Anthology of Michigan
The Meaning of Michigan
County Names
Copyright 2012
Mark R. Putnam
Caro, Michigan
This anthology is a compilation of poems.
It is filled with
many historical gems.
The counties of Michigan are listed below in alphabetical
order—
There are eighty-three.
In invite you to become a avid reader.
Learn the origin and meaning of each Michigan county.
Alcona.
10
Alger.
11
Allegan.
12
Alpena.
13
Antrim.
14
Arenac.
15
Baraga.
16
Barry.
17
Bay.
18
Benzie.
19
Berrien.
20
Branch.
21
Calhoun.
22
Cass.
23
Charlevoix.
24
Cheboygan.
25
Chippewa.
26
Clare.
27
Clinton.
28
Crawford.
29
Delta.
30
Dickenson.
31
Eaton.32
Emmet.
33
Genesee.
34
Gladwin.
35
Gogebic.
36
Grand Traverse.
37
Gratiot.
38
Hillsdale.
39
Houghton.
40
Huron.
41
Ingham..
42
Ionia.
43
Iosco.
44
Iron.
45
Isabella.
46
Jackson.
47
Kalamazoo.
48
Kalkaska.
49
Kent.
50
Keweenaw..
51
Lake.
52
Lapeer.
53
Leelanaw.
54
Lenawee.
55
Livingston.
56
Luce.
57
Mackinaw..
58
Macomb.
59
Manistee.
60
Marquette.
61
Mason.
62
Mecosta.
63
Menominee.
64
Midland.
65
Missaukee.
66
Monroe.
67
Montcalm.
68
Montmorency.
69
Muskegon.
70
Newago.
71
Oakland.
72
Oceana.
73
Ogemaw..
74
Ontonagon.
75
Osceola.
76
Oscoda.
77
Otsego.
78
Ottawa.
79
Presque Isle.
80
Roscommon.
81
Saginaw.
82
St. Clair.
83
St. Joseph.
85
Sanilac.
86
Schoolcraft.
87
Shiawassee.
88
Tuscola.
89
Van Buren.
90
Washtenaw..
91
Wayne.
92
Wexford.
93
The Counties of Michigan
An Anthology
of Michigan's Counties
Alcona means the place where there is a forest clearing.
Alcona comes from the Chippewa/Ottawa word “mkoda”.
“Mkoda” means a plain or meadow.
A major road in Alcona County is "Mikode” that passes through a
grassy meadow.
The county seat of Alcona is the City of Harrisville.
In Latin a sandy place is called a “harea”—a sandy beach
or sandy hill.
Harrisvile is on Lake Huron's western shore.
For a retreat one would not desire to have more.
Alcona is in the northeastern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Alcona means the place of the sandy meadow.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Harrisville.
This county name was believed to be a Henry Schoolcraft creation
said to mean "Excellent Plain".
Schoolcraft was a mediator between Michigan’s Native Americans and the United
States.
Alger is a personal name that may mean islander.
In Arabic, Algeria means the place of
the isle.
The county seat of Alger is the City of Munising.
In Chippewa/Ottawa an islander is a “minissing”.
In the middle of Munising Bay lies an isle called Grand Island.
It is Lake Superior’s second largest island.
Today in Arabic an isle is called "il-gezir".
In Latin ,"insula" means a land that is surrounded by water.
From insula we get peninsula meaning a land almost enclosed
by water.
Munising and Alger both seem to mean the land of the great isle.
Formed
in 1885,
It became a county in 1885.
County
Seat: Munising.
This county was named for Governor Russell A. Alger (1885-1961).
The county name Allegan means the place that is
spectacular.
“Gnaaj" in the Chippewa/Ottawa
lexicon means elegant.
The Latin word "elegans" means to be fair.
Allegan is the place of splendid lake.
On Lake Allegan an remarkable day is spent.
Lake Allegan is formed near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River.
In Latin "allego" means the elected one
or the one chosen.
The area that is beautiful and pristine is the meaning of Allegan.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Allegan.
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention.
Alpena means the home of the woodland
bird.
In Chippewa, "bine" means the ruffed grouse the
bird that lives along the
ridge.
In Latin, a feather is called “penna”.
The Oupenego were the early Native Indian People of Alpena.
They lived near Michigan's great Thunder Bay.
The City of Alpena is lies at the west end of this large
cove today.
In Chippewa/Ottawa "binesi” means the eagle or thunder bird.
Alpena certainly means the place of the great bird.
In Chippewa/Ottawa "binessi" means hen.
Hen in Greek is “Ptena”.
Alpena means the land of the partridge or perhaps even the
screaming eagle or the thunder bird.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1857.
County
Seat: Alpena.
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft creation
whose best interpretation is "partridge" or "bird".
The ember
that burns brightly may be the meaning of the Irish word Antrim.
The Greek word
“anthros”—
means a burning fire.
The county seat of Antrim is the City of Bellaire,
Bellaire means the place where the sky is
beautiful
and fair.
A major attraction in Antrim County is Torch Lake.
Native Indians once once fished at night here by jack light.
With a spear and torch, they would catch many
fish.
Native People came here from everywhere do put
food on dish.
Antrim and Bellaire mean where the air that
is beautiful
and
bright as a fire.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1863.
County Seat:
Bellaire.
This county was named for County Antrim, Ireland.
Arenac means the place of grit and gravel.
In Latin “arena" means a place of sand.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, Arenac was called “Negaw” while land
was "aki" or "ak".
Arenac lies on the northwest shore of Saginaw Bay.
In French, Arenac was called Au Gres.
Here the ground is sandy white
to light grey,
The count seat of Arenac is the City of Standish.
Here the Rifle river runs to Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay.
It is a great place
in which to
fish.
Arenac means the land of gravel and sand.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1883.
County Seat:
Standish.
This county name was a Schoolcraft creation using Latin and Native American
words.
The personal name Baraga may mean the person who lived by the
dam.
Baraga County was named for Bishop Frederick Baraga.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, “gbaakhigan” means a dam, gate, or lock.
In Baraga County, the Bay of L’Anse is an excellent place
in which moor or
dock.
The word L’Anse is French and means the nook or cove.
This great bay is obstructed by two large bars of sand.
L'Anse is a place of Lake Superior trove—
L’Anse and Baraga mean the cove with the great bars of sand.
Formed
in 1875,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
L’Anse.
This county was named for missionary Bishop Frederick Baraga (1797-1868).
He worked with Native Americans and wrote a Chippewa grammar dictionary.
Barry is Irish and means the thrower of a spear.
The Greek, "bar" means to quickly strike.
In Old Irish, a javelin thrower was called a "barry".
