountyNebraskaNamed in the hope that it would become "the Garden of the West"
Garfield CountyColoradoJames A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States (1881)
Garfield CountyMontana
Garfield CountyNebraska
Garfield CountyOklahoma
Garfield CountyUtah
Garfield CountyWashington
Garland CountyArkansasAugustus Hill Garland (1832–1899), U.S. senator and 11th Governor of Arkansas
Garrard CountyKentuckyJames Garrard, 2nd Governor of Kentucky (1796–1804)
Garrett CountyMarylandJohn W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Garvin CountyOklahomaSamuel Garvin, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation
Garza CountyTexasName of a resident pioneer family
Gasconade CountyMissouriThe Gasconade River, a tributary of the Missouri River which probably derives its name from the French word gascon, meaning "braggart", and could be an old satirical name describing those who boast about their adventures upon returning to St. Louis. Gascony is also a region of southwestern France.
Gaston CountyNorth CarolinaWilliam Gaston, a member of Congress and a Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina
Gates CountyNorth CarolinaGeneral Horatio Gates, who commanded the Continental Army at the Battle of Saratoga
Geary CountyKansasJohn W. Geary, a Union general during the Civil War
Geauga CountyOhioFrom the Native American word sheauga, meaning "raccoon"
Gem CountyIdahoNamed for Idaho's state nickname, the "Gem State"
Genesee CountyMichiganFrom the Seneca word je-nis-hi-yeh, meaning "beautiful valley", which originally referred to a valley in western New York
Genesee CountyNew York
Geneva CountyAlabamaNamed for the county seat, Geneva, Alabama, itself named after the city of Geneva, New York
Gentry CountyMissouriRichard Gentry (1788–1837), a military colonel who was the founder and first mayor of Columbia, Missouri
George CountyMississippiJames Z. George, a Confederate colonel and Mississippi jurist
Georgetown CountySouth CarolinaNamed for the town of Georgetown, South Carolina, itself named for Prince George, who became King George II of Great Britain
Gibson CountyIndianaJohn Gibson (1740–1822), a veteran of numerous early American wars and a secretary of the Indiana Territory
Gibson CountyTennesseeJohn H. Gibson, a soldier of the Natchez Expedition and the Creek War
Gila CountyArizonaThe Gila River, whose name comes from a Pima word
Gilchrist CountyFloridaAlbert W. Gilchrist (1858–1926), 20th Governor of Florida
Giles CountyTennesseeWilliam Branch Giles, 24th Governor of Virginia (1827–1830)
Giles CountyVirginia
Gillespie CountyTexasRobert Addison Gillespie (1815–1846), a Texas Ranger, Indian fighter, merchant and soldier
Gilliam CountyOregonCornelius Gilliam, who commanded the forces of the provisional government of Oregon after the Whitman massacre in 1847
Gilmer CountyGeorgiaGeorge Rockingham Gilmer (1780–1859), 16th Governor of Georgia
Gilmer CountyWest VirginiaThomas Walker Gilmer, 28th Governor of Virginia (1840–1841)
Gilpin CountyColoradoWilliam Gilpin, first Territorial Governor of Colorado (1861–1862)
Glacier CountyMontanaGlacier National Park, which borders the county and was itself named for the many glaciers on its mountain peaks
Glades CountyFloridaFlorida Everglades
Gladwin CountyMichiganMajor Henry Gladwin, British commander of Fort Detroit during the siege by Pontiac in 1763–1764
Glascock CountyGeorgiaGeneral Thomas Glascock (1790–1841), hero of the War of 1812 and the Seminole War of 1817 and a U.S. Representative from Georgia
Glasscock CountyTexasGeorge Washington Glasscock (1810–1868), an early settler of Texas
Glenn CountyCaliforniaDr. Hugh J. Glenn (1824–1883), a California businessman and politician
Gloucester CountyNew JerseyEither the English county of Gloucester, or Henry, Duke of Gloucester, brother of Charles II of England
Gloucester CountyVirginiaThe English county of Gloucester
Glynn CountyGeorgiaJohn Glynn (1722–1779), a British Member of Parliament and Serjeant-at-law who was sympathetic to the cause of American independence
Gogebic CountyMichiganProbably from the Chippewa bic, which most references interpret as "rock"
Golden Valley CountyMontanaProbably named in a promotional attempt to lure settlers to the area
Golden Valley CountyNorth DakotaNamed because surveyors noticed that the sunlight gave the surrounding grasses a distinct golden color
Goliad CountyTexasThe Mexican municipality of Goliad, which in turn is named for Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a revolutionary leader during the Mexican War of Independence. "Goliad" is an anagram of Hidalgo, minus the silent "H".
