List of Kentucky county name etymologies
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This is a list of Kentucky county name etymologies:
A
- Adair County, Kentucky: Adair is named for John Adair, the eighth governor of Kentucky and a general in the War of 1812.
- Allen County, Kentucky: Allen is named for John Allen, a lawyer, legislator, and lieutenant colonel killed in the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812.
- Anderson County, Kentucky: Anderson is named for Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., a Kentucky legislator and congressman who was the first ambassador from the United States to Colombia.
B
- Ballard County, Kentucky: Ballard is named for Bland W. Ballard, a scout for George Rogers Clark who was killed at the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812.
- Barren County, Kentucky: Barren is named for large treeless expanses found by early explorers caused by Native Americans burning tracts of forest.
- Bath County, Kentucky: Bath is named for springs in the area thought to have medicinal value.
- Bell County, Kentucky: Bell is named for Joshua Fry Bell, a lawyer and state legislator.
- Boone County, Kentucky: Boone is named for Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman.
- Bourbon County, Kentucky: Bourbon is named for the French House of Bourbon.
- Boyd County, Kentucky: Boyd is named for Linn Boyd, an U. S. congressman and Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives.
- Boyle County, Kentucky: Boyle is named for John Boyle, an U. S. congressman and district judge.
- Bracken County, Kentucky: Bracken is named for jointly Big Bracken Creek and Little Bracken Creek.
- Breathitt County, Kentucky: Breathitt is named for John Breathitt, the eleventh governor of Kentucky.
- Breckinridge County, Kentucky: Breckinridge is named for John Breckinridge, the fifth United States Attorney General and U. S. senator from Kentucky.
- Bullitt County, Kentucky: Bullitt is named for Alexander Scott Bullitt, a co-author of the state constitution and the first lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
- Butler County, Kentucky: Butler is named for Richard Butler, a general in the American Revolutionary War killed at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
C
- Caldwell County, Kentucky: Caldwell is named for John Caldwell, an U. S. senator and the second lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
- Calloway County, Kentucky: Calloway is named for Richard Calloway, an early pioneer in Kentucky.
- Campbell County, Kentucky: Campbell is named for John Campbell, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, founder of Louisville, Kentucky, and state senator.
- Carlisle County, Kentucky: Carlisle is named for John Griffin Carlisle, a Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
- Carroll County, Kentucky: Carroll is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Carter County, Kentucky: Carter is named for William Grayson Carter, a Kentucky state senator.
- Casey County, Kentucky: Casey is named for William Casey, an early pioneer in western Kentucky.
- Christian County, Kentucky: Christian is named for William Christian, a soldier and recruiter for the American Revolutionary War in modern-day Kentucky.
- Clark County, Kentucky: Clark is named for George Rodgers Clark, the Kentucky general and a leading figure in the American Revolutionary War.
- Clay County, Kentucky: Clay is named for Green Clay, a general and military leader in the War of 1812. Clay also represented Kentucky County in the Virginia General Assembly.
- Clinton County, Kentucky: Clinton is named for governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton.
- Crittenden County, Kentucky: Crittenden is named for Attorney General and fifteenth governor of Kentucky, John J. Crittenden.
- Cumberland County, Kentucky: Cumberland is named after the Cumberland River which was named by Thomas Walker as a tribute to the Duke of Cumberland.
D
- Daviess County, Kentucky: Daviess is named for U.S. Attorney Colonel Joseph Hamilton Daviess.
E
- Edmonson County, Kentucky: Edmonson is named for honored Battle of River Raisin militiaman of the War of 1812, Captain John Edmonson
- Elliott County, Kentucky: Elliott is named for Confederate Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Congressman John Milton Elliott.
- Estill County, Kentucky: Estill is named for soldier and frontiersman Captain James Estill.
F
- Fayette County: Fayette is named for Marquis de la Fayette, French military officer and hero of the American Revolutionary War.
- Fleming County: Fleming is named for settler Colonel John Fleming.
- Floyd County: Floyd is named for pioneer surveyor and military leader of Jefferson County Colonel John Floyd.
- Franklin County: Franklin is named for inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin.
- Fulton County: Fulton is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the first commercially successful steamboat.
G
- Gallatin County: Gallatin is named for United States Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin
- Garrard County: Garrard is named for the second governor of Kentucky, James Garrard.
- Grant County: Grant is named for Colonel John Grant.
- Graves County: Graves is named for legislator and honored solider of the Battle of River Raisin during the War of 1812, Major Benjamin Franklin Graves.
- Grayson County: Grayson is named for Colonel William Grayson, American Revolutionary War aide to General George Washington and delegate to the Virginia General Assembly and the Continental Congress.
- Green County: Green is named after American Revolutionary War hero General Nathanial Green.
