List of U.S. county name etymologies (J–M)

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

J

County name State Name origin
Jack County Texas Patrick Churchill Jack and his brother William Houston Jack, both soldiers of the Texas Revolution
Jackson County Alabama Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States
Jackson County Arkansas
Jackson County Colorado
Jackson County Florida
Jackson County Illinois
Jackson County Indiana
Jackson County Iowa
Jackson County Kansas
Jackson County Kentucky
Jackson County Michigan
Jackson County Minnesota
Jackson County Mississippi
Jackson County Missouri
Jackson County North Carolina
Jackson County Ohio
Jackson County Oklahoma
Jackson County Oregon
Jackson County Tennessee
Jackson County Texas
Jackson County West Virginia
Jackson County Wisconsin
Jackson Parish Louisiana
Jackson County Georgia James Jackson, a U.S. Congressman and the 23rd Governor of Georgia
Jackson County South Dakota J.R. Jackson, a legislator of the Dakota Territory
James City County Virginia Named for James City (Virginia Company) (one of four incorporations of the Virginia Colony), itself named for James I of England by his son, King Charles I
Jasper County Georgia William Jasper, a hero of the Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War
Jasper County Illinois
Jasper County Indiana
Jasper County Iowa
Jasper County Mississippi
Jasper County Missouri
Jasper County South Carolina
Jasper County Texas
Jay County Indiana John Jay, the first U.S. Secretary of State and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Jeff Davis County Georgia Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States
Jeff Davis County Texas
Jefferson County Alabama Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States
Jefferson County Arkansas
Jefferson County Florida
Jefferson County Georgia
Jefferson County Idaho
Jefferson County Illinois
Jefferson County Indiana
Jefferson County Iowa
Jefferson County Kansas
Jefferson County Kentucky
Jefferson County Mississippi
Jefferson County Missouri
Jefferson County Montana
Jefferson County Nebraska
Jefferson County New York
Jefferson County Ohio
Jefferson County Oklahoma
Jefferson County Oregon
Jefferson County Pennsylvania
Jefferson County Tennessee
Jefferson County Texas
Jefferson County Washington
Jefferson County West Virginia
Jefferson County Wisconsin
Jefferson Parish Louisiana
Jefferson County Colorado Named for the extralegal Jefferson Territory (itself named for U.S. President Thomas Jefferson), of which the county was a part from 1859 to 1861
Jefferson Davis County Mississippi Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States
Jefferson Davis Parish Louisiana
Jenkins County Georgia Charles Jones Jenkins, the 44th Governor of Georgia
Jennings County Indiana Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana
Jerauld County South Dakota H.A. Jerauld, a legislator of the Dakota Territory
Jerome County Idaho Named for the town of Jerome, Idaho, named in turn for Jerome Hill, an investor in the North Side Twin Falls Canal Company.
Jersey County Illinois The U.S. state of New Jersey
Jessamine County Kentucky Named for Jessamine Creek, so called because of the jasmine plants that grow next to it.
Jewell County Kansas Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry Regiment
Jim Hogg County Texas James Hogg, the 20th Governor of Texas
Jim Wells County Texas James B. Wells Jr., a judge and Democratic boss in South Texas
Jo Daviess County Illinois Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, a soldier killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe
Johnson County Arkansas Ben Johnson, a judge in the Arkansas Territory
Johnson County Georgia Herschel Vespasian Johnson, a U.S. Senator and the 41st Governor of Georgia
Johnson County Illinois Richard Mentor Johnson, a U.S. Congressman and the 9th Vice President of the United States
Johnson County Iowa
Johnson County Kentucky
Johnson County Missouri
Johnson County Nebraska
Johnson County Indiana John Johnson, a judge of the Indiana Supreme Court
Johnson County Kansas Thomas Johnson, an early Methodist missionary to the Shawnee tribe in Kansas
Johnson County Tennessee Thomas Johnson, an early settler of the area
Johnson County Texas Middleton Johnson, a Texas Ranger, soldier, and politician
Johnson County Wyoming E. P. Johnson, a Cheyenne attorney
Johnston County North Carolina Gabriel Johnston, the 6th Colonial Governor of North Carolina
Johnston County Oklahoma Douglas H. Johnston, the last governor of the Chickasaw Nation
Jones County Georgia James Jones, a U.S. Representative from Georgia
Jones County Iowa George Wallace Jones, one of the first two U.S. senators to represent Iowa
Jones County South Dakota
Jones County Mississippi John Paul Jones, commander of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War
Jones County North Carolina Willie Jones, a Revolutionary leader and president of the North Carolina Council of Safety
Jones County Texas Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas
Josephine County Oregon Named for a creek, itself probably named after Virginia Josephine Rollins Ort
Juab County Utah A Ute word meaning "valley" or "plain"
Judith Basin County Montana Named by explorer William Clark for his future wife, Julia "Judith" Hancock
Juneau County Wisconsin Solomon Juneau, a French-Canadian trader who helped found and was the first mayor of Milwaukee
Juneau City and Borough Alaska Joseph Juneau, a Canadian gold prospector who co-founded the city of Juneau
Juniata County Pennsylvania An Iroquoian word, onayutta, meaning "standing stone"

K

County name State Name origin
Kalamazoo County Michigan The Kalamazoo River which runs through it, itself of uncertain origin: see Etymology of Kalamazoo
Kalawao County Hawaii Hawaiian kalawao, "mountain-side wild woods."
