Ohio Towns
How they derived their names

Article taken from the Lancaster Daily Eagle, September 14, 1917

The name Ohio is an Iroquois Indian word, meaning "beautiful river."

Ashtabula is an Indian word, meaning "fish river."

Athens is situated on a tract of land set aside in 1787 by the Ohio Company as a university site and the name in honor of the classic city of Greece noted for many centuries for its learning.

Bellefontaine, from the French meaning "beautiful springs," of which there are many in the neighborhood.

Bellevue was so-called by a civil engineer for a railway, who thought it suggestive of the appearance of the place.

Bowling Green is derived from a term denoting ornamental gardening, or a plat of turf for bowling.  Originated in Yorkshire, England.

Bucyrus is the corruption of the name of an Egyptian general (Busiris) in Milton's "Paradise Lost."

Circleville was named after the Circle.

Cambridge was settled by people from Germany Isle, off the coast of England.  In Cambridge, England, there is a peculiar bridge.  There is a similar one here and the early settlers, noting the similarity, named this settlement Cambridge.

Chillicothe is a Shawnee Indian name, meaning "Man made perfect."

Coshocton is from a Delaware Indian name, meaning "black bear town."

Delaware, named for the Delaware Indians, who, before the white man came had two settlements in what are now the corporate limits.

East Liverpool, derivation is uncertain.  It is called "East" to distinguish it from another town of the same name in Medina County, Ohio.

Elyria, named from Herman Ely, an early settler, who had large holdings of lands.  "Ria" was suggested by the Greed word "Illyria."

Findlay, named from Fort Findlay, built by Col. James Findlay.

Fostoria, was named for Charles W. Foster, father of Governor Foster of Ohio, the first mayor of Fostoria.

Fremont was originally Lower Sandusky, but because of a confusion of several Sanduskys, the name was changed in '49 in honor of General John C. Freemont, who was immensely popular at the time.  R. B. Hayes, later president of the U.S. petitioned for the name change.

Greenville was named for General Anthony Wayne, who built a fort there in 1793, and called it after his fellow officer.  General Nathaniel Green of Revolutionary fame.

Hamilton was so-called in honor of Alexander Hamilton.

Kenton was named after the famous Indian scout, Simon Kenton.

Lancaster was given this name in compliment to the many early settlers who established the town and came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Lima from the South American city of the same name, struck the fancy of Hon. P. G. Goods who laid out the village.  It was originally pronounced Leema, but is now called Lima.

Lorain, called after the province in Germany, Loraine.

Mansfield, so-called in honor of Colonel Jared Mansfield, at one time surveyor-general of the United States.

Marietta was named for Queen Marie Antoinette of France.

Marion was given the name of General Francis Marion of Revolutionary war fame.

Martin's Ferry, first settled in 1787 by Captain Absalom Martin.  His son, Ebenezer, laid out the town and called it Martinsville.  Upon learning that there was another town of the same name in Ohio, he changed the name to Martin's Ferry.

Marysville, laid out in 1819, by the owner of the land, Samuel Culbertson, who named it after his daughter, Mary.

Middletown is midway between two county seats.  Hamilton and Lebanon.  Judges and lawyers doing business at both placed would stop at this middle station and as the village grew, it was named Middletown.

Mt. Vernon bears the name of General Washington's family seat on the shores of the Potomac River.

New Philadelphia, derived from the Quaker city of the same name.

Newark had its name transferred from the city of England.

Norwalk comes from Norwalk, Connecticut, whence the early settlers came after having their homes burned by British soldiers in the War of the Revolution.

Painesville, named for General E. Payne, a first inhabitant.

Piqua, a Shawnee Indian word meaning "ashes."

Pomeroy from the French "Pomme" an apple; "rio" a king.  Meaning an "apple king."

Portsmouth was named from the Virginia city.

Salem called after Salem, N.J. whence came the family of Zadokstreet, one of the early settlers.

Sandusky from an Indian word meaning "large pools of water" or "cold spring."

Steubenville was so-called in honor of Maron van Steuben, a Prussian soldier, who fought in the Revolution.

Tiffin was named for Edward Tiffin, the first Governor of Ohio.

Urbana derived it name from the Latin word, "urban" pertaining to a city.

Warren was named in honor of General Moses Warren of Lyme, Connecticut.

Wilmington from Wilmington, Delaware, which was settled by English colonists who gave it the name of the English locality from which they came.

Xenia from the Greek word meaning "hospital-le."

Zanesville is named in honor of Ebenezer Zane, who with John McIntire, founded the city.