- Greenup County: Greenup is named after Christopher Greenup who was Kentucky's first congressman and third governor.
H
- Hancock County: Hancock is named for John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Hardin County: Hardin is named for surveyor Colonel John Hardin who was an American Revolutionary War veteran serving with George Rogers Clark.
- Harlan County: Harlan is named for Major Silas Harlan, pioneer and Salt River settler who served with George Rogers Clark in the American Revolutionary War.
- Harrison County: Harrison is named for Colonel Benjamin Harrison who advocated for Kentucky’s statehood, was a framer of the Kentucky Constitution and a Kentucky legislator.
- Hart County: Hart is named for Lexington lawyer and merchant Captain Nathaniel G.T. Hart. He was an officer of the War of 1812 honored after the Battle of River Raisin.
- Henderson County: Henderson is named for Colonel Richard Henderson, founder of the Transylvania Land Company which acquired portions of Kentucky from the Native Americans.
- Henry County: Henry is named for American Revolutionary War statesman and patriot Patrick Henry. He was also a member of the Continental Congress and governor of Virginia.
- Hickman County: Hickman is named for Captain Paschal Hickman, officer during the War of 1812 and one of those honored after the Battle of River Raisin.
- Hopkins County: Hopkins is named for General Samuel Hopkins, officer in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He was also a Kentucky legislator and United States congressman.
J
- Jackson County: Jackson is named for General Andrew Jackson, military hero and U.S. President.
- Jefferson County: Jefferson is named for Thomas Jefferson, draftsman of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and the nation's first U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Vice President, U.S. President and statesman responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.
- Jessamine County: Jessamine’s name's origin is questionable. Historians attribute Jessamine County's name to originate from the jasmine flowers that grow in the area or the area is named after a Jessamine Creek near Wilmore, Kentucky.
- Johnson County: Johnson is named for General Richard M. Johnson, hero of the War of 1812, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, senator and U.S. Vice President.
K
- Kenton County: Kenton is named for Simon Kenton, Kentucky pioneer, scout and Native American fighter.
- Knott County: Knott is named for J. Proctor Knott, governor of Kentucky.
- Knox County: Knox is named for General Henry Knox, officer in the Continental Army and rist United States Secretary of War.
L
- LaRue County: Larue is named for pioneer and settler John LaRue.
- Laurel County: No definite origin of Laurel County is known. Historians attribute the county to be named for the immense growth of mountain laurel and rhododendron shrubs in the area, or the county is named after the Laurel River.
- Lawrence County: Lawrence is named for Captain James Lawrence, naval hero of the American Revolutionary War.
- Lee County: Lee may be named for General Robert E. Lee, Confederate general, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, who eventually commanded the entire Southern army or after General Lighthorse Harry Lee, American Revolutionary War officer and governor of Virginia.
- Leslie County: Leslie is named for Preston H. Leslie, governor of Kentucky and territorial governor of Montana.
- Letcher County: Lechter is named for Robert P. Letcher, U.S. congressman, governor of Kentucky and U.S. minister to Mexico.
- Lewis County: Lewis is named for Meriwether Lewis, explorer and territorial governor of Louisiana.
- Lincoln County: Lincoln is named for General Benjamin Lincoln, American Revolutionary War officer and Secretary of War for the Continental Congress.
- Livingston County: Livingston is named for one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence, Robert R. Livingston who was also Secretary of Foreign Affairs and minister to France.
- Logan County: Logan is named for General Benjamin Logan, soldier, sheriff, Native American fighter and advocate for Kentucky's statehood in the Virginia legislature.
- Lyon County: Lyon is named for Chittenden Lyon, congressman and member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
M
- Madison County: Madison is named for James Madison, member of the Constitutional Convention and U.S. President.
- Magoffin County: Magoffin is named for Beriah Magoffin, judge, senator, governor of Kentucky, lawyer.
- Marion County: Marion is named for General Francis Marion, an officer in the American Revolutionary War, was known as "The Swamp Fox" for his non-traditional and elusive military tactics.
- Marshall County: Marshall is named for John Marshall, founder of the U.S. system of constitutional law, including the doctrine of judicial review, defendant in the famous case, Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established the Supreme Court's right to state and expound constitutional law.
- Martin County: Martin is named for John P. Martin, Kentucky legislator, U.S. representative and senator.
- Mason County: Mason is named for George Mason, American patriot and statesman.
- McCracken County: McCracken is named for Virgil McCracken (?-1813), hero in the War of 1812 and honored after the Battle of River Raisin.
- McCreary County: McCreary is named for James B. McCreary, lawyer, Confederate officer, Kentucky senator, representative, and governor of Kentucky.