Gonzales CountyTexasRafael Gonzales, governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas
Goochland CountyVirginiaSir William Gooch, the royal lieutenant governor of Virginia
Goodhue CountyMinnesotaJames Madison Goodhue, the first newspaper editor in Minnesota
Gooding CountyIdahoFrank R. Gooding (1859–1928), seventh Governor of Idaho (1905–1909) and a U.S. senator (1921–1928)
Gordon CountyGeorgiaWilliam Washington Gordon (1796–1842), first president of the Central of Georgia Railway
Goshen CountyWyomingGoshen Hole, a valley in the southwest part of the county. The origin of that name is obscure, but is probably associated with the biblical place of the same name in Egypt.
Gosper CountyNebraskaJohn J. Gosper, a Secretary of State of Nebraska
Gove CountyKansasGrenville L. Gove
Grady CountyGeorgiaHenry W. Grady (1850–1889), famous orator and managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution
Grady CountyOklahoma
Grafton CountyNew HampshireAugustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, who was the British Prime Minister in 1769, the year the county was established
Graham CountyArizonaMount Graham, located in the Pinaleno Mountains, which in turn was named for Lieutenant Colonel James Duncan Graham, a senior officer in the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers
Graham CountyKansasJohn L. Graham
Graham CountyNorth CarolinaWilliam Alexander Graham, 30th Governor of North Carolina (1845–1849) and U.S. Secretary of the Navy under President Millard Fillmore
Grainger CountyTennesseeMary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount and "first lady" of the Southwest Territory, which later became Tennessee
Grand CountyColoradoThe Colorado River, of which a segment above the confluence with the Green River was known as the Grand River prior to 1921. The river's headwaters are located in the eastern part of Grand County, Colorado.
Grand CountyUtah
Grand Forks CountyNorth DakotaNamed for the town at the forks of the Red River of the North and Red Lake River
Grand Isle CountyVermontNamed for the islands in Lake Champlain
Grand Traverse CountyMichiganFrom the French phrase grande travers, meaning "long crossing". It was given first to Grand Traverse Bay by French voyageurs.
Granite CountyMontanaGranite Peak, the highest point in Montana, which also contained a silver mine named "Granite"
Grant CountyArkansasUlysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States (1869–1877)
Grant CountyKansas
Grant CountyLouisiana
Grant CountyMinnesota
Grant CountyNebraska
Grant CountyNew Mexico
Grant CountyNorth Dakota
Grant CountyOklahoma
Grant CountyOregon
Grant CountySouth Dakota
Grant CountyWashington
Grant CountyWest Virginia
Grant CountyIndianaNamed for Captains Samuel and Moses Grant of Kentucky.
