List of North Carolina county name etymologies

This is a list of North Carolina county name etymologies.cite web |url=http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/CNTYOUT/CTYCOVER.HTM|title=County Histories|accessdate=2008-02-06|work=The State Library of North Carolina]

A

* Alamance County is named for the Battle of Alamance which was derived from the Native American word meaning "blue clay" found in the Great Alamance Creek.
* Alexander County is named for William J. Alexander, member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons.
* Alleghany County is named from "a corruption of the Delaware Indian name for the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and is said to have meant 'a fine stream.'"
* Anson County is named for George, Lord Anson (1697-1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe.
* Ashe Countyis named for Samuel Ashe (1725-1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and governor of North Carolina.
* Avery County is named for Waightstill Avery (1741-1821), a soldier of the Revolution and Attorney General of North Carolina.

B

* Beaufort County is named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor.
* Bertie County is named for James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina.
* Bladen County is named for Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade.
* Brunswick County is named for George I of Great Britain (1660-1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg.
* Buncombe County is named for Edward Buncombe, colonel of the Tyrell militia during the American Revolutionary War, who was wounded and captured at the Battle of Germantown, and died a paroled prisoner in Philadelphia. [ [http://www.heritagewnc.org/people/buncombe_col_edward.htm Col. Edward Buncombe ] ] [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=buncombe&GSmid=46560566&GRid=10832998&pt=Edward%20Buncombe& FindAGrave.com - Edward Buncombe]
* Burke County is named for Thomas Burke (1747-1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina.

C

* Cabarrus County is named for Stephen Cabarrus (1754-1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons.
* Caldwell County is named for Joseph Caldwell (1773-1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina.
* Camden County is named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714-1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists.
* Carteret County is named for John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690-1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret.
* Caswell County is named for Richard Caswell (1729-1789), member of the first Continental Congress and first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence.
* Catawba County is named for the Catawba Native American tribe.
* Chatham County is named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and was later Prime Minister of Great Britain.
* Cherokee County is named for the Cherokee Native American tribe.
* Chowan County is named for the Chowan Native American tribe.
* Clay County is named for Henry Clay (1777-1852), statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
* Cleveland County is named for Benjamin Cleveland (1738-1806), a colonel in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain.
* Columbus County is named for Christopher Columbus (1451-1507), navigator, explorer, and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas.
* Craven County is named for William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608-1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina.
* Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765), a military leader and son of George II.
* Currituck County is named for what is "traditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese," also rendered "Coratank."

D

* Dare County is named for Virginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child born of English parents in America.
* Davidson County is named for William Lee Davidson (1746-1781), an American Revolutionary War general who was mortally wounded at Cowan's Ford
* Davie County is named for William Richardson Davie (1756-1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina.
* Duplin County is named for Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710-1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull.
* Durham County is named for the city of Durham which was named in honor of Dr. Bartlett Snipes Durham who donated the land on which the railroad station was located.

E

* Edgecombe County is named for Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680-1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster-General for Ireland.

F

* Forsyth County is named for Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812.
* Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States.

G

* Gaston County is named for William Gaston (1778-1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
* Gates County is named for Horatio Gates (1727-1806), an American general during the Revolution at the Battle of Saratoga.
* Graham County is named for William Alexander Graham (1804-1875), a United States Senator, governor of North Carolina, and United States Secretary of the Navy
* Granville County is named for John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690-1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret.
* Greene County is named for Nathanael Greene (1742-1786), a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War.
* Guilford County is named for Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford (1704-1790), a British politician and father of Prime Minister of Great Britain, Frederick North.

H

* Halifax County is named for George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716-1771), a British statesman and President of the Board of Trade.
* Harnett County is named for Cornelius Harnett (1723-1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress.
* Haywood County is named for John Haywood (1754-1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer.
* Henderson County is named for Leonard Henderson (1772-1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
* Hertford County is named for Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford (1718-1794), who was Lord of the Bedchamber to George II and George III.
* Hoke County is named for Robert Hoke (1837-1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
* Hyde County is named for Edward Hyde (c. 1650-1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina

I

* Iredell County is named for James Iredell (1751-1799), a comptroller at the port of Edenton and one of the original justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

J

* Jackson County is named for Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the 7th President of the United States.
* Johnston County is named for Gabriel Johnston (1699-1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina.
* Jones County is named for Willie Jones (1740-1801), opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution and declined an invitation to the Constitutional Convention.