Kalkaska County Michigan A word invented by Henry Schoolcraft, whose family name was Calcraft; the "K"s may have been added to make the name appear more like a Native American word
Kanabec County Minnesota The Snake River which runs through it, itself named for an Ojibwe word, Ginebig, meaning "snake"
Kanawha County West Virginia The Kanawha River which runs through it, itself named for an Iroquoian word, ka(ih)nawha, meaning "waterway" or "canoe way"
Kandiyohi County Minnesota Dakota name for several lakes, meaning "where the buffalo fish come"
Kane County Illinois Elias Kane, a U.S. Senator and the first Illinois Secretary of State
Kane County Utah Thomas L. Kane, a Union general during the American Civil War and an influential supporter of the Latter-day Saint movement
Kankakee County Illinois A Miami Indian word, teeyaahkiki, meaning "open country"
Karnes County Texas Henry Karnes, a soldier of the Texas Revolution
Kauaʻi County Hawaii Its largest island, Kauaʻi, itself named for a son of the legendary discoverer of the Hawaiʻian Islands and possibly meaning "place around the neck" or "food season"
Kaufman County Texas David Spangler Kaufman, a legislator and diplomat of the Republic of Texas and later a U.S. Congressman
Kay County Oklahoma The letter "K", from its designation as "County K" before names were assigned
Kearney County Nebraska Fort Kearny, itself named for General Stephen Watts Kearny
Kearny County Kansas Stephen Watts Kearny, a general of the U.S. Army active on the American frontier during the Mexican–American War
Keith County Nebraska M. C. Keith, a local rancher
Kemper County Mississippi Reuben Kemper, an early settler of the area who rebelled against Spanish rule in Spanish West Florida
Kenai Peninsula Borough Alaska Kenai Peninsula, a headland named for the Athabascan people, Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina ("People along the Kahtnu (Kenai River)").
Kendall County Illinois Amos Kendall, the editor of an influential Frankfort, Kentucky newspaper who served as the 8th U.S. Postmaster General and an important adviser to President Andrew Jackson
Kendall County Texas George Wilkins Kendall, a journalist and Mexican–American War correspondent
Kenedy County Texas Mifflin Kenedy, an early rancher and businessman in South Texas
Kennebec County Maine An Eastern Abenaki word, /kínipekʷ/, meaning "large body of still water"
Kenosha County Wisconsin A Chippewa word meaning "pickerel", a type of fish
Kent County Delaware Kent, a county in England
Kent County Maryland
Kent County Rhode Island
Kent County Michigan James Kent, a jurist who represented Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip
Kent County Texas Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution
Kenton County Kentucky Simon Kenton, a frontiersman and soldier in the Ohio River region
Keokuk County Iowa Keokuk, chief of the Sauk tribe
Kern County California Edward Kern, an artist and cartographer who accompanied General John C. Frémont's third and fourth expeditions to the Western United States
Kerr County Texas James Kerr, an early settler and legislator of the Republic of Texas
Kershaw County South Carolina Joseph B. Kershaw, a lawyer, South Carolina legislator, and Confederate general during the American Civil War
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Alaska Tlingit Kichx̱áan (Kitschk-hin), meaning "the river belonging to Kitschk" or "Thundering Wings of an Eagle."
Kewaunee County Wisconsin Disputed; probably a Chippewa term meaning either "prairie hen" or "I cross a point of land by boat"
Keweenaw County Michigan An Ojibwe word, kee-wi-wai-non-ing, which means "portage" or "place where portage is made"
Keya Paha County Nebraska Dakota language words Ké-ya Pa-há Wa-kpá, meaning "turtle hill river"
Kidder County North Dakota Jefferson Parish Kidder, a U.S. Congressman who represented the Dakota Territory
Kimball County Nebraska Thomas L. Kimball, an official of the Union Pacific Railroad
Kimble County Texas George C. Kimble, who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution
King County Texas William Philip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution
King County Washington William Rufus King, a U.S. Congressman and the 13th Vice President of the United States; "renamed" in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. (no relation) in 2005
King George County Virginia George I of Great Britain
King William Virginia William III of England
King and Queen County Virginia King William III of England and Queen Mary II of England
Kingfisher County Oklahoma Unknown; possibly for a local rancher named David King Fisher, a rancher named John Fisher, or two different settlers named King and Fisher; later given additional currency in association with the belted kingfisher bird
Kingman County Kansas Samuel A. Kingman, who was Chief Justice of Kansas at the time of its creation
Kings County California The Kings River, itself originally named Río de los Santos Reyes ("River of the Holy Kings")
Kings County New York King Charles II of England
Kingsbury County South Dakota George W. Kingsbury and T.A. Kingsbury, two brothers who were members of several territorial legislatures
Kinney County Texas Henry Lawrence Kinney, an early settler of Texas
Kiowa County Colorado The Kiowa people, a Native American tribe
Kiowa County Kansas
Kiowa County Oklahoma
Kit Carson County Colorado Kit Carson, a frontiersman, explorer, and U.S. Army officer active across much of the American frontier
Kitsap County Washington Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish tribe
Kittitas County Washington Unknown; probably a Yakama word with any of numerous different meanings
Kittson County Minnesota Norman Kittson, a Canadian fur trader, railroad entrepreneur, and mayor of St. Paul
Klamath County Oregon The Klamath people, a Native American tribe
Kleberg County Texas Robert J. Kleberg, an early settler and veteran of the Texas Revolution
Klickitat County Washington The Klickitat people, a Native American tribe
Knott County Kentucky James Proctor Knott, the 29th Governor of Kentucky
Knox County Illinois Henry Knox, a general during the American Revolutionary War and the first U.S. Secretary of War
Knox County Indiana
Knox County Kentucky
Knox County Maine
Knox County Missouri
Knox County Nebraska
Knox County Ohio
Knox County Tennessee
Knox County Texas
Kodiak Island Borough Alaska Kodiak Island, from Alutiiq qikertaq, "island."
