Ohio Genealogy Clickable County Map
Ohio County
Information Table

 

County Date
Formed		 Origin of County Name County Seat Parent County
NOTE: The links with the county name will take you to Maggie's page for that county.
Adams 1797 named for our second president, John Adams, during whose administration the county was organized. West Union Hamilton
Allen 1820 probably named for either Ethan Allen, a hero of the Revolutionary War or John L. Allen, a hero of the War of 1812. Both men were colonels. Lima Shelby
Ashland 1846 named after "Ashland," home of the Whig candidate for President, Henry Clay, outside Lexington, Kentucky. Ashland Wayne, Richland, Huron, Lorain
Ashtabula 1808 named after the Ashtabula River which meant "Fish River" in the local Indian dialect. Jefferson Trumbull, Geauga
Athens 1805 the county is named after Athens, Greece. Athens Washington
Auglaize 1848 named for the Auglaize River. "Auglaize" is a Shawnee Indian word meaning "fallen timbers." Wapakoneta Allen, Mercer, Darke, Hardin, Logan, Shelby, and Van Wert
Belmont 1801 comes from the French words "belle monte," meaning "beautiful mountain" describing the hills of the county. Saint Clairsville Jefferson, Washington
Brown 1818 named for Gen. Jacob Brown, a hero of the War of 1812. Georgetown, the county seat, was the boyhood home of Ulysses Simpson Grant; Civil War General and 18th President of the United States. Georgetown Adams, Cleremont
Butler 1803 named for Major General Richard Butler, killed during the disastrous defeat of General Arthur St. Clair by the Indians on Nov. 4, 1791. Hamilton Hamilton
Carroll 1833 took the name Carroll from Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died in Baltimore on November 14, 1832, at the age of 96. Carrollton Columbiana, Stark, Harrison, Jefferson, Tuscarawas
Champaign 1805 is French and means "a plain," descriptive of the level land in the area. Urbana Green, Franklin
Clark 1818 named for Brigadier General George Rogers Clark who defeated the Shawnee Indians in a battle near Springfield, on August 8, 1780. Tecumseh, the famous Shawnee Chief, was born in this county. Springfield Champaign, Madison, Greene
Clermont 1800 comes from the French word meaning "clear mountain." Batavia Hamilton
Clinton 1810 named in honor of George Clinton, who was vice-president of the United States when the county was formed. Wilmington Highland, Warren
Columbiana 1803 derived from the words Columbus and Anna. Lisbon Jefferson, Washington
Coshocton 1811 is an anglicized version of the Indian village "Goschachgunk" or "Goschaching" meaning "Black Bear Town" or "where there is a river crossing." Coshocton Muskingum, Tuscarawas
Crawford 1820 named in honor of Col. William Crawford who was burned at the stake in 1782 by Indians. Bucyrus Delaware
Cuyahoga 1808 named for the Cuyahoga River. Cuyahoga is an Indian word meaning "crooked," or "winding stream." Cleveland Geauga
Darke 1809 named for Gen. William Darke, Revolutionary War hero. Greenville Miami
Defiance 1845 named for Fort Defiance built in 1794 by General Anthony Wayne. Defiance Williams, Henry, Paulding
Delaware 1808 named for the Delaware Indians who came from the Delaware River area near Philadelphia. Delaware Franklin
Erie 1838 named for the Erie Indian tribe. In their Indian dialect the word "erie" meant "cat" or "wildcat." Sandusky Huron, Sandusky
Fairfield 1800 Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, named this county for the beauty of its "fair fields." Lancaster Ross, Washington
Fayette 1810 named for Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. He served as an American Major General in the Revolutionary War and was named an honorary U.S. citizen in 1803. Washington Court House Ross, Highland
Franklin 1803 named for Benjamin Franklin, printer and diplomat. Columbus Ross, Wayne Co., MI
Fulton 1850 named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat. Wauseon Lucas, Henry, Williams
Gallia 1803 is derived from Gaul, the ancient name of France. Gallipolis Washington, Adams
Geauga 1806 the name Geauga or Sheauga was one given by the Indians to the Grand River which flows through the county. It means "raccoon." Chardon Trumbull
Greene 1803 named for Gen. Nathaniel Greene. Revolutionary War hero Xenia Hamilton, Ross
Guernsey 1810 due to the fact that many of the original settlers came from the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel. Cambridge Belmont, Muskingum
Hamilton 1790 named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, 1789-1795. Cincinnati Original County