A "barry" was one who fought with a long pointed pike.
The county seat of Barry is the City of Hastings.
"Hasta” in Latin also means
a pole with a point.
To act with hast is to act quickly toward a point
Thorn Apple
River passes through the City Hastings.
Many places in Barry County have piquant meanings.
Barry and Hastings mean the place of the pointed barb or bar.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1839.
County
Seat: Hastings.
This county was named for William T. Barry (1785-1835) of Kentucky, Postmaster
General in the Cabinet of President Jackson.
Bay County was named for the adjacent Saginaw Bay.
It is a place for bathing.
Bay means the alcove.
Along and near the shores Saginaw Bay, are great places to bask.
Bay City was once the land of Chief Nabobask.
Located at the mouth of the Saginaw River, was his village
and Indian band or group.
His name meant "Warm Soup".
The Saginaw Bay is an large shallow alcove of Lake Huron.
During summer, it's water is relatively warm.
Saginaw Bay is also haven from a Lake Huron storm.
Bay County and Bay City form a warm snug haven from the
gales of Lake
Huron.
Formed
in 1857,
It became
a county in 1857.
County
Seat: Bay.
This county received its name from the idea that it partly encircles the
Saginaw Bay.
Benzie means the geese called the saw bill or merganser.
In French, they are called “le bec scie”.
Benzie was the home of these submerging geese with
the serrated bill.
Crystal, Platte, and Benzie Lakes they would fill.
They would dip deep into the water to eat.
They would splash about in the water with their webbed feet.
The City of Beulah is Bensie's county seat.
"Bulla" in Greek means to plunge in water like a duck or
goose.
Benzie and Beulah mean to dip into the water like geese or
to dip foot-loose.
Formed
in 1863,
It became
a county in 1869.
County
Seat: Beulah.
This county name comes from the French phrase “au bec scies” meaning where
there are mergansers. The name was first
applied to the river and changed to Benzie.
Berrien County includes St. Joseph River.
Berrien means the place of the wend.
Berrien means looped, crooked, or curved.
The French word berrien comes from "barius" or "boirius"
meaning bowed.
French "ber" means cradled.
The City of St. Joseph is the county seat of Berrien.
Other cities in Berrien include Buchanan and Benton Harbor.
both have roots in the words buckle or bent.
The Greek word "kypho" meaning buckled, bent, or bowed.
It may be the root of the name St. Joseph.
The St. Joseph River is the river is bowed or bent.
Berrien and St. Joseph mean where there is a great bulge or
bend.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1831.
County
Seat: St. Joseph.
This county was named for John M. Berrien of Georgia, Attorney General under
President Jackson (1829-1831)
A large river starts with a small
stream or brook.
In German, a river's source is called “brunnen”—the
upper wells or springs.
Chilly water often occurs in a stream's upper branch.
In the upland hills of Branch County, are many chilly
springs.
The
City of Coldwater is the count seat of Branch.
In Dutch a small stream is called a “beeck”.
Branch and Coldwater mean where there is a refreshing
creek.
Formed in 1829,
It became a county in 1833.
County Seat: Coldwater.
This county was named for John Branch of North Carolina, Secretary of the
Navy under President Jackson (1829-11831).
Calhoun is associated with the word cavalry.
A calhoun is a person who works with the galloping animal.
In Old Irish, the horsemen were the "calhouns" the handlers of
a geldings and stallions.
In Latin “equus” was the equine or horse.
Marshall is the county seat of Calhoun County.
A handler of mares or stallions is called a marshal.
Calhoun and Marschall mean keepers of the
horse.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1833.
County Seat:
Marschall.
This county was named for the Vice President of the United States John C.
Calhoun (1824-1832) under President Jackson.
Cass means the place of the rock.
Cass is home to the flinty or gravelly pass.
"Cailloux” in French means pebble or small stone.
In Latin, “saxon” means rock.
The county seat here is the City of Cassopolis,
which is located on Stone Lake.
Nearby is the Diamond Lake.
The early local Indian chief was called Pokagon whose name meant rib bone.
Cass and Cassopolis mean the place of small rock small stone.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Cassopolis.
This county was named for Lewis Cass (1782-1866), second Governor of the
Michigan Territory and Secretary of War under President Jackson (1831-1836).
Charlevoix may mean the carter of the sail or ferryman.
Charlevoix's main through fare is Ferry Road.
A major city here is Boyne City.
Charlevoix is the place of the ferryman's abode.
Buoy means flotage.
In classical Latin times, the
Charon was the ferryboat.
In French, "char" means carter or a cart called a float.
The way, sailboat,, or voice may be the meaning of "le voix"
.
Charleviox may mean the
place of the flotage.
Organized
in 1869,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Charlevoix.
This county was named for Pierre F. X. de Charlevoix (1682-1761), a Jesuit
missionary explorer and historian who traveled the Great Lakes in 1721.
Cheboygan means this is the way to go through.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "jiba" means there is a gap
or hole.
The Cheboygan River serves as an inland channel or passageway.
Across the upper tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula,
flows the Cheboygan River
To the opposite side, the river acts as a door, window, or
hole.
The short cut may also be another meaning of Cheboygan.
Cheboygan means the great inland water passageway.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1853.
County Seat:
Cheboygan.
This county name is a Native American place name said to mean “he goes through’,
“needle”, or the “pipe”, which are the same meanings used for the County of Sheboygan,
Wisconsin.
The Chippewa were the people with the remarkable shoe or
moccasin.
The word Chippewa also means it buckles when roasted.
The Native Chippewa finished their moccasins by heating them
over a fire
that buckle their moccasin.
The county seat of Chippewa County is the City of Sault St. Marie—also called The Soo.
In French "Sault" means rapids or where the
river
vaults or somersaults.
Sault means to well, roll, or brew.
Chippewa and Sault St. Marie both mean that which bubbles
up or
jumps up.
Organized
in 1826,
It became
a county in 1826.
County Seat:
Sault St. Marie.
This county was named for the Native American Tribe the Chippewa or Ojibwa.
Clare is an Irish word that means level land.
It means the plain—the field, the champaign.
It means the flat land.
In Old Irish, an open area was called a “chlair”.
The county seat of Clare is the City of Harris.
Anciently people preferred to battle on a level field.
Here they would harass one another or harry.
In Latin “haren” means to fight on a battle field.
The Duke of Clare, England, was in charge of weapondry.
In German “heer” means
army.
Mars in Latin was the God of War, and his
Greek counterpart was called Aries.
Clare and Harris mean one who one a level field wars or harries.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Harris.
This county was named for County Clare in Ireland, which is in the western
part of Ireland.
Clinton means where the land
everywhere gently rolls downward.