Koochiching County Minnesota An Ojibwe or Cree word meaning "at the place of inlets", referring to the nearby Rainy Lake and Rainy River
Kootenai County Idaho The Kootenay people, a Native American tribe
Kosciusko County Indiana Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish ally of the Americans during the Revolutionary War
Kossuth County Iowa Lajos Kossuth, the Governor-President of the Kingdom of Hungary during the Revolution of 1848 who went into exile in the United States
Kusilvak Census Area Alaska The Kusilvak Mountains

L

County name State Name origin
La Crosse County Wisconsin Early explorer Zebulon Pike saw the Indians playing a game similar to Lacrosse, a French game called such because the rackets resembled a bishop's crozier.
LaMoure County North Dakota Named for Judson LaMoure of who served many terms in the Dakota and North Dakota legislatures
La Paz County Arizona Named for a ghost town within the county, itself named for the Spanish word meaning "peace"
La Plata County Colorado The La Plata Mountains, which were named by Spanish explorers of the Domínguez–Escalante expedition for their reputed silver ore; la plata is Spanish for "silver"
La Porte County Indiana French for "the door" or "the port"
LaSalle County Illinois René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, an early French explorer of the Mississippi River
La Salle County Texas
La Salle Parish Louisiana
Labette County Kansas LaBette Creek which runs through it, itself named for French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette, who settled near the creek's mouth
Lac qui Parle County Minnesota French for "lake that speaks"
Lackawanna County Pennsylvania Lenape word for "stream that forks"
Laclede County Missouri Pierre Laclède, a French fur trader who co-founded the city of St. Louis
Lafayette County Arkansas Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who played a major role in the American Revolutionary War
Lafayette County Florida
Lafayette County Mississippi
Lafayette County Missouri
Lafayette County Wisconsin
Lafayette Parish Louisiana
Lafourche Parish Louisiana Bayou Lafourche (French: "the fork")
Lagrange County Indiana Named for the home of the Marquis de Lafayette outside of Paris, France
Lake County California Clear Lake, which dominates the county
Lake County Colorado Twin Lakes, two mountain lakes (now a reservoir) located just south of Leadville
Lake County Florida Named for the large number of lakes within the county
Lake County Oregon Named for the large number of lakes within the county, including Lake Abert, Summer Lake, Hart Lake, and Goose Lake
Lake County South Dakota Named for the large number of lakes within the county
Lake County Illinois Named for its location on Lake Michigan
Lake County Indiana
Lake County Michigan Named for the several small lakes within the county
Lake County Minnesota Named for its location on Lake Superior
Lake County Montana Flathead Lake, which dominates the county
Lake County Ohio Named for its location on Lake Erie
Lake County Tennessee Reelfoot Lake, the county's most significant geographic feature along with the Mississippi River
Lake and Peninsula Borough Alaska Iliamna Lake and the Alaska Peninsula
Lake of the Woods County Minnesota Lake of the Woods, which dominates the county
Lamar County Alabama Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II, a U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Interior, and Supreme Court justice
Lamar County Georgia
Lamar County Mississippi
Lamar County Texas Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President of the Republic of Texas
Lamb County Texas George A. Lamb, who died in the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution
Lamoille County Vermont Undocumented; possibly a misspelling of the intended name of Lake Champlain, or the French la moelle, meaning "the marrow"
Lampasas County Texas Undocumented; possibly for the Lampasas River, the old Lampazos mission in Mexico, or the Spanish name for any of several plants in the vicinity
Lancaster County Nebraska Named after the cities of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Lancaster, England
Lancaster County Pennsylvania Lancashire, a county in England
Lancaster County South Carolina Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County Virginia
Lander County Nevada Frederick W. Lander, the chief engineer of a federal wagon route through the area
Lane County Kansas James H. Lane, a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement who served as one of the first U.S. senators from Kansas
Lane County Oregon Joseph Lane, the first Governor of the Oregon Territory
Langlade County Wisconsin Charles Langlade, a fur merchant and one of the first settlers of Wisconsin
Lanier County Georgia Sidney Lanier, a Georgia poet
Lapeer County Michigan From the French "la pierre", meaning "flint" or "flint stone"
Laramie County Wyoming Jacques La Ramee, a French-Canadian fur trader
Larimer County Colorado William Larimer Jr., the founder of Denver
LaRue County Kentucky John LaRue, an early settler of the area
Las Animas County Colorado The Purgatoire River, which was once known as the Río de las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio, Spanish for "River of Souls Lost in Purgatory"
Lassen County California Peter Lassen, one of General John C. Frémont's guides
Latah County Idaho Nez Perce for "the place of pine trees and pestle"
Latimer County Oklahoma J.S. Latimer, a member of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
Lauderdale County Alabama Colonel James Lauderdale, who died during the first Battle of New Orleans
Lauderdale County Mississippi
Lauderdale County Tennessee
Laurel County Kentucky Named for the mountain laurel trees common in the area
Laurens County Georgia Colonel John Laurens, a soldier and statesman during the American Revolutionary War
Laurens County South Carolina Henry Laurens, president of the Continental Congress
Lavaca County Texas The Lavaca River, itself originally called Les Veches by early French explorers for the wild buffalo that grazed its banks, which was later translated to the Spanish La Vaca, meaning "the cattle"
Lawrence County Alabama James Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy and hero of the War of 1812
Lawrence County Arkansas
Lawrence County Illinois
Lawrence County Indiana
Lawrence County Kentucky
Lawrence County Mississippi
