Many Garden State residents know that New Jersey was named after the province of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. However, the origins of our county names are not as commonly known. The majority of counties named before the American Revolution reflect the Dutch and English settlements in the area at the time. Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Middlesex, Somerset and Sussex are all derived from British towns, cities, and counties; Monmouth County was named for Monmouthshire, Wales, Hunterdon County was named for Hunterston, Scotland, and Bergen County was named for Bergen, North Holland. Counties named after the American Revolution are more likely to be named for historic figures. Following, I share some fun facts and gorgeous shots snapped in each county listed!
- Atlantic County (Photo taken at sunrise in Atlantic City.)
Flickr/Roman Kruglov Atlantic County gets its name from the ocean it borders. It was founded in 1837 from parts of Gloucester County.
- Camden County (Photo taken from Battleship New Jersey.)
Flickr/Mike Rastiello Camden County was named after Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden. He was a member of the English Parliament who opposed England’s taxation of the colonists. The county was established in 1844.
- Cape May County (Photo taken at Sunset Beach.)
Flickr/KatVitulano Photos Cape May County was established in 1694 and named by and for the Dutch explorer, Cornelius Jacobsen Mey.
- Cumberland County (Photo of Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton.)
Wikipedia/Tim Kiser/Male Pheasant Cumberland County was established from parts of Salem County in 1748. The county was named after Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. He was a hero to the English but hated among the Scots for the brutal tactics he used during the Battle of Culloden.
- Hudson County (Photo of Jersey City at sunrise.)
Flickr/Andreas Komodromos Hudson County was named after explorer Henry Hudson who discovered the area in 1609. He landed in what is now Hoboken and then sailed up the (now) Hudson River. New Jersey’s smallest yet most densely populated county, Hudson County was established in 1840 from parts of Bergen County.
- Mercer County (Photo taken at Trinity Church, Princeton.)
Flickr/Kah-Wai Lin Mercer County was established in 1838 from parts of Burlington, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Middlesex Counties. The county was named after Continental Army General, Hugh Mercer, a Revolutionary War Hero that died during the Battle Of Princeton.
- Morris County (Photo of Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen in Morristown.)
Flickr/Garen Meguerian Morris County was named after Colonial Governor Lewis Morris. He served from 1738-1746 and was governor at the time Morris County was established (1739 from portions of Hunterdon County).
- Ocean County (Photo of Barnegat Lighthouse.)
Flickr/Daniel D’Auria Ocean County, much like Atlantic County, was named for the adjacent ocean. It was established in 1850 from parts of Monmouth County.
- Passaic County (Photo of the Great Falls in Paterson.)
Flickr/Adam Skowronski Passaic County got its name from the Lenape word for Valley, “Pasaeck.” Originally set to be two counties, it was established in 1837 from parts of Bergen and Essex Counties.
- Salem County (Photo of the Old Salem Courthouse.)
Wikipedia/Smallbones Salem County was named after the Hebrew word “shalom,” meaning peace. Founded by Quakers in 1694, the peaceful name seems fitting.
- Union County (Photo taken in Cranford.)
Wikipedia/Tomwsulcer Union County was New Jersey’s 21st and final county. It was established in 1857, after a hostile break from Essex County and named after the Union of the United States.
- Warren County (Photo of the Delaware Water Gap.)
Flickr/Peter Miller Warren County was named after General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War hero who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county was established in 1825 from parts of Sussex County.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of New Jersey, check out the short video below by Kean University:
Flickr/Roman Kruglov
Atlantic County gets its name from the ocean it borders. It was founded in 1837 from parts of Gloucester County.
Flickr/Mike Rastiello
Camden County was named after Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden. He was a member of the English Parliament who opposed England’s taxation of the colonists. The county was established in 1844.
Flickr/KatVitulano Photos
Cape May County was established in 1694 and named by and for the Dutch explorer, Cornelius Jacobsen Mey.
Wikipedia/Tim Kiser/Male Pheasant
Cumberland County was established from parts of Salem County in 1748. The county was named after Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. He was a hero to the English but hated among the Scots for the brutal tactics he used during the Battle of Culloden.
Flickr/Andreas Komodromos
Hudson County was named after explorer Henry Hudson who discovered the area in 1609. He landed in what is now Hoboken and then sailed up the (now) Hudson River. New Jersey’s smallest yet most densely populated county, Hudson County was established in 1840 from parts of Bergen County.
Flickr/Kah-Wai Lin
Mercer County was established in 1838 from parts of Burlington, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Middlesex Counties. The county was named after Continental Army General, Hugh Mercer, a Revolutionary War Hero that died during the Battle Of Princeton.
Flickr/Garen Meguerian
Morris County was named after Colonial Governor Lewis Morris. He served from 1738-1746 and was governor at the time Morris County was established (1739 from portions of Hunterdon County).
Flickr/Daniel D’Auria
Ocean County, much like Atlantic County, was named for the adjacent ocean. It was established in 1850 from parts of Monmouth County.
Flickr/Adam Skowronski
Passaic County got its name from the Lenape word for Valley, “Pasaeck.” Originally set to be two counties, it was established in 1837 from parts of Bergen and Essex Counties.
Wikipedia/Smallbones
Salem County was named after the Hebrew word “shalom,” meaning peace. Founded by Quakers in 1694, the peaceful name seems fitting.
Wikipedia/Tomwsulcer
Union County was New Jersey’s 21st and final county. It was established in 1857, after a hostile break from Essex County and named after the Union of the United States.
Flickr/Peter Miller
Warren County was named after General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War hero who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county was established in 1825 from parts of Sussex County.
Which county name do you think had the most fascinating origin story? I’m all about Salem County! For some New Jersey town name history, click here.
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