"Clint" means a declination while "ton" means a small hill.
In Clinton, north, south, east, and west, water will spill.
Clinton County would have been a perfect home for a canal.
The county seat of Clinton is the City of St. John.
In Greek "ion”—means to go over, yonder, or on.
Clinton has many small streams
that all around slope downward.
Clinton is at the mid-point of Lower Michigan where brooks
lead north, south, east and west.
Here it was once thought that a canal would
serve Michigan best.
Water here to both Lake Huron and Michigan downward flows.
Clinton and St. John mean where there you go onward.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1839.
County Seat:
St. John’s.
This county was named for New York Governor Dewitt Clinton (1769-1828) under
whose administration the Erie Canal was built.
Crawford is the home of trout and grayling.
Michigan's best inland fishing is in
Crawford.
Here you find rainbow, brook, and brown trout and grayling.
The Au Sable River flows here onward to Lake Huron.
"The Crawfish-Ford" is the meaning of
Crawford.
The county seat is the City of Grayling
Crawford and Grayling mean the
crossing at the stream for fishing.
Organized
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1879.
County Seat:
Grayling.
This county was named for
Colonel William Crawford a Michigan settler.
Delta means the flat triangular area near at mouth
of a larger river.
The Greek word “deltos” means to be flat and triangular.
Delta's original shape had three sides.
The county seat of Delta is the City of Escanaba.
Escanaba was named for the Escanaba River.
At the mouth of the river is a large flat rock or stone
over which the current rides.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, a flat rock is "assin-nabaga”.
"Assin" means stone while "nabaga" means flat.
Delta and Escanaba both both mean the where the river flows
over a flat.
Organized in 1843,
It became a county in 1861.
County Seat: Escanaba.
This county was named from the Greek word “delta “, which was said to refer
to the triangular shape of the original county that included segments of Menominee,
Dickenson, Iron, and Marquette Counties.
"Dicken" in German means it is hard like a brick.
The county seat of Dickenson is the City of Iron Mountain.
"Dicken” means hard, heavy, or thick.
German “eisenberg” means iron mountain.
Dickenson and Iron Mountain both mean hard like a brick.
Formed
in 1891,
It became
a county in 1891.
County Seat:
Iron Mountain.
This county was named for Don M. Dickenson of Michigan, Postmaster General
under President Grover Cleveland.
Eaton may the dun surrounded by water or a wetland.
"Ea" means river, island, or lowland.
"Tun" means a dun, dune, or hill town.
The county seat is the City of Charlotte.
Charles meaning a freeman, shopkeeper, chap, or simply a
man or woman is the root of Charlotte.
Eaton and Charlotte both seem to mean the a free place of
trade a town.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Charlotte.
This county was named for John H. Eaton (1790-1856) of Tennessee, Secretary
of War under President Jackson (1829-1831).
Emmet is an Irish and may mean university or entirety.
Latin "immensus" means
immense, boundless,
or inmeasurable.
Emmet comes from Emma that means
whole or universal.
German "himmel" means heavenly.
Emmet's county seat is the City of
Petosky.
Petosky is from Chippewa/Ottawa "bidaas-gisiss", which means "here
comes the sun".
In Chippewa/Ottawa "gijig" means sky, and "gisiss" means sun.
Emmet and Petosky both seem to mean that which is
heavenly or universal.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1853.
County Seat:
Petosky.
This county was named for Irish Patriot Robert Emmet (1778-1803).
Whileof Iroquois origin, Genesee isconnected with Chippewa/Ottawa "gwanatch”
that means beautiful and useful.
The root may be "wano" that is related to a hole, piercing,
tip, point, tail, or sharp pointed end.
The county seat of Genesee is the City of Flint.
Flint means a sharp stone that is used for piercing
like a nail or pin.
In Chippewa/Ottawa"biwanag" means flint.
To pierce in Chippewa/Ottawa is "Pagwanean" while "sagakwanonens"
means pin.
Other similar words form to mean to quilll, nail, tailor,
quilter, or embroidier.
Genesee and Flint both seem to be
fashioned around the notion of a sharp pointed end.
Formed
in 1835,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Flint.
This county was name for Genesee County, New York, from which many Flint
area settlers came.
Gladwin means the home of the gentle forest valley.
A glade often opens from a woodland or marshland.
Gladwin near the center of Michigan contains many
places of natural beauty.
Located here are Beaverton and Wooden Shoe Village that are towns
of a by-gone age.
Everything is light-hearted and open especially in towns like All Bright Shore.
Everything is just right in this small wayside fen that is filled with folk lore.
Gladwin means the place of the woodland valley.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Gladwin
This county was named for Major Henry Gladwin, British Commander of Detroit.
He was commander of Fort Detroit during the Siege of Pontiac 1763-1764.
Gogebic's root likely
is "bik" meaning rock.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "gogi" means I slip, dip, or dive
into water.
The county seat of Gogebic is the City of Bessemer.
Bessemer may come from the Old English word "besom".
Besom means to whisk, broom, or sweep something a way.
Gogebic and Bessemer both seem to mean to slide or glide a
way.
Formed
in 1887,
It became
a county in 1887.
County Seat:
Bessemer.
This county has an obscure name.
Most references interpret the root to be “rock” from the Native word “bik”.
Another interpretation is “diving rock”.
Grand Traverse means the great crossing.
The narrow peninsula of Grand Traverse and Grand Traverse
Bay make for difficult
traveling.
In the center of Grand Traverse Bay, there is the peninsula
a projection
of land.
One must go around the peninsula when one is sailing.
By land or sea it's a great bit of traveling togo from Elk Rapids to Leland.
The county seat is the Traverse City.
Where ever you are in Grand Traverse it takes a great deal
of time to journey.
Grand Traverse
means the long crossing.
Formed
in 1851,
It became
a county in 1851.
County Seat:
Traverse City.
Second Thought:
This county name is a French phrase “grand traverse”.
It was first given to the bay by the early French voyageurs.
Benefaction may be the meaning of Gratiot.
The county seat of Gratiot is the City of Ithaca.
In Greek a treasury, storehouse, or apothecary is called a "theka".
Traditionally, the Greek City Ithaca was a house full
of baskets and crates.
It was a home full of things laid down from many estates.
A noted city of Gratiot County is the City of Alma.
A donation or gift is called alms or a gratuity.
Latin"almus" means to support or feed.
Alms are given to those in need.
Gratiot and Ithaca mean the place of gift or donation.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Ithaca.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), who supervised
the building of Fort Gratiot at the modern site of Port Huron.
Hillsdale means the home of the highland valley.
Hillsdale lies in Southern Michigan and is a hill top vale.