Lawrence County Missouri
Lawrence County Ohio
Lawrence County Tennessee
Lawrence County Pennsylvania USS Lawrence, Oliver Hazard Perry's original flagship at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812
Lawrence County South Dakota "Colonel" John Lawrence, who came to the county as first treasurer after serving in the Dakota Territorial Legislature
Le Flore County Oklahoma A prominent local family of Choctaw/French descent
Le Sueur County Minnesota Pierre-Charles Le Sueur, a French explorer
Lea County New Mexico Joseph Calloway Lea, a captain in the U.S. Army and founder of the New Mexico Military Academy
Leake County Mississippi Walter Leake, the Governor of Mississippi
Leavenworth County Kansas Colonel Henry Leavenworth, who established the original Fort Leavenworth
Lebanon County Pennsylvania A Biblical name meaning "white mountain"
Lee County Alabama Robert E. Lee, the highest-ranking general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War
Lee County Arkansas
Lee County Florida
Lee County Mississippi
Lee County North Carolina
Lee County South Carolina
Lee County Texas
Lee County Georgia Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia statesman who proposed in the Continental Congress that the colonies declare themselves free and independent, leading to the Declaration of Independence
Lee County Illinois
Lee County Iowa Uncertain; possibly Robert E. Lee, who surveyed the Des Moines Rapids; William Elliot Lee, a land dealer who owned an area of Iowa that included the future county; Marsh, Delevan & Lee of New York, who owned interests in the Half-Breed Tract; or Albert Miller Lea, who surveyed the interior of Iowa
Lee County Kentucky Uncertain; either Robert E. Lee or his father, General Light-Horse Harry Lee, the 9th Governor of Virginia
Lee County Virginia General Light-Horse Harry Lee, the 9th Governor of Virginia and father of Robert E. Lee
Leelanau County Michigan Invented by Henry Schoolcraft, who gave the name "Leelinau" to some Native American women in his stories
Leflore County Mississippi Greenwood LeFlore, a Choctaw leader
Lehigh County Pennsylvania Derived from the Delaware Indian term Lechauweki or Lechauwekink, meaning "where there are forks"
Lemhi County Idaho King Limhi, a figure in the Book of Mormon
Lenawee County Michigan Derived from either the Delaware leno or lenno or the Shawnee lenawai, meaning "man"
Lenoir County North Carolina William Lenoir, an officer in the American Revolutionary War
Leon County Florida Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer
Leon County Texas Martín De León, the founder of Victoria, Texas
Leslie County Kentucky Preston H. Leslie, the 26th Governor of Kentucky
Letcher County Kentucky Robert P. Letcher, the 15th Governor of Kentucky
Levy County Florida David Levy Yulee, an industrialist and U.S. Senator
Lewis County Idaho Meriwether Lewis, a co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis County Kentucky
Lewis County Missouri
Lewis County Tennessee
Lewis County Washington
Lewis County New York Morgan Lewis, the third Governor of New York
Lewis County West Virginia Colonel Charles Lewis, a soldier and pioneer leader
Lewis and Clark County Montana Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who undertook the first expedition across the interior of the United States to the Pacific coast
City of Lexington Virginia The Battle of Lexington, fought in Lexington, Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War
Lexington County South Carolina
Liberty County Florida Named for the philosophical ideal
Liberty County Georgia
Liberty County Montana
Liberty County Texas
Licking County Ohio The Licking River, the etymology of which is highly conjectural
Limestone County Alabama Limestone Creek, itself named for the fact that it flows over limestone bedrock
Limestone County Texas From the numerous limestone deposits in the area
Lincoln County Arkansas Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States
Lincoln County Colorado
Lincoln County Idaho
Lincoln County Kansas
Lincoln County Minnesota
Lincoln County Mississippi
Lincoln County Montana
Lincoln County Nebraska
Lincoln County Nevada
Lincoln County New Mexico
Lincoln County Oklahoma
Lincoln County Oregon
Lincoln County Washington
Lincoln County West Virginia
Lincoln County Wisconsin
Lincoln County Wyoming
Lincoln Parish Louisiana
Lincoln County Georgia Benjamin Lincoln, a leading general in the American Revolutionary War and the first U.S. Secretary of War
Lincoln County Kentucky
Lincoln County Missouri
Lincoln County North Carolina
Lincoln County Tennessee
Lincoln County Maine The city of Lincoln, England
Lincoln County South Dakota Named after Lincoln County, Maine
Linn County Iowa Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator who represented Missouri
Linn County Kansas
Linn County Missouri
Linn County Oregon
Lipscomb County Texas Abner Smith Lipscomb, a judge and Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas
Litchfield County Connecticut The city of Litchfield, England
Little River County Arkansas The Little River, which forms part of the county boundary
Live Oak County Texas The Texas live oak tree under which the petition for a new county was signed
Livingston County Illinois Edward Livingston, the 46th mayor of New York City, a U.S. Congressman and the 11th U.S. Secretary of State
Livingston County Kentucky
Livingston County Michigan
Livingston County Missouri
Livingston Parish Louisiana
Livingston County New York Robert R. Livingston, one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the first Chancellor of New York
Llano County Texas The Llano River, itself named for the Spanish llano, meaning "plains"
Logan County Arkansas
Logan County Colorado John A. Logan, a U.S. Congressman and Union general during the American Civil War
Logan County Kansas
Logan County Nebraska
Logan County North Dakota
Logan County Oklahoma
Logan County Illinois Dr. John Logan, a pioneer physician and father of General John A. Logan
Logan County Kentucky Benjamin Logan, a general and advocate for Kentucky's statehood in the Virginia legislature
Logan County Ohio
Logan County West Virginia Logan, a famous chief of the Mingo tribe
Long County Georgia Dr. Crawford W. Long, a pioneer anesthesiologist
Lonoke County Arkansas For a "lone oak" tree landmark
Lorain County Ohio The province of Lorraine, France