- McLean County: McLean is named for Judge Alney McLean, surveyor, founder of Greenville, Kentucky, officer in the War of 1812, and circuit judge.
- Meade County: Meade is named for Captain James Meade, hero in the War of 1812 and honored after the Battle of River Raisin.
- Menifee County: Menifee is named for Richard Hickman Menefee, lawyer, legislator and U.S. congressman.
- Mercer County: Mercer is named for General Hugh Mercer.
- Metcalfe County: Metcalfe is named for Thomas Metcalfe, stonemason, Kentucky representative, officer in the War of 1812 and governor of Kentucky.
- Monroe County: Monroe is named for James Monroe, U.S. President who issued an important contribution to U.S. foreign policy in the Monroe Doctrine warning European nations against intervening in the Western Hemisphere.
- Montgomery County: Montgomery is named for General Richard Montgomery, American Revolutionary War officer.
- Morgan County: Morgan is named for General Daniel Morgan, American Revolutionary War officer and U.S. congressman.
- Muhlenberg County: Muhlenberg is named for General Peter Muhlenberg, preacher, American Revolutionary War officer, and U.S. congressman and senator.
N
- Nelson County: Nelson is named for Thomas Nelson, governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Nicholas County: Nicholas is named for George Nicholas, lawyer, law professor, American Revolutionary War officer, advocate of Kentucky statehood, one of the drafters of the Kentucky constitution. Nicholas is also known as the "Father of the Kentucky Constitution."
O
- Ohio County: Ohio is named for the Ohio River, which originally formed its northern boundary.
- Oldham County: Oldham is named for Colonel William Oldham, soldier in the American Revolutionary War and captain of the Kentucky militia.
- Owen County: Owen is named for Colonel Abraham Owen, Native American fighter, legislator, member of the state's constitutional convention and hero in the War of 1812.
- Owsley County, Kentucky: Owsley is named for William Owsley, a judge on the Kentucky Supreme Court as well as governor of the state.
P
- Pendleton County: Pendleton is named for Edmund Pendleton, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the First Continental Congress, governor of Virginia, chief justice in the Virginia Court of Appeals.
- Perry County: Perry is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry), hero in the War of 1812.
- Pike County: Pike is named for frontier explorer and hero of the War of 1812, General Zebulon M. Pike.
- Powell County: Powell is named for Lazarus W. Powell, governor of Kentucky and senator.
- Pulaski County: Pulaski is named for Count Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish patriot during the American Revolutionary War.
R
- Robertson County: Robertson is named for George Robertson.
- Rockcastle County: Rockcastle is named for the Rockcastle River, a tributary of the Cumberland River.
- Rowan County: Rowan is named for John Rowan, justice in the Kentucky Court of Appeals and U.S. Senator.
- Russell County: Russell is named for Colonel William Russell, American Revolutionary War officer, Native American fighter, commander of American forces on the frontier and Kentucky legislator.
S
- Scott County: Scott is named for American Revolutionary War officer and governor of Kentucky, General Charles Scott.
- Shelby County: Shelby is named for General Isaac Shelby, American Revolutionary War veteran, Native American fighter and first governor of Kentucky.
- Simpson County: Simpson is named for Captain John Simpson, Native American fighter, Speaker in the Kentucky House of Representatives and officer in the War of 1812. He was also one of those honored after the Battle of River Raisin.
- Spencer County: Spencer is named for Captain Spears Spencer, an officer in the post-Revolutionary War Indian campaigns.
T
- Taylor County: Taylor is named for Zachary Taylor, a hero of the Mexican-American War, and U.S. President.
- Todd County: Todd is named for Colonel John Todd, Native American fighter who served with George Rogers Clark in Illinois.
- Trigg County: Trigg is named for Colonel Stephen Trigg, Kentucky pioneer and representative of Kentucky County in the Virginia legislature.
- Trimble County: Trimble is named for Robert Trimble, justice in the Kentucky Court of Appeals, U.S. district judge, and associate justice in the U.S. Supreme Court.
U
- Union County: Union is named for "the united desire of its residents to form a new county."
W
- Warren County: Warren is named for General Joseph Warren, Massachusetts physician and American Revolutionary War officer.
- Washington County: Washington is named for George Washington, first U.S. President.
- Wayne County: Wayne is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, American Revolutionary War officer and diplomat that negotiated a treaty in 1795 to end Native American raids in Kentucky.
- Webster County: Webster is named for Daniel Webster, a United States congressman and senator and former Secretary of State.
- Whitley County: Whitley is named for pioneer and Native American figher, Colonel William Whitley.
- Wolfe County: Wolfe is named for Nathaniel Wolfe, Jefferson County representative in the Kentucky legislature.
- Woodford County: Woodford is named for Continental Army officer General William Woodford.
See also
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