The county contains Baw Besee Lake that lies near the
hill top.
“Shpaag bsa” in Chipppewa/Ottawa means high
valley.
Baw Besse is a lake at which you enjoy a pause or stop.
Hillsdale means the hill valley.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Hillsdale.
Second Thought:
The rolling surface of the area served as the basis for this county name.
Houghton means the highland town.
"Hoch" in German means high while "ton" in Old English often means
town.
Houghton County contains Portage River.
The river served as an ancient crossing place in Lower Lake
Superior.
In Houghton County there area many beautiful creeks and
falls.
At times the hills tower like great vertical walls.
Houghton means the highland town.
Formed
in 1845,
It became
a county in 1848.
County Seat:
Houghton.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Michigan geological professor Douglass Houghton
(1809-1845).
Huron means the place of the people with the extraordinary hair.
The French called the Huron Indians "Quel les
Hures" that meant what heads.
The county seat of Huron is the City of Bad Axe.
Bad Axe was named for an early relic located at the
original site of the city—a broken axe.
Huron means the fantastically cut head of hair.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Bad Axe.
Second Thought:
This county was named for a Native American tribe the Huron.
The name comes from the French word “hure” meaning peasant or big (ugly)
head. The tribe referred to itself
as “Wendat” (Wyandotte) meaning dwellers on a peninsula.
The name Ingham means land that is narrow.
In German "eng" means a long thin piece of
land.
In Old English
"ham" means an enclosed piece of land.
Early Native Americans also had a name for Ingham County.
They called it “ak-mon-shee”.
The county seat of Ingham is the City of Mason.
In French "macon" is a mason.
In Latin to be long or thin is “macer”.
In German a "mauer" a mason or wall maker.
In Latin "maceria" means wall.
Ingham and Mason may mean that which is narrow.
Form in
1829,
It became
a county in 1838.
County Seat:
Mason.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Samuel D. Ingham of Pennsylvania, Secretary of
the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson.
Ionia may mean the through way.
"Io" in Greek and Latin means to go yonder.
Ionia County is situated at the watershed near the center
of Lower
Michigan.
Ionia contains the City of Portland that is on Grand
River.
The Grand River runs west into Lake Michigan while the
parallel stream the Looking Glass River runs east into Lake Huron.
Ionia was the ancient water portage
between the Lake Michigan and
Saginaw Bay.
Ionia means the water route to go yond or the
passage way.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Ionia.
Second Thought:
This county was named for a province of Greece.
Iosco means the place of shining water.
In Chippewa/Ottawaa, a brilliant light called a “waasko”.
The Tittibawassee, Shiawassee, and
Cass or Wakishegan River were the streams of glittering
water.
The county seat of Iosco
is Tawas City, which was named for Native Chief O-ta-was.
"Little Trader" was said to be the meaning of O-ta-was.
However, the ending of his name may mean to gleam or shimmer.
The name Otawas may reflect the same meaning as Iosco or
glowing light.
Iosco and Tawas City both may mean water that
is bright.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1857.
County Seat:
Tawas City.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention.
His favorite name for Native American boys and men in writing, Iosco was
interpreted to mean “water of light”.
The county seat of Iron County is the City of Crystal Falls.
The German word “eisen” means both iron and icy or
crystalline.
The Bewabi State Park lies west of Crystal Falls
"Biiwabic" is Chippewa/Ottawas means iron or
hard rock.
Iron County's beautiful lakes include both Ice and Iron
Lakes.
Iron and Crystal Falls mean it is hard and crystalline like rock.
Organized
in 1885,
It became
a county in 1885.
County Seat:
Crystal Falls.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the many iron deposits and mines in the county.
The major stream of Isabella County is the Chippewa.
Isabella is the a land that will enchant.
The county seat is the City of Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pleasant is located on a hill that is
charming.
Isabella is a place that is captivating
and beguiling.
Isabella and Mount Pleasant mean the place that is beautiful.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Mount Pleasant.
Second Thought:
Henry Schoolcraft suggested naming this county for Queen Isabella (1451-1504)
of Spain under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages in 1492.
Jackson may mean hunter.
German and Dutch "jager" means
the shooter or chaser.
To hunt by fire or torchlight is to jack-light.
To jack-light is to hunt with a light at night.
Jackson County was named for President Andrew Jackson.
Jackson may mean the chaser or hunter.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1832.
County Seat:
Jackson.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th
President of the United States (1829-1837).
Kalamazoo was likely named for the Kalamazoo
River.
The river's name was originally "kikalamezo”.
It was said to mean the boiling pot at the fire.
In Chippewa, “akik” means kettle while in in Chippewa "ashkote” means
fire.
However, Kalamazoo may better refer to the kettle or pot-holes in
the river.
A whirlpool in Chippewa/Ottawa is "akikodjiwan".
"abamodijwan" means the water turns round at the foot of
the rapids.
"kijdjiwan" means cascade or rapids.
Hence Kalamzoo may be translated "akik-abamodjiwan."
Kalamazoo may mean the water pot turns round at the
foot of the rapids.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1830.
County Seat:
Kalamazoo.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name with widely accepted translations
of “boiling water”, “beautiful water”, and “stones like an otter’s tail.”
Other versions are “reflecting river” and “it smokes”.
Kalkaska was traditionally said to mean it is consumed by fire.
Chippewa/Ottawa word “tchagakisa” means to burn with fire.
In Latin "caleo” means to inflame.
From "caleo" we get kettle and caldron.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "akik" means kettle or pot.
Kalkaska contains a body of water called Kettle Lake.
Lake Skegomog is also
found here.
Kettle Lake also may be the meaning of
this later
name.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, “akik-gami”
means Kettle Lake.
Kalkaska may mean the
the land of the fire pot.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Kalkaska
Second Thought:
This county name is a Henry Schoolcraft creation.
Kent means rapids, cascade, or falling water.
The name Kent comes from the Old Welsh word “cant” that
means water the tumbles.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "bkijiwang” means rapids.
It means where the water is in a descent.
The county seat is the City of Grand Rapids.
Kent and Grand Rapids mean where the water is turbulent.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Kent.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Chancellor James Kent (1763-1817) the celebrated
New York jurist.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "Kakiweonan" means where they
traverse or cross a point.
The place of portage was said to be the meaning of Keweenaw.
However, "onigam" means portage in
Chippewa/Ottawa.
The county seat of Keweenaw is the City of Eagle Harbor.
Keweenaw is the headland above the Portage River.
Keweenaw means to traverse a cape or point.
Formed
in 1861,
It became
a county in 1861.
County Seat:
Eagle Harbor.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name that means the portage or the
place where portage is made.
