List of Maryland county name etymologies

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This is a list of Maryland county name etymologies. Many counties are named for family members of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, founder and first proprietor of the colony of Maryland.

Maryland counties.

Allegany County: Allegany is derived from the Lenape Indian word oolikhanna, which means "beautiful stream."
Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundell was the maiden name of the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Between 1654 and 1658 it was known as Providence County, likely after the word for the protection and governance of God.
Baltimore City: Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore was the founder of Maryland Colony. The Barony of Baltimore was named after the Calverts' manor in County Longford in Ireland.
Baltimore County: The county is named after the City, which was detached from it in 1851.
Calvert County: named for the Calvert family. Prior to 1658 it was called Patuxent County, after the Patuxent Indians, a branch of the Algonquins.
Caroline County: Lady Caroline Eden was daughter of Charles Calvert, Fifth Lord Baltimore, sister of Frederick Calvert, Sixth Lord Baltimore, and wife of Mayland's last colonial governor, Robert Eden.
Carroll County: Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a Maryland representative to the Continental Congress and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
Cecil County: Cecil is an Anglicized form of the first name of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore.
Charles County: Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, was son of Cæcilius Calvert.
*(Old) Charles County may have been named after the executed Charles I of England,
Dorchester County: Dorchester is a form of Dorset; the Earl of Dorset was a friend of the Calvert family.
Durham County (defunct): Named for the English county of Durham.
Frederick County: Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore was the last Lord Baltimore, and had been named after Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Garrett County: John Work Garrett was president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Harford County: Henry Harford was the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore and last proprietor of Maryland.
Howard County: John Eager Howard was an American Revolutionary War officer and governor of Maryland
Kent County: Named for the English county of Kent.
Montgomery County: Richard Montgomery was an American Revolutionary War general.
Prince George's County: Prince George of Denmark was husband to Queen Anne I of Great Britain.
Queen Anne's County: Named for Queen Anne I of Great Britain.
St. Mary's County: The first county in a colony intended to be a Catholic haven, it was named for the Virgin Mary
Somerset County: Mary, Lady Somerset was the sister-in-law of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Talbot County: Grace, Lady Talbot was the sister of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Washington County: Named for George Washington.
Wicomico County: The county is named for the Wicomico River. In Lenape, wicko mekee indicated "a place where houses are built," possibly in reference to a settlement.
Worcester County: The wife of Sir John Somerset, son of the 1st Marquess of Worcester, was Mary Arundel, sister of Anne Arundel, wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore.

*Though an independent city rather than a county, the City of Baltimore is considered the equal of a county for most purposes.

List of Maryland county name etymologies

See also