Colonial-era Co. name origins in Va.

Having noted the names of the governors of Virginia during the colonial era, today I will note the origins of those of Virginia's 95 counties formed before the American Revolution.

Here are found commemorated places in England, members of the Royal family, and Governors of the colony.

As one might imagine, these counties were generally formed from east to west over the time period.  The dates after the name of Governors or Lieutenant Governors indicate their term of service.

In the near future, we will visit the origin of the names of those counties formed after the Revolution and independence.

Colonial Virginia Counties

• 1607: Virginia Colony founded at Jamestown.
• 1634: First eight counties (Shires) formed;
• Charles City, named for King Charles I of England.
• Elizabeth City (extinct), named for Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I.
• Henrico, named for Henry, Prince of Wales, son of James I.
• Isle of Wight, originally Warrosquyoake County, named for the island off the coast of England.
• James City, named for King James I of England.
• Northampton, named for the English shire, prior to 1643, called Accomack County.
• Warwick (extinct), named either for the shire or for Robert Rich, earl of Warwick.
• York, probably named for James, Duke of York son of Charles I.  Prior to 1643, called Charles River County.
• 1636: New Norfolk (extinct), probably named for the county in England – divided into lower Norfolk, or Norfolk (extinct), and upper Norfolk, or Nansemond (extinct) in 1637.
• 1645, Northumberland, probably named for the English county.
• 1651:
• Gloucester, probably named for the English county.
• Lancaster, probably named for the English county.
• 1652: Surry, named for Surrey County in England.
• 1653: Westmoreland, named for the English county.
• 1654: New Kent: probably named for the English county.
• 1661: Accomack, named for the Accomac Indians.
• 1664: Stafford, named for the English county.
• 1669: Middlesex, probably named for the English county.
• 1691:
• King and Queen, named for King William III and Queen Mary II.
• Princess Anne (extinct), named for the daughter of King James II, later Queen Anne.
• 1692:
• Essex, probably named for the English county.
• Richmond, probably named for the location in England.
• 1701: King William, named for King William III of Orange, King of England and Scotland.
• 1702: Prince George, named for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain.
• 1720:
• Brunswick, named for the German title of King George I, as Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg.
• Hanover, named for the royal house and German territory of King George I of Great Britain, and Elector of Hanover.
• King George, named for King George I of Great Britain.
• Spotsylvania, named for Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood (1710-1722).
• 1728:
• Caroline, named for the wife of King George II, Queen Caroline of Ansbach.
• Goochland, named for Lt. Gov. Sir William Gooch (1727-1749).
• 1731: Prince William, named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, second surviving son of King George II.
• 1734: Orange, perhaps named for William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau who married the eldest daughter of King George II, Anne.  Possibly also named for the House of Orange in general or King William III of Orange.
• 1735: Amelia, named for Princess Amelia, second daughter of George II.
• 1738:
• Augusta, named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales, daughter-in-law of King George II and mother of George III.
• Frederick, named for Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II, and father of George III.
• 1742:
• Fairfax, named for Thomas, 6^th Lord Fairfax, Baron Cameron, proprietor of the Northern Neck.
• Louisa, named for Princess Louisa, youngest daughter of King George II, and Queen of Denmark and Norway.
• 1744: Albemarle, named for Gov. William Keppel, 2^nd Earl of Albemarle (1737-1756).
• 1745: Lunenburg, named for the German title of King George II, as Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg.
• 1748: Chesterfield, named for Philip Stanhope, 4^th Earl of Chesterfield.
• 1749:
• Culpeper, perhaps named for Catherine Culpeper, daughter of the 2^nd Baron Culpeper, mother of Lord Fairfax, and Proprietor of the Northern Neck.  Possibly also simply for the family in general.
• Cumberland, named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, second surviving son of King George II.
• Southampton, possibly named for the county in England.
• 1752:
• Dinwiddie, named for Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie (1751-1758).
• Halifax, named for George Dunk, 2^nd Earl of Halifax, president of the board of trade from 1748-1761.
• 1753:
• Bedford, probably named for John Russell, 4^th Duke of Bedford, secretary of state for the Southern Department from 1748-1751.
• Prince Edward, named for Prince Edward, son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and younger brother of King George III.
• Sussex, named for the English county.
• 1754: Hampshire (now WV), named for the shire in England.
• 1757: Loudoun, named for Gov. John Campbell, 4^th Earl of Loudoun (1757-1763).
• 1759: Fauquier, named for Lt. Gov. Sir Francis Fauquier (1758-1768).
• 1761:
• Amherst, named for Gov. Sir Jeffrey Amherst (1763-1768).
• Buckingham, possibly named for the county in England or for a Duke.
• 1764:
• Charlotte, named for the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
• Mecklenburg, named for the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
• 1766: Pittsylvania, named for Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder, Earl of Chatham.
• 1769: Botetourt, named for Gov. Norbone Berkeley, 4^th Baron Botetourt (1768-1770).
• 1772:
• Berkeley (now WV): named for Gov. Norbone Berkeley, 4^th Baron Botetourt (1768-1770).
• Dunmore (now Shenandoah Co.), named for Gov. John Murray, 4^th Earl of Dunmore (1770-1775).
• Fincastle (extinct), named for the son of Gov. John Murray, 4^th Earl of Dunmore, George, Lord Fincastle.

Source: The Hornbook of Virginia History

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