Lake means the hollow
In Latin “lacona” means a hollow, cavity, pond, or pool.
In Lake many swimming birds into ponds dive.
The county seat of Lake is the City of Baldwin.
Baldwin may mean the place in which to swim or dive.
"Baleum" in Latin means the bath or cleansing pool.
In Lake County water-foul plunge into the water with a tailspin.
Birds called balds are water fowl.
They include cormorants, [loons], bitterns, and coots.
Near the edge of a lake may perch the woodland owl.
They all in Lake put down their roots.
Lake County is where you will enjoy an
fond adventure.
Lake and Baldwin mean the place of pools of
water.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Lake.
Second Thought:
This county has many small lakes.
Lapeer is the highland that is made of grit, gravel, sand.
The French word for a small stone is “la pierre”.
The major stream here is the Flint River.
It is stony and sparkles with a glint.
Lapeer is located on a glacial ridge.
It is a high point in the landscape.
Its rolling hills are filled with many a pond, stream,
and bridge.
Lapeer is a good site for a grand week-end
escape.
Lapeer means the land of flint.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Lapeer.
Second Thought:
This county name is a derivation of the French word “la pierre” meaning
stone or flint.
Leelanau was said to
mean the delight of life.
In historic writings, Leelanau often referred to a
Indian Maiden.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "minawas" means happiness or joy.
Leelanau is located in the northwest part of Lower
Michigan.
"The county seat is Leland.
A leyland is fallow,
uncultivated, or unseeded land.
Leelanau and Leland mean the joy of life.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1863.
County Seat:
Leelanaw.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention meaning “delight of life”.
Schoolcraft gave the name “Leelanau” to Native American women in his stories.
Lenawee means human.
The Chippewa/Ottawa word "anishinabe" and
"anini mean man.
The English word man has roots in the Latin word "animus''.
In Latin, the master of the house was called the "dominus".
Lenawee county seat is the City of Adrian.
Adrian means black as does the Latin word "ater".
Other Latin words that have same ending are mother "mater' and father "pater".
Lenawee means the
place of native society or humanity.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1826.
County Seat:
Adrian.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American name that means “man”, generically, or
“people”.
Livingston Country was named for Edward Livingston.
Edward Livingston was the Secretary of State under
President Jackson.
The name Livingston, anciently Leofwine's Dun, means
beloved friend's hill.
The county seat of Livingston is the City of Howell whose
name means high or exalted hill.
The City of Howell is located on a high ridge that runs
along Highland Road.
Livingston County has many a beautiful lake and abode.
The ending of Livingston means a hill,
dun, or even a town.
Livingston and Howell mean the beloved
friends hill top town.
Formed
in 1833,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Howell.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President
Andrew Jackson.
Luce means light and also the fish we call the pike.
Late Latin “lucius” means the voracious fish.
The county seat of Luce is the City of New Berry.
In Chippewa and Ottawa,“gnoozhe” means pike.
The Old Irish spear or pike was called a “barry”.
Luce is filled with many a crystal clear Lake.
You will find here Muskellunge, Perch, and Pike Lake.
It’s a beautiful place best fit for your favorite fishing lure.
The water is crystal clear, pristine, and pure.
If you're an inland fisherman, the County of Luce will make you
very happy.
Luce and New Berry mean the place of pike, perch, and musky.
Formed
in 1887,
It became
a county in 1887.
County Seat:
New Berry.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Governor Cyrus Luce (1887-1890).
Mackinaw was said to be named after an ancient people.
The Mish-ini-makinago are said to be the original populace of Mackinaw.
Their name meant the great man wounded.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, the name would be "mitcha anini makinana".
"Mitchi" means great; "anini" means man; and
makia" means
wounded.
The City of St. Ignace is the county seat of Mackinaw.
The latin word "ignis" means to fire or kindle.
Mackinaw is also said to mean "Great Turtle".
Chippewa/Ottawa "Mitchi makikinak" means great
turtle.
Mackinaw may
mean
in short the turtle.
Formed
in 1818,
It became
a county in 1818.
County Seat:
St. Ignace.
Second Thought:
This county was named after the Native American tribe called the Michilimackinac
meaning “the big wounded man”. It was
also said to represent the “turtle”.
Macomb is Irish and means "Sons of
Sire Comb”.
Old Gaulish “combe”
and "cumbe" mean a narrow hollow.
At the top and bottom of Macomb's Lake St. Claire
run two great narrow river valleys.
They are the Detroit and St. Claire River valleys.
The City of Mount
Clements is the county seat of Mccomb.
In German, “Klemmen” means
a
constriction or limitation.
Macomb and Mount Clements
mean the place that is the tight and narrow.
Formed
in 1818,
It became
a county in 1818.
County Seat:
Mount Clements.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Alexander Macomb (1782-1841) an officer
in the War of 1812.
Michigan's county named Manistee means where there are isles in the stream.
The name seems to come from the Chippewa/Ottawa phrase “mni
mtig ziibii”.
The Manistee River with its many types of trout is the fisherman's dream.
"Mtig" means tree.
Manistee is somewhat similar to the Old
Irish word "inis" that means island.
We see this root in peninsula, which means almost an island.
The Manistee River once had at its mouth large
isles with many trees.
Also along the length of the stream, other isles were filled with
trees.
To some, Manistee means "spirit
river". reportedly.
In Chippewa/Ottawa this would be "manito ziibii."
Manistee likely means many isles with trees
in the stream.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Manistee.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name meaning “the island stream”
or “the island all wooded stream”.
Another name suggested is “crooked river”.
Marquette seems to mean border land or land
at the edge.
Marquette County was named for missionary Father Jacques Marquette,
Marquette County's major cities are Marquette, Ishpeming, and Negaunee,
The latter two names mean the City On High and the Pioneer City.
The land that Father Marquette once explored was then
the frontier.
Marquette County's main river is the Dead River.
The French word "marquer" means a writer.
"Marquer" also means to braze a tree or to register.
Father Marquette was associated with Michigan's
early written history.
He explored and mapped much of the Upper Great Lakes or Old
Northwest Territory.
Marquette means the writer of the frontier.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County Seat:
Marquette.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Jesuit missionary and explorer, Father Jacques
Marquette.
Mason means the stone cutter or worker.
It means one who worked with squared stone block.
They mortared squares of rock that would interlock.
Mason County was named for Michigan's first Governor Steven T. Mason.
The county seat of Mason County is the City of Ludington,
The moniker Ludington comes from "lutton" that means mud that might be used by a mason.
In Latin and English one who smears mud or cement is
a "luter".
Mason and Ludington mean the stone and mud
worker .
