This is a list of Michigan county name etymologies. The origin of some names is unclear and credible scholarly sources disagree on the meaning (or intended meaning).
Particularly, Henry Schoolcraft's made up words have disputed sources. Likewise, some Native American words may have originated with tribes from other areas of the country, such as New York or the northeast, where many settlers to Michigan came from.
The wholesale renaming of Michigan counties in the early 19th Century made several cultural and political points.citation needed First, under Henry Schoolcraft's tutelage, real Native American words were eradicated,citation needed and he substituted made-up pseudo words, sometimes with a kernel of Indian language or sound in them. A second group of counties were renamed for Irish locales, apparently because it was close to the heart for certain Michigan legislators or their constituents. A third group involved naming counties for persons, either to honor their contributions to Michigan, or as a token of acknowledgment to persons in power such as members of President Jackson's cabinet.[1][2]
Ten counties, the so-called cabinet counties, were named for persons who served in Andrew Jackson's presidential administration. Eight were named in 1829. Livingston County was named in 1833. Cass County was also named in 1829, but Governor Lewis Cass did not become a member of Jackson's Cabinet until 1831.
Alpena County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft. It was founded originally in 1840 as Anomickee County. In 1843, the name was changed to Alpena, a pseudo-Native American word — a neologism coined by Henry Schoolcraft, meaning something like "a good partridge country."[1][3]
Cheboygan County is named for the Cheboygan River, which itself is of uncertain origin. It may come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, it may have come from "Chabwegan," meaning "a place of ore."[1][4]
Iosco County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft. Iosco is a Native American word meaning "water of light". It was used by Schoolcraft to refer to Indian men and boys. In 1840 the county was set off as Kanotin County, and renamed Iosco in 1843. The county was organized in 1857.[5][1]
Iron County is named for the iron resources found widely in the county.
Manistee County was named for the Manistee River, which in turn is from the Ojibwe name, ministigweyaa meaning (river) at whose mouth there are islands.
Oscoda County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft thought to be a combination of two Ojibwa words, "ossin" (stone) and "muskoda" (prairie) -- hence 'pebbly prairie.'[10] See also, [11]
Saginaw County is a Native American term, perhaps having reference to the Sauk tribe who lived at the mouth of the river.[12] Another source opines that: "There are two possible derivations: from 'Sace-nong' or 'Sak-e-nong' (Sauk Town) because the Sauk (Sac) once lived there, or from Chippewa words meaning 'place of the outlet' from 'sag' (an opening) and 'ong' (place of)."[1]
Shiawassee County is named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about.[13]
Tuscola County was a name created by Henry Schoolcraft. Schoolcraft said it meant both "warrior praire" and "level land". Native Chief Otusson's reservation was in Tuscola County. His name meant bench or platform in the lodge.
Manitou County, formed in 1855 from parts of Emmet County and Leelenau County. County government was disorganized in 1861 and attached for administrative purposes to Mackinac County. In 1865, it was attached to Leelanau and reattached to Mackinac in 1869. County was abolished in 1895 and absorbed by Charlevoix County and Leelanau County.
^ abcdefgh"Michigan Counties" from the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, which contains additional references at the end of the article]
^ abClarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography by county and region, including origin of county names
Armitage, B. Phyllis. "A Study of Michigan's Place-Names." Michigan History Magazine, Vol. 27 (Oct-Dec 1943), pp. 626-637.
County histories published in Michigan History Magazine. Some back issues that include these histories are still available for purchase.
Jenks, William L. History and Meaning of the County Names of Michigan. Collections and Researches of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society. Vol. 38 (1912), pp. 439-478.
Michigan Manual (the "Red Book") published biennially by the Legislative Service Bureau under the direction of the Legislative Council, State of Michigan.
Powers, Perry F., assisted by H.G. Cutler, A History of Northern Michigan and its People (1912).
Reports of Counties, Towns and Districts. Report of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan. (2nd Ed.) Vol. I (1874-6). Lansing, MI: Robert Smith Printing Co. 1900, pp. 94-520.
Romig, Walter, Larry B Massie (Designer), Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1986. ISBN 9780814318386
Vogel, Virgil J. Indian Names in Michigan. (Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1986). 244 pgs. 8 B&W photographs & 3 maps. (1986) ISBN 978-0-472-06365-9.
