67 County Names 45
30. GREENE: in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, 49. NORTHUMBERLAND: probably named for the famous Revolutionary War soldier English county of the same name 31. HUNTINGDON: in honor of the Countess of 50. PERRY: in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Huntingdon, England Perry, victor in the battle of Lake Erie 32. INDIANA: from the Iroquois Six Nations so- 51. PHILADELPHIA: one of the three original called Indiana (‘land of the Indians’) Grant of 1768 counties; named by William Penn after the Bible city 33. JEFFERSON: established in 1804 when Thomas of Philadelphia and meaning “Brotherly Love” Jefferson was President of the United States and 52. PIKE: in honor of General Zebulon Pike, named in his honor American brigadier general and explorer 34. JUNIATA: from an Iroquois Indian word 53. POTTER: in honor of General James Potter, Onayutta, meaning “standing stone” soldier, farmer and politician 35. LACKAWANNA: a Native American name, 54. SCHUYLKILL: named from the river Schuylkill, meaning “the meeting of two streams” of Dutch origin and meaning “sheltered creek” 36. LANCASTER: named for the city of Lancaster in 55. SNYDER: in honor of Governor Simon Snyder, the county of Lancashire, England third governor of Pennsylvania 37. LAWRENCE: in honor of Commodor James 56. SOMERSET: named for Somersetshire, England Lawrence, whose famous last words were, ”Don’t 57. SULLIVAN: in honor of Senator Charles C. give up the ship!” Sullivan, active in creating the county 38. LEBANON: derived its name from the far-famed 58. SUSQUEHANNA: from the Lenape Indian word Lebanon of the Bible Assiskuhanna, meaning “broad and shallow river” 39. LEHIGH: after the Lehigh River and from the 59. TIOGA: named from the Tioga River, Iroquois Delaware Indian word Lechauweki or word Diahoga, meaning “at the forks” Lechauwekink, meaning “where there are forks” 60. UNION: allusion to the Federal Union 40. LUZERNE: in honor of Chevalier de la Luzerne, 61. VENANGO: name comes from the Indian French Ambassador to the United States Onenge, meaning “mink” or “otter” 41. LYCOMING: a Delaware Indian term meaning 62. WARREN: in honor of Major General Dr. Joseph “sandy or gravelly creek” Warren, recruiter of William Dawes and Paul 42. MCKEAN: in honor of Thomas McKean, signer Revere of “Midnight Ride” fame of the Declaration of Independence and second 63. WASHINGTON: in honor of George Governor of Pennsylvania Washington, the “Father of his country” 43. MERCER: in honor of General Hugh Mercer, 64. WAYNE: in honor of General Anthony Wayne of American Revolutionary War hero Revolutionary War fame Pennsylvania’s 44. MIFFLIN: in honor of Thomas Mifflin, 65. WESTMORELAND: named after Westmoreland Revolutionary War general and first governor of County, England Pennsylvania 66. WYOMING: from the Delaware Indian word 67 County Names 45. MONROE: in honor of James Monroe, fifth Meschawoming, meaning “great plains” president of the United States 67. YORK: named for the English county of York The names for the 67 counties of Pennsylvania were 46. MONTGOMERY: uncertain – for General well-chosen and reveal Pennsylvania’s story. Many of the Richard Montgomery or for Montgomeryshire, a names are among the greatest in American history; others hark county in Wales back to the mother country and helped make the first settlers 47. MONTOUR: in honor of Madame Montour, State Representative feel at home in their new environment; those of Native prominent in Native American affairs and widow of American Indian origin are meaningful; some are geological Seneca Indian chief Roland Montour MATTHEW D. DOWLING and geographical features. Pennsylvania’s county names are 48. NORTHAMPTON: named after 51ST Legislative District Northamptonshire, England as diverse as the citizens who live within their boundaries. Online: www.repdowling.com