County Names #2
Chautauqua- a contraction of a Seneca Indian word meaning "where fish was taken out" Chemung - derived from the name of the Delaware Indian village signifying "big horn " (Chemung Co. Historical Society Museum has a display about this horn) Chenango - from the Onondaga Indian word meaning "large bull thistle" Clinton- in honor of George Clinton -first governor of the state. Columbia - the Latin feminine form of Columbus, the name was popular at the time as a proposed name for the United States of America. Cortland- in honor of Pierre Van Cortlandt who was the first lieutenant governor of the state (in 1777- he was the president of the convention at Kingston, NY that framed the state's first constitution ). Delaware - in honor of Lord Delaware who was appointed governor of Virginia in 1609 ,and in recognition of his services to early colonists. Dutchess- in honor of the Dutchess of York, wife of James II E