Grant CountyKentuckySamuel Grant (1762–1789 or 1794), John Grant (1754–1826), and/or Squire Grant (1764–1833), early settlers of Kentucky
Grant CountyWisconsinNamed for the Grant River, which might have been named for James Grant, an early trapper on the river
Granville CountyNorth CarolinaJohn Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, heir to one of the eight original Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina
Gratiot CountyMichiganCaptain Charles Gratiot (1788–1855), who built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron
Graves CountyKentuckyBenjamin F. Graves (1771–1813), a soldier killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Gray CountyKansasAlfred Gray, a state legislator and Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture
Gray CountyTexasPeter W. Gray, a Confederate lawyer and soldier in the Civil War
Grays Harbor CountyWashingtonGrays Harbor, which was itself named for Boston fur trader Robert Gray
Grayson CountyKentuckyWilliam Grayson (1740–1790), aide-de-camp to George Washington, delegate to the Continental Congress, and U.S. Senator from Virginia
Grayson CountyVirginia
Grayson CountyTexasPeter Wagener Grayson, attorney general of the Republic of Texas
Greeley CountyKansasHorace Greeley (1811–1872), newspaper editor and politician
Greeley CountyNebraska
Green CountyKentuckyNathanael Greene (1742–1786), Revolutionary War general
Green CountyWisconsin
Green Lake CountyWisconsinFrom the original French name for a large lake in the county, Lac Vert, meaning "green lake"
Greenbrier CountyWest VirginiaFrom the original name for the Greenbrier River as given by French explorers, Riviere de la Ronceverte, meaning "River of the Green Briers", a reference to the predominant vegetation along the river
Greene CountyAlabamaNathanael Greene (1742–1786), Revolutionary War general
Greene CountyArkansas
Greene CountyGeorgia
Greene CountyIllinois
Greene CountyIndiana
Greene CountyIowa
Greene CountyMississippi
Greene CountyMissouri
Greene CountyNew York
Greene CountyNorth Carolina
Greene CountyOhio
Greene CountyPennsylvania
Greene CountyTennessee
Greene CountyVirginia
Greenlee CountyArizonaMason Greenlee, a pioneer prospector in the area who died in 1903[2]
Greensville CountyVirginiaDisputed; possibly for Sir Richard Grenville, leader of the settlement on Roanoke Island, or for Nathanael Greene, a Revolutionary War general
Greenup CountyKentuckyChristopher Greenup, 3rd Governor of Kentucky (1804–1808)
Greenville CountySouth CarolinaThe city of Greenville, itself possibly named for Nathanael Greene, or perhaps for Isaac Green, an early resident
Greenwood CountyKansasAlfred B. Greenwood, U.S. congressman from Arkansas
Greenwood CountySouth Carolina
Greer CountyOklahomaJohn Alexander Greer, 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1847–1851)
Gregg CountyTexasJohn Gregg, a Confederate general killed in action during the American Civil War
Gregory CountySouth DakotaC.H. Gregory, an officer stationed at Fort Randall
Grenada CountyMississippiThe Spanish province of Granada
Griggs CountyNorth DakotaAlexander Griggs, a steamboat man on the Red River
Grimes CountyTexasJesse Grimes, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and an early settler of the county
Grundy CountyIllinoisFelix Grundy (1777–1840), Tennessee senator that served as the 13th United States Attorney General
Grundy CountyIowa
Grundy CountyMissouri
Grundy CountyTennessee
Guadalupe CountyNew MexicoOur Lady of Guadalupe from Guadalupe Plain
Guadalupe CountyTexasThe Guadalupe River
Guernsey CountyOhioThe Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel, which was the origin of many of Ohio's early settlers
Guilford CountyNorth CarolinaFrancis North, 1st Earl of Guilford
Gulf CountyFloridaThe Gulf of Mexico
Gunnison CountyColoradoJohn Williams Gunnison, an explorer who surveyed the county during his ill-fated 1853 expedition
Guthrie CountyIowaEdwin B. Guthrie, an officer in the Mexican–American War
Gwinnett CountyGeorgiaButton Gwinnett, one of three signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia

H
County nameStateName origin
Haakon CountySouth DakotaKing Haakon VII of Norway
Habersham CountyGeorgiaColonel Joseph Habersham (1751–1815), hero of the Revolutionary War and Postmaster General in the Cabinet of George Washington
Haines BoroughAlaskaThe city of Haines, Alaska, which was itself named for Mrs. F.E. Haines
Hale CountyAlabamaStephen F. Hale (1816–1862), a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate States Army
Hale CountyTexasLieutenant John C. Hale, hero of the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution
Halifax CountyNorth CarolinaGeorge Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax
Halifax CountyVirginia
Hall CountyGeorgiaDr. Lyman Hall (1724–1790), one of Georgia's delegates to the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence. He became Governor of Georgia in 1783.