Los Alamos County New Mexico Los Alamos Ranch School, via Los Alamos National Laboratory, itself named for the Spanish los alamos, meaning "the cottonwoods"
Los Angeles County California Spanish for "the angels", originally Pueblo del Río de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciuncula ("Town of the River of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels")
Loudon County Tennessee Fort Loudoun, itself named for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
Loudoun County Virginia John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, a commander of British forces during the French and Indian Wars
Louisa County Iowa Louisa Massey, an Iowa townswoman who avenged the murder of her brother
Louisa County Virginia Princess Louise of Great Britain, the youngest surviving daughter of George II of Great Britain
Loup County Nebraska The Loup River, from the French word for "wolf"
Love County Oklahoma Overton Love, a member of a Chickasaw family
Loving County Texas Oliver Loving, a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive
Lowndes County Alabama William Jones Lowndes, a lawyer and U.S. Congressman from South Carolina
Lowndes County Georgia
Lowndes County Mississippi
Lubbock County Texas Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Texas Ranger and Confederate soldier during the American Civil War
Lucas County Iowa Robert Lucas, the first Governor of the Iowa Territory and the 12th Governor of Ohio
Lucas County Ohio
Luce County Michigan Cyrus G. Luce, the 21st Governor of Michigan
Lumpkin County Georgia Wilson Lumpkin, a U.S. Congressman and the 35th Governor of Georgia
Luna County New Mexico Solomon Luna, a rancher and political figure
Lunenburg County Virginia The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, an historical polity in northwestern Germany
Luzerne County Pennsylvania Anne-César, Chevalier de la Luzerne, French minister to the United States during the American Revolutionary War
Lycoming County Pennsylvania Delaware Indian word meaning "sandy creek" or "gravelly creek"
Lyman County South Dakota W.P. Lyman, a legislator of the Dakota Territory
City of Lynchburg Virginia John Lynch, who founded the first European settlement at the site
Lynn County Texas William Lynn, a soldier believed to have died defending the Alamo
Lyon County Iowa Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the American Civil War
Lyon County Kansas
Lyon County Kentucky
Lyon County Minnesota
Lyon County Nevada

M

County name State Name origin
Mackinac County Michigan Named for the French interpretation of a Native American word meaning "great turtle", referring to the shape of nearby Mackinac Island as seen from a distance
Macomb County Michigan Alexander Macomb, a hero of the War of 1812 and later the Commanding General of the United States Army
Macon County Alabama Nathaniel Macon, a U.S. Congressman and President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate
Macon County Georgia
Macon County Illinois
Macon County Missouri
Macon County North Carolina
Macon County Tennessee
Macoupin County Illinois Miami-Illinois term for the American lotus
Madera County California Spanish word for "wood", as lumbering was a major industry in the county at the time
Madison County Alabama James Madison, the 4th President of the United States
Madison County Arkansas
Madison County Florida
Madison County Georgia
Madison County Idaho
Madison County Illinois
Madison County Indiana
Madison County Iowa
Madison County Kentucky
Madison County Mississippi
Madison County Missouri
Madison County New York
Madison County North Carolina
Madison County Ohio
Madison County Tennessee
Madison County Texas
Madison County Virginia
Madison Parish Louisiana
Madison County Montana The Madison River, itself named for James Madison
Madison County Nebraska Madison, the capital of Wisconsin and the origin of most early settlers in the county, which was itself named for James Madison
Magoffin County Kentucky Beriah Magoffin, the 21st Governor of Kentucky
Mahaska County Iowa Chief Mahaska of the Iowa tribe
Mahnomen County Minnesota Ojibwe word for wild rice
Mahoning County Ohio Lenape word meaning "salt licks"
Major County Oklahoma John C. Major, a delegate to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
Malheur County Oregon The Malheur River which runs through it, itself named after the French word for "misfortune", referring to the unfortunate circumstance that some beaver furs cached near the river by early French Canadian voyageurs were stolen by local Indians
City of Manassas Virginia Manassas Junction, of uncertain origin; perhaps after a Jewish pedlar named Manasseh
City of Manassas Park Virginia
Manatee County Florida The West Indian manatee, an aquatic mammal native to the Florida coast
Manistee County Michigan The Manistee River, itself derived from a Native American word which means "river at whose mouth there are islands"
Manitowoc County Wisconsin Ojibwe manidoowaak, "spirit place"
Maʻopūtasi County American Samoa Samoan for "the only house of chiefs"
Marathon County Wisconsin Named for the Battle of Marathon, a famous battle of the Greco-Persian Wars in ancient Greece
Marengo County Alabama Named for the Battle of Marengo, fought in Italy during the Napoleonic-era War of the Second Coalition
Maricopa County Arizona The Maricopa people, a Native American tribe[1]
Maries County Missouri Probably a corruption of the French word marais, meaning "marsh"
Marin County California Disputed; possibly named for Chief Marin of the Licatiut tribe or for the bay called Bahia de Nuestra Senora del Rosario la Marinera
Marinette County Wisconsin A corrupted form of Marie Antoinette, whose nickname "Marinette" was applied to Marguerite Chevalier, after whom the original town was actually named
Marion County Alabama Francis Marion, a Continental Army officer nicknamed the "Swamp Fox" for his activity in the Southern Theater of the American Revolutionary War
Marion County Arkansas
Marion County Florida
Marion County Georgia
Marion County Illinois
Marion County Indiana
Marion County Iowa
Marion County Kentucky
Marion County Mississippi
Marion County Missouri
Marion County Ohio
Marion County Oregon
Marion County South Carolina
Marion County Tennessee
Marion County Texas
Marion County West Virginia
Marion County Kansas Named after Marion County, Ohio
Mariposa County California Spanish for "butterfly", as Spanish explorers encountered large clusters of butterflies where they named Mariposa Creek