Hancock 1820 named for John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress (1775-1777) and first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Findlay Logan
Hardin 1820 named for Colonel John Hardin who was executed by the Indians while on a peace mission in 1792. Kenton Logan
Harrison 1813 named for General William Henry Harrison, a hero of the War of 1812. First U.S. President to have lived in Ohio. Cadiz Jefferson, Tuscarawas
Henry 1820 named for Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia 1776-1779 and 1784-1786; a celebrated orator of the Revolutionary War period. Napoleon Shelby
Highland 1805 describes the county's terrain. Hillsboro Ross, Adams, Clermont
Hocking 1818 derived its name from the Indian word "Hoch-Hoch-ing" which meant "a bottle." The Hocking River flows though this county which was once claimed by the Wyandot Indians. Logan Athens, Ross, Fairfield
Holmes 1824 named for Major Andrew H. Holmes, who was killed during Major George Croghan's unsuccessful attack on Fort Mackinac (Michigan) on August 4, 1814. Millersburg Coshocton, Wayne, Tuscarawas
Huron 1815 the name Huron was given by the French to the Wyandot Indian tribe who lived in this area. Norwalk Portage, Cuyahoga
Jackson 1816 named for Major General Andrew Jackson, who defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815. Jackson Scioto, Gallia, Athens, Ross
Jefferson 1797 named for Thomas Jefferson, statesman and Vice President of the United States, March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1801, and the 3rd President of the U.S. (1801-09). Steubenville Washington
Knox 1808 named for General Henry Knox, the first U.S. Secretary of War. Mount Vernon Fairfield
Lake 1840 named because it borders on Lake Erie; Ohio's smallest county in land area. Painesville Geauga, Cuyahoga
Lawrence 1815 named for Captain James Lawrence, commander of the U.S. Frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812. Ironton Gallia, Scioto
Licking 1808 derived its name from the principal stream flowing through the county. Pioneers called it the "Licking River," but it was called "Pataskala" by the Indians. The river received its name from salt licks in the area. Newark Fairfield
Logan 1818 named for Gen. Benjamin Logan, who destroyed the Shawnee Indians Mac-o-chee Villages in the area in 1796. Bellefontaine Champaign
Lorain 1822 named after the Province of Lorraine, France. Elyria Huron, Cuyahoga, Medina
Lucas 1835 named for Robert Lucas, Ohio Governor 1832-1836, who personally commanded Ohio troops in the 1835 boundary dispute with Michigan. First territorial Governor of Iowa 1838-1841. Toledo Wood, Sandusky, Huron
Madison 1810 named for James Madison, U.S. President from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1817. London Franklin
Mahoning 1846 derives its name from the Mahoning River. Mahoning is from the Indian word "Mahoni" meaning a "lick" or "Mahonink" meaning "at the lick." Youngstown Columbiana, Trumbull
Marion 1820 named in honor of Gen. Francis Marion of South Carolina, the "Swamp Fox" of Revolutionary War fame. Marion Delaware
Medina 1812 named for Medina in Arabia, the town to which Mohammed fled from Mecca. Medina Portage
Meigs 1819 named for Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., Ohio Governor 1810 to 1814 and Postmaster General 1814 to 1823 who lived in Marietta. Pomeroy Gallia, Athens
Mercer 1820 named in honor of Gen. Hugh Mercer, who was killed at the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey, on January 3, 1777. Celina Darke
Miami 1807 named for the Miami Indians who claimed Western Ohio and whose principal village, Pickawillany, was located near Piqua. Troy Montgomery
Monroe 1813 named for James Monroe, U.S. Secretary of State, 1811-1817, and later the fifth President of the United States, 1817-1825. Woodsfield Belmont, Washington, Guernsey
Montgomery 1803 named for General Richard Montgomery who lost his life in the assault on Quebec during the Revolutionary War. Dayton Hamilton, Wayne Co., MI
Morgan 1817 named in honor of Gen. Daniel Morgan, who won a brilliant victory against the British at Cowpens, South Carolina, January 17, 1781. McConnellsville Washington, Guernsey, Muskingum
Morrow 1848 named for Jeremiah Morrow, Congressman 1803-1813; 1840-1843, U.S. Senator 1813-1819, and Ohio Governor 1822-1826. Mount Gilead Knox, Marion, Delaware, Richland
Muskingum 1804 is an old Delaware Indian word meaning "A town by the River." Zanesville Washington, Fairfield
Noble 1851 named out of respect for James Noble, a pioneer settler who first bought land in the county in 1814. Caldwell Monroe, Washington, Morgan, Guernsey