Hall CountyNebraskaAugustus Hall, Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court
Hall CountyTexasWarren D.C. Hall, Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas
Hamblen CountyTennesseeHezekiah Hamblen, an early settler
Hamilton CountyFloridaAlexander Hamilton (1757–1804), first United States Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers
Hamilton CountyIllinois
Hamilton CountyIndiana
Hamilton CountyKansas
Hamilton CountyNebraska
Hamilton CountyNew York
Hamilton CountyOhio
Hamilton CountyTennessee
Hamilton CountyIowaWilliam W. Hamilton, President of the Iowa Senate (1856–1857)
Hamilton CountyTexasJames Hamilton Jr., 53rd Governor of South Carolina (1830–1832) who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas
Hamlin CountySouth DakotaHannibal Hamlin, 15th Vice President of the United States (1861–1865)
Hampden CountyMassachusettsPossibly for John Hampden (1595—1643), a famous 17th-century English parliamentarian
Hampshire CountyMassachusettsThe English county of Hampshire
Hampshire CountyWest Virginia
City of HamptonVirginia
Hampton CountySouth CarolinaWade Hampton, 77th Governor of South Carolina (1876–1879)
Hancock CountyGeorgiaJohn Hancock (1737–1793), president of the Continental Congress and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence
Hancock CountyIllinois
Hancock CountyIndiana
Hancock CountyIowa
Hancock CountyKentucky
Hancock CountyMaine
Hancock CountyMississippi
Hancock CountyOhio
Hancock CountyTennessee
Hancock CountyWest Virginia
Hand CountySouth DakotaGeorge H. Hand, an early settler from Akron, Ohio
Hanover CountyVirginiaNamed for the Electorate of Hanover in Germany, because King George I of Great Britain was Elector of Hanover at the time.
Hansford CountyTexasJohn M. Hansford, a Texas state congressman and judge
Hanson CountySouth DakotaJoseph R. Hanson of Yankton
Haralson CountyGeorgiaGeneral Hugh A. Haralson (1805–1854), U.S. Congressman
Hardee CountyFloridaCary A. Hardee (1876–1957), Governor of Florida at the time of the county's creation
Hardeman CountyTennesseeThomas Jones Hardeman, a soldier during the Creek War and War of 1812, and later a member of the Republic of Texas legislature
Hardeman CountyTexasBailey Hardeman and Thomas Jones Hardeman, two early Texas politicians and legislators
Hardin CountyIllinoisHardin County, Kentucky
Hardin CountyIowaJohn J. Hardin (1810–1847), a prominent soldier in the Black Hawk War
Hardin CountyKentuckyJohn Hardin (1753–1792), pioneer
Hardin CountyOhio
Hardin CountyTennesseeJoseph Hardin, a legislator of the Southwest Territory and the State of Franklin
Hardin CountyTexasThe Hardin family, settlers of nearby Liberty County
Harding CountyNew MexicoWarren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States (1921–1923), who was inaugurated the same day the county was established
Harding CountySouth DakotaJ.A. Harding, Speaker of the House of the Dakota Territory
Hardy CountyWest VirginiaSamuel Hardy, a distinguished Virginian
Harford CountyMarylandHenry Harford, the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
Harlan CountyKentuckySilas Harlan (1753–1782), a soldier in the Battle of Blue Licks
Harlan CountyNebraskaDisputed, but probably James Harlan, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Harmon CountyOklahomaJudson Harmon, 45th Governor of Ohio (1909–1913)
Harnett CountyNorth CarolinaCornelius Harnett, a Revolutionary War soldier who was also a delegate to the Continental Congress
Harney CountyOregonBrigadier General William S. Harney
Harper CountyKansasSergeant Marion Harper, a Kansas soldier who died in the Civil War
Harper CountyOklahomaOscar Greene Harper, a local pioneer resident, teacher, and clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
Harris CountyGeorgiaCharles Harris (1772–1827), a prominent Savannah attorney
Harris CountyTexasJohn Richardson Harris, an early settler of the area
Harrison CountyIndianaWilliam Henry Harrison, first Governor of the Indiana Territory and 9th President of the United States (1841)
Harrison CountyIowa
Harrison CountyMississippi
Harrison CountyOhio
Harrison CountyKentuckyBenjamin Harrison, co-author of the Kentucky Constitution and the 5th Governor of Virginia (1781–1784)
Harrison CountyWest Virginia
Harrison CountyMissouriAlbert Galliton Harrison (1800–1839), U.S. Representative from Missouri
Harrison CountyTexasJonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary
City of HarrisonburgVirginiaThomas Harrison, an 18th-century settler who was the city's founder
Hart CountyGeorgiaNancy Morgan Hart (1735–1830), heroine of the Revolutionary War
Hart CountyKentuckyNathaniel G.S. Hart (1784–1813), a lawyer captured and killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Hartford CountyConnecticutThe city of Hartford, Connecticut, the county seat and capital of Connecticut, which was itself named after the county of Hertfordshire in England