Marlboro County South Carolina John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, an English soldier and statesman
Marquette County Michigan Père Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary and one of the first Europeans to explore and map the upper Mississippi River
Marquette County Wisconsin
Marshall County Alabama John Marshall, the 4th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the 4th U.S. Secretary of State
Marshall County Illinois
Marshall County Indiana
Marshall County Iowa
Marshall County Kentucky
Marshall County Mississippi
Marshall County Tennessee
Marshall County West Virginia
Marshall County Kansas Francis J. Marshall, a military officer who established a ferry there and a member of the first state legislature
Marshall County Minnesota William Rainey Marshall, the 5th Governor of Minnesota
Marshall County Oklahoma The maiden name of the mother of George A. Henshaw, a delegate to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
Marshall County South Dakota Marshall Vincent, a county resident
Martin County Florida John W. Martin, the 24th Governor of Florida
Martin County Indiana John T. Martin of Kentucky
Martin County Kentucky John Preston Martin, a U.S. Congressman and state legislator
Martin County Minnesota Uncertain; either Henry Martin, a prominent landowner, or Morgan Lewis Martin, a U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin who introduced a bill for the organization of the Minnesota Territory
Martin County North Carolina Josiah Martin, the last colonial governor of North Carolina
Martin County Texas Wylie Martin, an early settler of the region
City of Martinsville Virginia Joseph Martin, a general in the Virginia militia during the American Revolutionary War and the city's founder
Mason County Illinois Named for Mason County, Kentucky
Mason County Kentucky George Mason, a Founding Father largely responsible for the Bill of Rights
Mason County West Virginia
Mason County Michigan Stevens T. Mason, the first Governor of Michigan
Mason County Texas Fort Mason, itself named for George Thomson Mason, a U.S. Army lieutenant killed during the Mexican–American War
Mason County Washington C.H. Mason, the first secretary of the Washington Territory
Massac County Illinois Claude Louis d'Espinchal, marquis de Massiac, a French Naval Minister
Matagorda County Texas Spanish for "thick bush", after the canebrakes that once lined the Gulf of Mexico coastline
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska Matanuska River and Susitna River
Mathews County Virginia Thomas Mathews, a state legislator
Maui County Hawaii Named after Maui, the largest and most populous of the five islands that make up the county
Maury County Tennessee Abram Poindexter Maury, Sr., a pioneer, farmer, and state senator
Maverick County Texas Samuel Augustus Maverick, a lawyer and rancher whose stubborn independence, allegedly for refusing to brand his cattle, is the origin of the word "maverick"
Mayes County Oklahoma Named for a prominent family and two chiefs of the Cherokee Nation
McClain County Oklahoma Charles M. McClain, a member of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
McCone County Montana George McCone, a state senator
McCook County South Dakota Edwin McCook, a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and Secretary of the Dakota Territory
McCormick County South Carolina Cyrus McCormick, a businessman often credited as the inventor of the mechanical reaper
McCracken County Kentucky Virgil McCracken, a hero of the War of 1812
McCreary County Kentucky James B. McCreary, the 27th and 37th Governor of Kentucky
McCulloch County Texas Benjamin McCulloch, a Texas Ranger and Confederate general during the American Civil War
McCurtain County Oklahoma Named for three brothers who were each principal chiefs of the Choctaw Nation
McDonald County Missouri Alexander McDonald, a soldier during the American Revolutionary War
McDonough County Illinois Thomas Macdonough, a naval officer and hero of the War of 1812 who defeated the British on Lake Champlain during the Battle of Plattsburgh
McDowell County North Carolina Joseph McDowell Jr., an officer during the American Revolutionary War and later a U.S. Congressman
McDowell County West Virginia James McDowell, the 29th Governor of Virginia
McDuffie County Georgia George McDuffie, the 55th Governor of South Carolina
McHenry County Illinois William McHenry, a military officer in the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War and a state legislator
McHenry County North Dakota James McHenry, an early settler
McIntosh County Georgia The McIntosh clan, which pioneered the area
McIntosh County North Dakota Edward H. McIntosh, a member of the state legislature
McIntosh County Oklahoma A prominent family of the Creek Nation
McKean County Pennsylvania Thomas McKean, the 2nd President of Delaware and the 2nd Governor of Pennsylvania
McKenzie County North Dakota Alexander McKenzie, a powerful political leader
McKinley County New Mexico President William McKinley
McLean County Illinois John McLean, first representative in Congress from Illinois and U.S. Senator
McLean County Kentucky Judge Alney McLean, an officer in the War of 1812
McLean County North Dakota John A. McLean, a prominent citizen and the first mayor of Bismarck
McLennan County Texas Neil McLennan, an early settler
McLeod County Minnesota Martin McLeod, a pioneer fur trader and member of the council in the territorial legislature
McMinn County Tennessee Joseph McMinn, speaker of the state senate and governor of Tennessee
McMullen County Texas John McMullen, an Irish founder of a colony in Texas
McNairy County Tennessee John McNairy, a Constitutional Convention delegate and U.S. district judge for Tennessee
McPherson County Kansas Major-General James Birdseye McPherson, who was killed in the Civil War
McPherson County Nebraska
McPherson County South Dakota
Meade County Kansas Major-General George C. Meade
Meade County South Dakota
Meade County Kentucky Capt. James Meade, a hero of the War of 1812
Meagher County Montana Thomas Francis Meagher, acting Governor of the Montana Territory
Mecklenburg County North Carolina The German state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Could also be named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg, queen consort of George III of Great Britain.