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Ludington.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Steven T. Mason (1811-1843), first Governor of
Michigan (1835-1840).
Mecosta is said to mean bear head.
Chippewa/Ottawa "makwa" means bear while "makoshtigwan"
means bear head.
Mecosta County was named for local Native Chief Mecosta.
The county seat of Mecosta is Big Rapids.
A rapids is where a steam or river will quickly descend.
Chippewa/Ottawa "akwandawe" is to climb up a ladder or
stairway or to scale a tree.
Makwa may mean the animal that climbs the tree.
Mecosta and Big Rapids may both be connected with the words
descend and ascend.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Big Rapids.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Potawatomi chief, Mecosta whose name was said
to represent “the bear club”.
Menominee means the wild rice people.
The word comes from the Chippewa/Ottawa phrase “mnoomin nini”.
“Mnoomin” means wild rice or oats while “nini” means people.
Menominee was a place where early inhabitants gather rice.
It was also the wetland that held birds called bobolinks or
the birds that eat rice.
The word Menominee is related to the Chippewa/Ottawa word for good.
"Mino” means good.
Menominee was the place of enjoyable retreat.
Menominee means the wild rice people or good meals to eat.
Formed
in 1861,
It became
a county in 1861.
County Seat:
Menominee.
Second Thought:
This county was named after the Menominee River, which took its name from
the tribe that lived in the county.
The name Menominee meant “the rice people”.
Midland
means the middle of the territory.
It might also suggest the
land of medicine.
In Chippewa and Ottawa “mide” means medicine.
Midland is the home of Dow Chemical Company
that is rooted in the nearby springs of bromide-salt.
Mental anguish or head-ache is called dolor, and early remedies
for headaches included bromide seltzer
or salt.
Midland seems to mean both middle
and medicine land.
Midland in located near the center
of Michigan's hand.
Middle and medicine both come from
Latin "mete" meaning to measure, moderate, or mete.
Midland was an early spa retreat.
Midland means the middle or perhaps the medicine of the land.
Formed
in 1831,
It Became
a County in 1850.
County
Seat: Midland.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to come from the idea that the county is at the
geographical middle of the lower peninsula.
The Michigan county name Missaukee means the the inland
sea.
Chipppewa/Ottawa mitchi-sagaigan” means great lake.
Missaukee was named for local Native Chief Me-sau-kee.
The area is a stunning region.
The county seat ofMissaukee is picturesque Lake City.
Nearby are the Higgins and Houghton Lake.
Here winter and summer sports are enjoyed by everyone.
Missaukee and Lake City mean the large inland
lake or sea.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1850.
County Seat:
Lake City.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the prominent Ottawa who lived in the area.
He was known as Me-Sau-Kee.
Monroe means the road and wheel maker.
Monroe County was named after President James Monroe.
Wayne County just north of Monroe means the land of cart,
wagon, or car maker.
In Scotland, Monroe was said to mean mouth of the red or
fish roe river.
Others say it means the river of the wagon wheel or rod maker.
The local Native chief of Monroe County, MI, was Chief Macon.
Chippewa/Ottawa "miikan"
means path, trail, or road.
Wayne and Monroe Counties are the world’s car capital.
Monroe County held many
of the early entrance roads to Michigan.
Monroe County has always been the place of the road or trail.
Monroe means the wheelwright and road maker.
Formed
in 1817,
It became
a county in 1822.
County Seat:
Monroe.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President James Monroe (1758-1831).
He visited Detroit in 1817, and in anticipation of his visit the county was
named for him.
Montcalm means the
grand hill plateau.
Montcolm County
was named for French General Marquis Montcalm.
The highland
is level and flat and a valley that is relatively shallow.
Montcalm
is at the highland between
Lakes Huron and Michigan.
Moncalm
is set in counterpoint in that it
is so level, staunched, and plain.
The county
seat of Montcolm is the City of Stanton.
Montcalm's
major river almost staunch and nearly sstands still.
It was named the
Flat River.
In mountcalm there is
scarcely a large hill.
Slowly
flow the many a brooks and Flat River.
Montcalm and Stanton mean the
mount that is calm with water that is still.
Formed
in 1831,
It became a county in 1850.
County Seat: Stanton.
Second Thought:
This county was named for French General Marquis de Mountcalm.
His defeat and death in 1759 marked the end of the French and Indian War
in North America.
Montmorency means the
mount that is also a wetland.
Montmorency
means the mount
with the marshland or moorland.
A
the large
hill, it top is wet, spongy, and fun to explore.
The
City of Atlanta is the county
seat of Montmorency.
The ancient
City of Atlanta was
said to have been swallowed by the sea.
Major
attractions of Montmorency are Thunder
Bay River and the
City of Hillman.
Also here near by are the Au Sable River
and the
City of Lewiston.
Montmorency and Atlanta mean the
land swallowed by the a marshland or sea.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1881.
County Seat:
Atlanta.
Second Thought:
It is not clear if this county was named for a historical person or place.
“Moorland”
Muskegon means
the land
that is wet and marshy.
Near the
mouth of Muskegon River lies a
large sumptland.
Chippewa/Ottawa
“mashkig” means wetland.
Muskegon
means the land of wet ground, mud, and sand.
The English
word musty also means a
place that is dank, dark, and
mossy.
Muskegon means the
marshland.
Formed
in 1859,
It became
a County in 1859.
County Seat:
Muskegon.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place named that means swamp or marsh.
Newago
may mean the
fluff of air the misty flow.
In
Chipawa/Ottawa “anakwad” means cloud.
Newago was said to mean my wing, which in Chippewa and Ottawa is "ningwigan”.
Newgo was also said to
mean wet water as it is damp or wet is "nibiwan".
Latin
"nebula" and French “nuage” also means
a fluff of air, fog, or cloud.
The county
seat of of Newago is White Cloud.
Newago and the City
of White Cloud mean the nuance or a wet, white, misty flow.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a County in 1851.
County Seat:
White Cloud.
Second Thought:
This county was named for an Ottawa band chief said to mean "wet water".
Oakland is a difficult word to decipher easily.
The county seat of Oakland is the City of Pontiac,
Pontiac was named for
Native Chief
Pontiac [sometimes written Obwandiyag].
Nuts in Chippewa/Ottawa is “paganak".
Chief Pontiac's name has been said to mean
anchor.
In Chippewa/Ottawa "bonakadjigan means anchor.
Greek "balan-" means acorn nut.
Oakland and Pontiac may both mean the
land of the tree nut.
Formed
in 1819,
It became
a County in 1820
County Seat:
Pontiac.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the many oak openings in the county.
Oceana County forms a short peninsula.
Greek “okeano” means the wide river that encompasses the earth
entirely.