Hartley CountyTexasOliver C. Hartley and his brother, Rufus K. Hartley, two early Texas legislators
Harvey CountyKansasJames M. Harvey, U.S. Senator and 5th Governor of Kansas (1869–1873)
Haskell CountyKansasDudley C. Haskell, state legislator and U.S. Congressman
Haskell CountyOklahomaCharles N. Haskell, first Governor of Oklahoma (1907–1911)
Haskell CountyTexasCharles Ready Haskell, who was killed in the Goliad massacre
Hawaii CountyHawaiiThe island of Hawaii, whose name derives from the Hawaiian language word meaning "homeland"
Hawkins CountyTennesseeU.S. Senator Benjamin Hawkins (1754–1816)
Hayes CountyNebraskaRutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States (1877–1881)
Hays CountyTexasJohn Coffee Hays, a Texas Ranger and an officer during the Mexican–American War
Haywood CountyNorth CarolinaJohn Haywood, North Carolina state treasurer
Haywood CountyTennesseeJudge John Haywood (1762–1826), called "the father of Tennessee history"
Heard CountyGeorgiaStephen Heard (1740–1815), hero of the Revolutionary War
Hemphill CountyTexasJohn Hemphill, Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and a U.S. Senator
Hempstead CountyArkansasEdward Hempstead (1780–1817), a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Missouri Territory
Henderson CountyIllinoisHenderson County, Kentucky
Henderson CountyKentuckyRichard Henderson (1734–1785), founder of the Transylvania colony
Henderson CountyNorth CarolinaLeonard Henderson, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
Henderson CountyTennesseeJames Henderson, commander of Tennessee troops preceding the Battle of New Orleans
Henderson CountyTexasJames Pinckney Henderson, first Attorney General of the Republic of Texas
Hendricks CountyIndianaWilliam Hendricks, 3rd Governor of Indiana (1822–1825)
Hendry CountyFloridaFrancis A. Hendry (1833–1917), an early Floridian pioneer and politician
Hennepin CountyMinnesotaFather Louis Hennepin (1626–1705), an early explorer of the Twin Cities area
Henrico CountyVirginiaNamed for the townsite of the short-lived settlement of Henricus, which was itself named for Prince Harri, the eldest son of King James I of England
Henry CountyAlabamaPatrick Henry, Revolutionary War patriot and first post-colonial Governor of Virginia (1776–1779)
Henry CountyGeorgia
Henry CountyIllinois
Henry CountyIndiana
Henry CountyKentucky
Henry CountyMissouri
Henry CountyOhio
Henry CountyTennessee
Henry CountyVirginia
Henry CountyIowaEither Henry Dodge (1782–1867), Governor of the Wisconsin Territory, or James Dougherty Henry, a general in the Black Hawk War
Herkimer CountyNew YorkGeneral Nicholas Herkimer, who died in battle during the Revolutionary War
Hernando CountyFloridaHernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497 – 1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador
Hertford CountyNorth CarolinaFrancis Seymour-Conway, 1st Earl of Hertford
Hettinger CountyNorth DakotaMathias Hettinger, the father-in-law of Tom Hettinger, who was Speaker of the Dakota Territory House of Representatives the year Hettinger (Adams County) was established
Hickman CountyKentuckyPaschal Hickman, a military captain killed at the Battle of River Raisin
Hickman CountyTennesseeEdwin Hickman, a longhunter killed by Native Americans near present-day Centerville, Tennessee
Hickory CountyMissouriAndrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States (1829–1837), who was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because of his toughness
Hidalgo CountyNew MexicoFather Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain in 1810
Hidalgo CountyTexas
Highland CountyOhioNamed for the hilly topography which divides the Little Miami and Scioto river watersheds
Highland CountyVirginiaNamed for its high elevation, the highest county in Virginia
Highlands CountyFloridaNamed for the county's hilly terrain
Hill CountyMontanaJames Jerome Hill, a leading railroad executive
Hill CountyTexasGeorge Washington Hill, a Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy for the Republic of Texas
Hillsborough CountyFloridaWills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire (1718–1793), former Secretary of State of the American Colonies
Hillsborough CountyNew HampshireWills Hill, the Viscount Hillsborough, who was British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time
Hillsdale CountyMichiganNamed for its terrain of hills and dales
Hinds CountyMississippiThomas Hinds, a U.S. Congressman
Hinsdale CountyColoradoGeorge A. Hinsdale, a lawyer who was named lieutenant governor when Colorado first applied for statehood (1864–1865). President Andrew Johnson rejected the application and Colorado did not become a state until 1876.