Mecklenburg County Virginia Charlotte of Mecklenburg
Mecosta County Michigan Potawatomi chief Mecosta
Medina County Ohio The county was named for the Arabian city of Medina, the former home of the Islamic faith's prophet Mohammed
Medina County Texas The Medina River, itself named after Pedro Medina, a Spanish engineer
Meeker County Minnesota Bradley B. Meeker, jurist and member of the territorial legislature
Meigs County Ohio Return J. Meigs Jr., the 4th Governor of Ohio and 8th Postmaster General
Meigs County Tennessee Return J. Meigs Sr., an officer in the Continental Army
Mellette County South Dakota Arthur C. Mellette, the first governor of South Dakota and the last governor of Dakota Territory.
Menard County Illinois Pierre Menard, the first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Menard County Texas Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas
Mendocino County California Attributive form of the Spanish surname Mendoza, for either Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain, or Lorenzo Suarez de Mendoza, another Viceroy, after Cape Mendocino
Menifee County Kentucky Richard Hickman Menefee, a U.S. Congressman
Menominee County Michigan The Menominee, who lived in the vicinity, "Menominee" means "rice men" or "rice gatherers"
Menominee County Wisconsin For the coterminous Menominee Indian Reservation
Merced County California Spanish for "mercy", from the Merced River, named by a traveler after a long dusty journey
Mercer County Illinois Hugh Mercer, an officer in the Continental Army killed in the Battle of Princeton
Mercer County Kentucky
Mercer County New Jersey
Mercer County Ohio
Mercer County Pennsylvania
Mercer County West Virginia
Mercer County Missouri John F. Mercer, a Revolutionary War general
Mercer County North Dakota William Henry Harrison Mercer, an early rancher
Meriwether County Georgia General David Meriwether, who served in the Revolutionary War and was a state legislator and a member of congress
Merrick County Nebraska Elvira Merrick, wife of Henry W. DePuy, a territorial legislator
Merrimack County New Hampshire The Merrimack River, probably of Native American origin, but conjectural
Mesa County Colorado Named for Grand Mesa, a large flat-topped geologic formation near Grand Junction
Metcalfe County Kentucky Thomas Metcalfe, officer in the War of 1812, and Kentucky governor
Miami County Indiana The Miami people, a Native American tribe
Miami County Kansas
Miami County Ohio
Miami-Dade County Florida An amalgamation of:
Middlesex County Connecticut Middlesex, one of the historic counties of England
Middlesex County Massachusetts
Middlesex County New Jersey
Middlesex County Virginia
Midland County Michigan For its location near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula
Midland County Texas For its location midway between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railroad
Mifflin County Pennsylvania The first governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin
Milam County Texas Benjamin Rush Milam, an early Texas colonizer and soldier killed in the Texas Revolution
Millard County Utah President Millard Fillmore
Mille Lacs County Minnesota French for "thousand lakes"
Miller County Arkansas James Miller, the first governor of the Arkansas Territory and a Brigadier General during the War of 1812.
Miller County Georgia Judge Andrew J. Miller, who served as a commander of the Oglethorpe Infantry
Miller County Missouri John Miller, governor of Missouri
Mills County Iowa named for Major Frederick Mills, killed in the Mexican–American War.
Mills County Texas John T. Mills, an early judge in Texas
Milwaukee County Wisconsin uncertain, but believed to be from a Potawatomi word "Mahnawaukee-Seepe" meaning "gathering place by the river."
Miner County South Dakota named for territorial legislators Nelson Miner and Ephriam Miner.
Mineral County Colorado Named for the economically valuable mineral resources found in the county
Mineral County Montana
Mineral County Nevada
Mineral County West Virginia
Mingo County West Virginia Named for the Mingo Indian tribe
Minidoka County Idaho Derived from a Dakota Sioux word meaning "a fountain or spring of water"
Minnehaha County South Dakota Derived from a Native American word meaning "river waterfall"
Missaukee County Michigan Named for Ottawa chief Missaukee
Mississippi County Arkansas The Mississippi River, itself named after the Ojibwe term for "great river"
Mississippi County Missouri
Missoula County Montana A contraction of the Flathead word im-i-sul-e-etiku, meaning "near the place of fear"
Mitchell County Georgia Uncertain; either Henry Mitchell, a hero of the American Revolutionary War and president of the state senate, or David Brydie Mitchell, governor
Mitchell County Iowa Named by Irish settlers for John Mitchel (sic), an Irish nationalist who escaped to the U.S.