The county seat of Oceana is the City of Hart.
Hart means a stage or deer and has a root in the
word horn.
A horn is also used to describe a peninsula as
in the Horn of Africa.
The City of Pentwater is just below the City of Hart.
Oceana County forms a short point that projects
into Lake Michigan.
Oceana and Hart mean land
surrounded by the sea.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a County in 1851.
County Seat:
Hart.
Second Thought:
This county derives it’s name because of its proximity to Lake Michigan—the
fresh water ocean.
Ogemaw may be linked to the
western evening sky.
The City of West Branch is the county seat of Ogemaw.
"Ogima" means both chief and mother.
"Ogidji" means it is
over or above.
The English word west comes from Latin "vesper"
meaning the dimming evening sky.
Chippewa/Ottawa "ningabian" means evening.
"Ninga" possibly its root means it melts and also my
mother.
"Ogi" is the root word for mother.
"Ogi" may be linked with "gijg" meaning adult and day.
Ningabian or the west seems to mean where there is the
closing of the day.
Ogemaw and West Branch mean chief and mother and is linked
to the closing of the day.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
West Branch.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Native Chief Ogema-Kegato (1794-1840) a prominent
chief of the Saginaw Valley.
Ontonagon means hunt for my bowl.
The County of Ontonagan is a valley or basin
It's river valley is shaped like a bowl.
Legend says young Native girl put a deep dish, or bowl, in the river of the Ontonagon.
Not paying attention to it, thebowl began to flood away.
Realizing it wasgone, she said, “Nanda onagan.
Nanda onagan”—
Which in English means "Search for my bowl.
Hunt for my bowl”.
In the local region the legend is well told and familiar.
The story was a simile as the Ontonagon valley that looks much like
basin.
The region took the name Ontonagon, which really means to a bowl
its valley is similar.
Ontonagon means seek my basin.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County Seat:
Ontonagon.
Second Thought:
This county name has had various meanings such as “hunting river”, “lost
bowl”, and “fishing place”. The
name Nantounagon was on an early 1670 French map.
Osceola means the black drink chanter.
Osceola County was named for Seminole Chief Osceola [Asi-yahola].
The black drink he drank was a form of coffee.
Chippewa/Ottawa "makte-mashkiki-wabo" means black medicine
water or coffee.
The name Osceola seems to connect to one who works with
herd or reed.
"Assagaanashk” is a Chippewa/Ottawa word for reed.
The county seat of Osceola is Reed City.
"Mashkiki" means medicine while "mashkikiwinini"
means herbalist or medicine
man.
"Mashkig" means reedy and swampy.
Osceola and Reed City mean the black medicine shouter or chanter.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Reed City.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Native American Chief Osceola (1803-1838).
The name comes from the Cree word “assiyahola” meaning the black drink singer.
“Stony Meadow”
Oscoda means the stony clearing.
Chippewa/Ottawa“Assin mashkode”
that means the rocky opening.
The county seat of Oscoda is the City of Mio.
Mio was named for Mioe the wife of the founder of the City.
The Irish word "mayo" means the plain of the yew
tree.
A yew is an evergreen tree.
Oscoda and Mio mean the plain or meadow.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1881.
County Seat:
Mio.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Schoolcraft invention meaning stone prairie or meadow.
The City of Mio was said to be the corruption of the name Maria, or Mary.
Otsego means the rock or stone and comes from an Iroquoian
word “otsenaro”.
The Old Irish word "gallet" means the pillar of
rock.
The county seat of Otsego is the City of Gaylord.
The land of pebbles, gravel, and rocky hills is Gaylord,
Which is nestled In the north between the Sturgeon, Black,
and Thunder Bay Rivers,
And, snuggled in the south by the Boyne and Au Sable Rivers.
Gaylord is a rocky passageway that forms a gap.
In Algonquin a river crossing,
Was called an “ajawa”—I am sure in the way I think,
And, a cliff or rock was called an “ajibik”.
The City of Gaylord is a place situated between rivers—a
low rocky crossing.
The names Gaylord and Otsego,
Mean the gap or passageway—the gape of rock or stone.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Gaylord.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the county in New York called Otsego, which means
“place of the rock”. An Iroquoian word,
it was also said to mean “the meeting place”.
Ottawa means those who trade.
The Ottawa people from 1700 onward inhabited much Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The Chippewa/Ottawa word "atawe" means to offer for sell
or trade.
German "tausche" means one would barter,
French "troquer” means a goods broker.
The county seat of Ottawa is the City of Grand Haven.
Grand Haven was once served as a storehouse and
inn.
A trader in early times was also often a harbor innkeeper.
The Ottawa were the middlemen the Indian goods sellers and buyers.
Ottawa and Grand Haven mean the sellers and store for
trade.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1837.
County
Seat: Grand Haven.
Second Thought:
This county was name for the Native American tribe called the Ottawa, whose
name meant the trading people.
Nearly an island is the meaning of Presque Isle.
Peninsula or promontory in French is "presqu-ile.
Presque Isle is an almost isolated piece of rocky land that
nearly surrounded by water.
The French word “presque” means almost, nearly, or roughly.
The county seat of Presque Isle is Rogers City.
Surrounding Rogers City is a quarry.
One meaning of roger is rock, which is also described as a
promontory.
Presque Isle is a rocky peninsula isolated by water.
Presque Isle and Roger's City mean to stand like an
isolated rock.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County
Seat: Presque Isle.
Second Thought:
This county uses a French phrase “presque isle” meaning “almost an island
or a peninsula”.
The word Roscommon is Irish and means “Woods of St. Coman”.
The Celtic "ros" means the forest
The County of Roscommon includes Higgins and Houghton Lake
where woodland adventures are common.
The Irish word "coman" means curved, a stick that is
curved, or the game of hurling.
Hurling a game like cricket is played by the Irish with
zest.
Roscommon means the forest of hurling.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Roscommon.
Second Thought:
This county was named for County Roscommon, Ireland, which is in the central
part of Ireland.
Saginaw County means where the river pours
out.
Saginaw was once called Sankinon and then Saguinon.
Chippewa/Ottawa "sagiwan means
river mouth.
Chippewa/Ottawa "siginan" means to pour out.
In German to pour is "schanken".
The Huron word for river's mouth is "areenti":
The Saginaw Bay was once called "Tek-ariendi-ondi".
Later Saginaw Bay was called simply "Karegnondi.
The later two words seem to both mean where the river's mouth projects out.
Saginaw means where there is a river mouth.
Formed
in 1822,
It became a county in 1831.
County Seat: Saginaw.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Native American tribe the Sauks.
The ending “ong”, or “naw”, means place.