Hitchcock CountyNebraskaPhineas Warren Hitchcock, U.S. Senator from Nebraska
Hocking CountyOhioReputedly a Delaware Indian word meaning "bottle river"
Hockley CountyTexasGeorge Washington Hockley, a Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas
Hodgeman CountyKansasCaptain Amos Hodgman (sic), wounded in the Civil War
Hoke CountyNorth CarolinaRobert F. Hoke, a Confederate general[3]
Holmes CountyFloridaHolmes Creek, which forms the eastern boundary of the county
Holmes CountyMississippiDavid Holmes, two-time Governor of Mississippi
Holmes CountyOhioMajor Andrew Hunter Holmes, who died in the Battle of Mackinac Island
Holt CountyMissouriDavid Rice Holt, a state legislator
Holt CountyNebraskaJoseph Holt, a U.S. Postmaster General and Secretary of War
Honolulu CountyHawaiiA Hawaiian language word meaning "sheltered bay" or "place of shelter"
Hood CountyTexasJohn Bell Hood, a Confederate lieutenant general
Hood River CountyOregonSamuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, whose name was given to Mount Hood by the first explorer to see it, William Robert Broughton
Hooker CountyNebraskaJoseph Hooker, a Union general in the Civil War
Hoonah–Angoon Census AreaAlaskaNamed for the cities of Hoonah and Angoon; names respectively from the Tlingit Xunaa, which means “lee of the north wind" and Aangóon, "isthmus town."
City of HopewellVirginiaHopewell Friends Meeting House (Frederick County, Virginia)
Hopkins CountyKentuckySamuel Hopkins (1753–1819), a Revolutionary War general and U.S. Congressman
Hopkins CountyTexasNamed for the family of David Hopkins, an early settler in the area
Horry CountySouth CarolinaColonel Peter Horry of the South Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War
Hot Spring CountyArkansasNaturally occurring hot springs within the county
Hot Springs CountyWyomingNaturally occurring hot springs located in the county seat of Thermopolis
Houghton CountyMichiganDr. Douglass Houghton (1809–1845), first state geologist of Michigan, physician and surgeon, and Mayor of Detroit (1842–1843)
Houston CountyAlabamaGeorge S. Houston (1811–1879), 24th Governor of Alabama and a U.S. Congressman
Houston CountyGeorgiaJohn Houstoun (1744–1796), a member of the Continental Congress who served twice as the Governor of Georgia
Houston CountyMinnesotaSam Houston (1793–1863), 2nd and 4th President of the Republic of Texas, U.S. Senator, and 7th Governor of Texas
Houston CountyTennessee
Houston CountyTexas
Howard CountyArkansasJames H. Howard, Arkansas state senator
Howard CountyIndianaTilghman Howard (1797–1844), Congressman from Indiana
Howard CountyIowa
Howard CountyMarylandJohn Eager Howard, a Revolutionary War officer and the 5th Governor of Maryland (1788–1791)
Howard CountyMissouriBenjamin Howard (1760–1814), a Congressman from Kentucky, the first Governor of the Missouri Territory and a brigadier general during the War of 1812
Howard CountyNebraskaOliver Otis Howard, a Union general in the Civil War
Howard CountyTexasVolney E. Howard, U.S. Congressman from Texas
Howell CountyMissouriDisputed; either pioneer James Howell or politician Thomas J. Howell
Hubbard CountyMinnesotaLucius Frederick Hubbard (1836–1913), 9th Governor of Minnesota (1882–1887)
Hudson CountyNew JerseyThe Hudson River, which was itself named for 17th-century English explorer Henry Hudson
Hudspeth CountyTexasClaude Benton Hudspeth (1877–1941), a state legislator and U.S. Representative from Texas
Huerfano CountyColoradoThe Huerfano River, which in turn was named for an isolated landmark known as Huerfano Bluff (huerfano is Spanish for "orphan")
Hughes CountyOklahomaWilliam C. Hughes, a delegate to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
Hughes CountySouth DakotaAlexander Hughes, a state legislator
Humboldt CountyCaliforniaHumboldt Bay, which in turn was named for German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859)
Humboldt CountyIowaAlexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), German naturalist and explorer
Humboldt CountyNevada
Humphreys CountyMississippiBenjamin G. Humphreys, a Confederate general and the 26th Governor of Mississippi (1865–1868)
Humphreys CountyTennesseeParry Wayne Humphreys (1778–1839), U.S. Representative from Tennessee