Mitchell County Kansas William D. Mitchell, a Union Army officer killed during the American Civil War
Mitchell County North Carolina Elisha Mitchell, an explorer of Mount Mitchell
Mitchell County Texas Asa and Eli Mitchell, early settlers of Stephen F. Austin's colony
Mobile County Alabama From the Muskhogean name for the town of Mauvila, found by the first explorers
Modoc County California The Modoc people, a Native American tribe
Moffat County Colorado David Moffat, a railroad tycoon and banker
Mohave County Arizona The Mohave people, a Native American tribe
Moniteau County Missouri French spelling of an Indian word meaning "spirit of God"
Monmouth County New Jersey Monmouthshire, a county in southeast Wales
Mono County California Mono Lake, itself named for an Indian tribe, possibly from monachie, meaning "fly people", referring to an insect that formed part of their diet
Monona County Iowa Disputed; possibly the name of a legendary bereaved Indian girl who leaped into the Mississippi River, or the name of an Indian divinity, or an Ottawa word meaning "beautiful land"
Monongalia County West Virginia Variant spelling of the Monongahela River, which means "unstable river banks"
Monroe County Alabama James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States
Monroe County Arkansas
Monroe County Florida
Monroe County Georgia
Monroe County Illinois
Monroe County Indiana
Monroe County Iowa
Monroe County Kentucky
Monroe County Michigan
Monroe County Mississippi
Monroe County Missouri
Monroe County New York
Monroe County Ohio
Monroe County Pennsylvania
Monroe County Tennessee
Monroe County West Virginia
Monroe County Wisconsin
Montague County Texas Daniel Montague, a state senator and early surveyor of the county
Montcalm County Michigan Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
Monterey County California The Spanish words monte and rey, together meaning "king of the forest"; Monterey Bay was named in honor of the Conde de Monterey, the Viceroy of New Spain
Montezuma County Colorado Moctezuma II, the last ruler of the Aztecs in central Mexico; the county's world-famous Mesa Verde ruins were once thought to have been built by the Aztecs
Montgomery County Alabama Richard Montgomery, an officer during the American Revolutionary War
Montgomery County Arkansas
Montgomery County Georgia
Montgomery County Illinois
Montgomery County Indiana
Montgomery County Iowa
Montgomery County Kentucky
Montgomery County Maryland
Montgomery County Mississippi
Montgomery County Missouri
Montgomery County New York
Montgomery County North Carolina
Montgomery County Ohio
Montgomery County Texas
Montgomery County Virginia
Montgomery County Kansas Uncertain; either James M. Montgomery, an abolitionist and preacher, or Richard Montgomery
Montgomery County Pennsylvania Uncertain; either Richard Montgomery or Montgomeryshire, a county in Wales, as that part of Pennsylvania was settled by Welsh Quakers
Montgomery County Tennessee John Montgomery, an explorer and Indian fighter
Montmorency County Michigan Raymond de Montmorency, a French officer who helped the colonies against England during the American Revolutionary War
Montour County Pennsylvania Madame Montour, a woman of Indian and French descent who was prominent in the Indian affairs
Montrose County Colorado The town of Montrose, which itself is named after the novel A Legend of Montrose by Sir Walter Scott
Moody County South Dakota Gideon C. Moody, a territorial legislator and later U.S. Senator
Moore County North Carolina Alfred Moore, an officer during the American Revolutionary War and a U.S. Supreme Court justice
Moore County Tennessee William Moore, an officer during the War of 1812 and later a state legislator
Moore County Texas Edwin Ward Moore, a Republic of Texas naval officer
Mora County New Mexico Uncertain; either from names of early settlers, such as Mora Pineda and Garcia de la Mora, or from the Spanish word meaning "blackberry" or "mulberry"
Morehouse Parish Louisiana Abraham Morehouse, an early settler
Morgan County Alabama Daniel Morgan, an officer during the American Revolutionary War and a U.S. representative
Morgan County Georgia
Morgan County Illinois
Morgan County Indiana
Morgan County Kentucky
Morgan County Missouri
Morgan County Ohio
Morgan County Tennessee
Morgan County West Virginia
Morgan County Colorado The town of Fort Morgan (the county seat), itself named for U.S. Army Colonel Christopher A. Morgan, an aide to Civil War general John Pope
Morgan County Utah Jedediah Morgan Grant, a prominent Mormon churchman
Morrill County Nebraska Charles Henry Morrill, a regent of the University of Nebraska
Morris County Kansas Thomas Morris, a U.S. Senator
Morris County New Jersey Lewis Morris, a colonial governor of the Province of New Jersey
Morris County Texas W.W. Morris, a prominent attorney in east Texas
Morrison County Minnesota William and Allan Morrison, fur traders
Morrow County Ohio Jeremiah Morrow, the 9th Governor of Ohio
Morrow County Oregon Jackson L. Morrow, a member of the first state legislature
Morton County Kansas Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton, a jurist and U.S. Senator
Morton County North Dakota
Motley County Texas Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Moultrie County Illinois William Moultrie, an officer during the American Revolutionary War and the 35th Governor of South Carolina
Mountrail County North Dakota "Savage" Joseph Mountraille, a prominent voyageur who carried the mail
Mower County Minnesota John Mower, a territorial and state legislator
Muhlenberg County Kentucky Peter Muhlenberg, a clergyman and soldier during the American Revolutionary War
Multnomah County Oregon From the Multnomah village on Sauvie Island, itself named after nemathlonamaq, probably meaning "downriver"
Murray County Georgia Thomas W. Murray, a state legislator
Murray County Minnesota William Pitt Murray, a state legislator
Murray County Oklahoma William H. Murray, the 9th Governor of Oklahoma
Muscatine County Iowa The Mascouten tribe of the Potawatomi, a name possibly meaning "burning island"
Muscogee County Georgia Muscogee people
Muskegon County Michigan The Muskegon River, itself named for the Ojibwa/Chippewa word mashkig, meaning "swamp" or "marsh"
Muskingum County Ohio Derived from the Shawnee mshkikwam, "swampy ground"; the Muskingum River flows through the county
Muskogee County Oklahoma Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Musselshell County Montana Named for mussels found on the banks of the Musselshell River

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maricopa County Board of Supervisors". Archived from the original on 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2008-12-25.