Ottawa 1840 named for the Ottawa Indian tribe. The name in their language meant "trader." Port Clinton Erie, Sandusky, Lucas
Paulding 1820 named for John Paulding, one of three soldiers who captured Major John Andre, British spy in the Revolutionary War. Paulding Darke
Perry 1818 named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, who defeated the British in the naval Battle of Lake Erie, September 13, 1813. New Lexington Washington, Fairfield, Muskingum
Pickaway 1810 named from a mis-spelling of the tribe of Indians, known as Piqua, a branch of the Shawnee Tribe. Circleville Ross, Fairfield, Franklin
Pike 1815 bears the name of Brig. Gen. Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who discovered "Pike's Peak," in Colorado in 1806. Waverly Ross, Scioto, Adams
Portage 1808 name comes from the old Indian portage path, about seven miles in length, between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers. Ravenna Trumbull
Preble 1808 named for Capt. Edward Preble, naval commander in the Revolutionary War and the War with Tripoli. Eaton Montgomery, Butler
Putnam 1820 named for Israel Putnam, Revolutionary War Major General, who gained fame at the Battle of Breed's Hill, often mis-named the Battle of Bunker Hill, on June 17, 1775. Ottawa Shelby
Richland 1808 named for the richness of its soil. Mansfield Fairfield
Ross 1798 named by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair for his friend James Ross of Pennsylvania; U.S. Senator 1794-1803. Chillicothe Adams, Washington
Sandusky 1820 is a derivative of an Indian word meaning "cold water." In Wyandot and Huron languages it is "Sa-un-dos-tee" meaning "water within water pools." Fremont Huron
Scioto 1803 takes its name from the Scioto River which flows through the county. Scioto comes from a Indian word "Scionto," meaning "deer." Portsmouth Adams
Seneca 1820 named for the Seneca Indians, who had a 40,000 acre reservation north of Tiffin from 1817-1831. Tiffin Huron
Shelby 1819 named for Isaac Shelby, Revolutionary War hero and first Governor of Kentucky. Counties in nine states are named for him. Sidney Miami
Stark 1808 named for Gen. John Stark of Revolutionary War fame. Canton Columbiana
Summit 1840 derived its name for having the highest land on the line of the Ohio and Erie Canal, known as "Portage Summit." Akron Medina, Portage, Stark
Trumbull 1800 in the Connecticut Western Reserve, was named for Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Governor of Connecticut 1797-1809. Warren Original County
Tuscarawas 1808 named for the Tuscarawas Indian Tribe who lived on the Tuscarawas River. New Philadelphia Muskingum
Union 1820 named because it was formed from parts of Delaware, Franklin, Madison, and Logan counties. Marysville Franklin, Madison, Logan, Delaware
Van Wert 1820 named for Isaac Van Wert, one of the three captors of British spy, Major John Andre. Actual spelling of Van Wert's name was "Van Wart." The spelling was changed due to an illegible entry in Congressional records. Van Wert Darke
Vinton 1850 named for Samuel Finley Vinton, an Ohio Statesman and U. S. Congressman, known as the "Father of the Department of Interior." Mc Arthur Gallia, Athens, Ross, Jackson, Hocking
Warren 1803 named for Gen. Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Breed's (Bunker) Hill, on June 17, 1775. Lebanon Hamilton
Washington 1788 Ohio's first county and named in honor of George Washington, who was president of the Constitutional Convention at the time the county was formed. Marietta Original County
Wayne 1808 named for Major General Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War hero later General-in-Chief U.S. Army 1791-1796. Defeated the Indians at the "Battle of Fallen Timbers," August 20, 1794. Wooster Columbiana
Williams 1820 honors David Williams, one of three captors of Major John Andre on September 23, 1780. Bryan Darke
Wood 1820 named after Major Eleazer D. Wood, U.S. Army-Engineers, who built Fort Meigs in 1813 while serving on the staff of General William Henry Harrison. Bowling Green Indian Lands
Wyandot 1845 named for the Wyandot Indians, the last Indian tribe in Ohio to cede their reservations March 17, 1842. They moved to lands west of the Mississippi River in July, 1843. Upper Sandusky Marion, Crawford, Hardin
Sources For Above Table:
  • Ohio County Maps (County Maps, Puetz Place, Lyndon Station, WI 53944)
  • "Ohio Lands - A Short History"
  • The Handy Book For Genealogists (United States of America, Eight Edition: Published by The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, Logan, Utah 84321)

    • Return to Ohio Clickable Map Index Page

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