L

* Lee County is named for Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), a career United States Army officer and general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War.
* Lenoir County is named for William Lenoir (1751-1839), a captain in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain.
* Lincoln County is named for Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810), a major general during the American Revolutionary War who participated in the Siege of Yorktown.

M

* Macon County is named for Nathaniel Macon (1758-1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
* Madison County is named for James Madison (1751-1836), the 4th President of the United States.
* Martin County is named for Josiah Martin (1737-1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina.
* McDowell County is named for Joseph McDowell (1756-1801), a soldier in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain.
* Mecklenburg County is named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom.
* Mitchell County is named for Elisha Mitchell (1793-1857), a professor at the University of North Carolina who measured the height of Mount Mitchell.
* Montgomery County is named for Richard Montgomery (1738-1775), a major general during the Revolutionary War who was killed at the Battle of Quebec.
* Moore County is named for Alfred Moore (1755-1810), a captain in the Revolutionary War and justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

N

* Nash County is named for Francis Nash (1742-1777), a brigadier general in the Revolutionary War who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown.
* New Hanover County is named for the royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover.
* Northampton County is named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687-1754), a British peer and politician.

O

* Onslow County is named for Arthur Onslow (1691-1768), Speaker of the British House of Commons.
* Orange County is named for William V, Prince of Orange (1748-1806), the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.

P

* Pamlico County is named for Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Native American tribe.
* Pasquotank County is named for the Native American word pasketanki which meant "where the current of the stream divides or forks."
* Pender County is named for William Dorsey Pender (1834-1863), Confederate soldier who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War.
* Perquimans County is named for the Perquimans Native American tribe.
* Person County is named for Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot.
* Pitt County is named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and was later Prime Minister of Great Britain.
* Polk County is named for William Polk (1758-1834), officer in the American Revolutionary War and first president of the State Bank of North Carolina.

R

* Randolph County is named for Peyton Randolph (c. 1721-1755), the first President of the Continental Congress.
* Richmond County is named for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735-1806), a firm supporter of the American colonists and advocated removal of British troops.
* Robeson County is named for Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.
* Rockingham County is named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782), a British statesmen and two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain.
* Rowan County is named for Matthew Rowan (d. 1769), was the acting Governor of colonial North Carolina following the death of Governor Nathaniel Rice.
* Rutherford County is named for Griffith Rutherford (c. 1721-1805), an officer in the American Revolutionary War and a political leader in North Carolina.

* Sampson County is named for John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council.
* Scotland County is named for the country Scotland in the British Isles.
* Stanly County is named for John Stanly (1774-1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons.
* Stokes County is named for John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre.
* Surry County is named for the county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon.
* Swain County is named for David Lowry Swain (1801-1868), a governor of North Carolina and president of the University of North Carolina.

T

* Transylvania County is named from the Latin words, trans meaning "across" and sylva meaning "woods".
* Tyrrell County is named for John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor.

U

* Union County was created as a compromise after a dispute between local Whigs and Democrats as to whether it should be named Clay or Jackson county.

V

* Vance County is named for Zebulon Baird Vance (1830-1894), a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War, twice governor of North Carolina, and United States Senator.

W

* Wake County is named for Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon.
* Warren County is named for Joseph Warren (1741-1775), a Patriot and volunteer private who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
* Washington County is named for George Washington (1732-1799), the 1st President of the United States.
* Watauga County is named for the Watauga River, which came from a Native American word meaning "beautiful water."
* Wayne County is named for Anthony Wayne (1745-1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War.
* Wilkes County is named for John Wilkes (1725-1797), an English radical, journalist and politician.
* Wilson County is named for Louis D. Wilson, a state legislator from Edgecombe County who died of fever at Veracruz during the Mexican-American War.

Y

* Yadkin County is named for the Yadkin River.
* Yancey County is named for Bartlett Yancey (1785-1828), a United States Congressman, Speaker of the North Carolina Senate, and early advocate for the North Carolina Public School System.

Notes

ee also

* List of counties in North Carolina