Hunt CountyTexasMemucan Hunt, Jr., first Republic of Texas Minister to the United States
Hunterdon CountyNew JerseyRobert Hunter, a colonial governor of New Jersey, through a corruption of Hunterston, his former home in England
Huntingdon CountyPennsylvaniaCountess Selina Hastings of Huntingdon
Huntington CountyIndianaSamuel Huntington, President of the Continental Congress
Huron CountyMichiganFrom Lake Huron, which was itself named Lac des Hurons by the French for the Native American tribe they called hure, meaning "head", a reference to the fantastic way they dressed their hair
Huron CountyOhioHuron Indians (Wyandot)
Hutchinson CountySouth DakotaJohn Hutchinson, a territorial secretary
Hutchinson CountyTexasAndrew Hutchinson, an early attorney in Texas
Hyde CountyNorth CarolinaEdward Hyde, first Governor of North Carolina (1712) and a grandson of the Earl of Clarendon
Hyde CountySouth DakotaJames Hyde, a territorial legislator

I
County nameStateOrigin
Iberia ParishLouisianaThe Iberian Peninsula in Europe
Iberville ParishLouisianaPierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, who founded the French colony of Louisiana
Ida CountyIowaProbably named after Ida Smith, the first child of European immigrants to be born in the region
Idaho CountyIdahoA steamer called Idaho that was launched on the Columbia River in 1860
Imperial CountyCaliforniaThe Imperial Land Company, a subsidiary of the California Development Company
Independence CountyArkansasNamed to honor the Declaration of Independence
Indian River CountyFloridaThe Indian River Lagoon
Indiana CountyPennsylvaniaProbably named for the Indiana Territory
Ingham CountyMichiganSamuel D. Ingham, Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson
Inyo CountyCaliforniaThe meaning of the word inyo is "dwelling place of the great spirit" in the Mono language
Ionia CountyMichiganIonia, an ancient region on the west coast of Asia Minor in present-day Turkey
Iosco CountyMichiganA pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft, meaning "water of light"
Iowa CountyIowaThe Iowa River, which flows through the county[4]
Iowa CountyWisconsinThe Iowa Indian tribe
Iredell CountyNorth CarolinaJames Iredell, one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States
Irion CountyTexasRobert Anderson Irion, a Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas
Iron CountyMichiganNamed for the abundance of iron ore found in the area
Iron CountyMissouri
Iron CountyWisconsin
Iron CountyUtahNamed for the iron mines west of Cedar City
Iroquois CountyIllinoisThe Iroquois people
Irwin CountyGeorgiaJared Irwin (1751–1818), two-time Governor of Georgia who rescinded the Yazoo Act in 1796
Isabella CountyMichiganQueen Isabella I of Castile[5]
Isanti CountyMinnesotaNamed for the Santee Sioux (Izatys) people, meaning "[those that] dwell at Knife Lake"
Island CountyWashingtonThe name reflects the fact that the county consists of two large islands, Whidbey and Camano, and seven smaller islands (Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry)
Isle of Wight CountyVirginiaThe Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England
Issaquena CountyMississippiA Native American word which means "deer river"
Itasca CountyMinnesotaLake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi River. The name was coined by Henry Schoolcraft from a combination of the Latin words veritas ("truth") and caput ("head").
Itawamba CountyMississippiLevi Colbert, a Chickasaw leader who was also known as Itawamba
Izard CountyArkansasGeorge Izard, a general during the War of 1812 and the 2nd Governor of the Arkansas Territory (1825–1828)

See also

Notes and references
  1. "About Us". The Falls Church. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  2. "History of Greenlee County | Mason Greenlee". Greenlee County Government. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  3. http://www.hoke-raeford.com/his.htm History of Hoke County
  4. History of Iowa County, Iowa Accessed 2010-05-25
  5. Isabella County History and Information Archived 2006-12-18 at the Wayback Machine, Genealogy Inc., accessed 2010-05-25
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