St. Clair means where the environment is
radiant.
French “claire” means to bright or brilliant.
The county seat of St. Clair is the City
of Port
Huron,
It is one of the largest harbors on Lake Huron.
St. Clair County contains the Black River whose color lies in
stark contrast to the surrounding environment.
The Belle [Chase] River in St. Claire was once called the white river.
The main waterway is the St.Claire River.
St. Clair means where the water and air shine bright
and fair.
Formed
in 1820,
It became a county in 1821.
County Seat:
Port Huron.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Arthur St. Clair, the first governor of
the Northwest Territory, or it was named in 1679 when La Salle arrived here upon
Lake St. Clair on the first day of Saint Claire.
St. Joseph means to make and addition or increase.
St. Joseph [Hoseef] was the one who added.
English ciphered means
calculated
Cipher also means zero.
It's symbol is a circle or "0".
St. Joseph comes form Hebrew and means addition, increment,
or increase.
The St. Joseph River of Michigan forms a great semi-circle
like a waxing or crescent moon.
The words crescent and increase come from Latin "cresco".
Two cities along St. Joseph River's bend are Benton Harbor and
South Bend.
The county seat of St. Joseph is the City of Centerville.
It is siutated on a gentle hill.
Greek word "kyphos" also means to curve or bend.
St. Joseph and Centerville mean to wax or increase like the
moon.
Formed
in 1820,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Centerville.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the patron saint of New France.
Sanilac County was named for the Wyandotte Chief Sannilac.
In the wars with the Iroquois, Sannilac was a
spirit warrior.
The county seat of Sanilac is the City of Sandusky.
In Onondaga "ochneca" means water.
"Ochneca-tschi" means watery.
Sandusky was said also to mean watery.
“Ganiatare” means lake and was once the Iroquios name for Lake Huron.
Sanilac once included the whole of the Thumb of Michigan, which projects into Lake Huron.
Sanilac and Sandusky seem both to mean watery.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1848.
County Seat:
Sandusky.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the spirit warrior in Henry Whiting’s poem Sannilac,
which may have been obtained from General Cass’ manuscripts. In the poem,
Sannilac was a spirit warrior.
Schoolcraft County was named for Indian agent Henry Schoolcraft.
His name meant essentially the scholar.
Henry Schoolcraft was a person who was
knowledge in philosophy and technology.
His name meant he was an intellectual craftsman.
The county seat of Schoolcraft is the City of Manistique,
In Native language, "manito" means spirit
and mystic.
Manisque was said to mean the river that is vermillion or red.
"Miskwa" in chippewa/Ottawa means red.
Manistee was also said to mean "spirit of the woods", which would be "manto
mitigwaki".
Schoolcraft and Manistique seem to mean the
woodland
shaman or mystic.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County
Seat: Manistique.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Henry R. Schoolcraft, Michigan Native American
Agent.
Shiawassee means the river ahead that had a
bright shiny gleam.
In Chippewa/Ottawa its name may have been originally,
“gwaiak-wasshkong-ziibii”.
The phrase meant the straight bright-shining river.
Shiawassee is similar to Tittabawasee.
Tittabawassee means the turned or bent shining river.
The county seat of Shiawassee is the City of Coruna.
A bright shiny crown that rests one's head is
called a corona.
Another city of Shiawassee is the City of
Owasso.
It was named for Native Chief Owasso.
His name meant he is brilliant or bright.
Into the Saginaw River empty three great rivers:
the twisted shining or Tittabawassee River,
The Cass [the shining or Wakishegan] River, and the straight shining or Shiawassee
River.
They were Michigan's "water of light".
Shiawassee and Coruna mean truly it shines bright.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Coruna.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to mean the rolling river, the straight
river, and sparkling water.
Tuscola means the flat or level land.
Local Native Chief Otusson had a name that meant
platform, bench, or bed in
the lodge.
"Tessi-nagan" meant the plate that is flat.
The French called the Thumb of Michigan Le Pays
Plat.
Le Pays Plat in English meant the
flat country.
The name Tuscola seems to be a hodge-podge.
Tuscola may have in Chippewa/Ottawa been called "tessi-aki".
This word also means level or flat land.
Latin
"cola", means the cultivated country.
The county seat of
Tuscola is the City of Caro.
To till farmland
or to fight are meanings of harrow.
Cairo, Egypt, was named for
the God of Agriculture and War Mars or Aries.
Tuscola and Caro both mean he who on a level
field harrows or harries.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1850.
County Seat:
Caro.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to be a Henry Schoolcraft invention meaning either
warrior prairie or level land.
Van Buren means the arboreal shelter or the
woodland den.
It means the bower.
The county seat of Van Buren County is the City of Paw Paw.
Chippewa/Ottawa "nbaad" means bed or
place to for sleeping.
The Paya tree is also called the the paw paw.
The paw paw was used as an arbor—a shady woodland
dwelling.
Van Buren and Paw Paw mean the woodland den
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Paw Paw.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President Van Buren, who was inaugurated in 1837.
Washtenaw in Chippewa/Ottawa means where one goes
beyond.
To go to the far country, one would go through
Washtenaw.
The county seat of Washtenaw is the City of Ann Arbor.
German “an” means to go further, over, or onward.
Ann comes from
Latin and French “a”, which means to go over and toward.
Washtenaw and Ann Arbor both mean to go
yonder.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Ann Arbor.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American name, which was said to mean “on the river”
or “the land beyond”.
Wayne means the way agents.
Wayne County was named for Revolutionary War General Anthony
Wayne.
Wagon maker is a meaning of Wayne.
The Count Seat of Wayne is the City of Detroit.
French "d'etroit" means the narrow
or strait water travelway.
Chippewa/Ottawa "Wawiiatan" meaning
round and was another name for Detroit.
Wayne County and Detroit are
major land and water passageways.
Wayne and Detroit are
the World's major travelway agents.
Formed
in 1796,
It became
a county in 1815.
County Seat:
Detroit.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Anthony Wayne (1745-1796), who was famous
in the Revolutionary War.
Wexford
is
Irish and means the high ridge.
Wexford is home to a high rolling esker that is
adjacent to a water ford.
Here the land falls from a high glacial
bridge.
The county seat of Wexford is the City of Cadillac.
The cadence by the lake
may be the meaning of Cadillac.
The glacial ridge and hills fall steeply toward the City of
Cadillac.
Latin "cado" means to fall while French "lac" means lake.
Wexford is the
great prominence and hill with the precipitous brake.
Wexford and Cadillac mean the cadence by the lake.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Cadillac.
Second Thought:
This county was named for County Wexford, Ireland, which is in the southeastern
part of Ireland.
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