This is a list of Kentucky county name etymologies.

Counties, by first letter

A

• Adair County, Kentucky: Adair is named for John Adair, the eighth governor of Kentucky and a general in the War of 1812.
• Allen County, Kentucky: Allen is named for John Allen, a lawyer, legislator, and lieutenant colonel killed in the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812.
• Anderson County, Kentucky: Anderson is named for Richard Clough Anderson, Jr. , a Kentucky legislator and congressman who was the first ambassador from the United States to Colombia.

B

• Ballard County, Kentucky: Ballard is named for Bland W. Ballard , a scout for George Rogers Clark who was killed at the Battle of River Raisin in the War of 1812.
• Barren County, Kentucky: Barren is named for large treeless expanses found by early explorers caused by Native Americans burning tracts of forest.
• Bath County, Kentucky: Bath is named for springs in the area thought to have medicinal value.
• Bell County, Kentucky: Bell is named for Joshua Fry Bell , a lawyer and state legislator.
• Boone County, Kentucky: Boone is named for Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman.
• Bourbon County, Kentucky: Bourbon is named for the French House of Bourbon.
• Boyd County, Kentucky: Boyd is named for Linn Boyd, an U. S. congressman and Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives.
• Boyle County, Kentucky: Boyle is named for John Boyle , an U. S. congressman and district judge.
• Bracken County, Kentucky: Bracken is named for jointly Big Bracken Creek and Little Bracken Creek .
• Breathitt County, Kentucky: Breathitt is named for John Breathitt , the eleventh governor of Kentucky.
• Breckinridge County, Kentucky: Breckinridge is named for John Breckinridge, the fifth United States Attorney General and U. S. senator from Kentucky.
• Bullitt County, Kentucky: Bullitt is named for Alexander Scott Bullitt , a co-author of the state constitution and the first lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
• Butler County, Kentucky: Butler is named for Richard Butler, a general in the American Revolutionary War killed at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

C

• Caldwell County, Kentucky: Caldwell is named for John Caldwell , an U. S. senator and the second lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
• Calloway County, Kentucky: Calloway is named for Richard Calloway , an early pioneer in Kentucky.
• Campbell County, Kentucky: Campbell is named for John Campbell , a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, founder of Louisville, Kentucky, and state senator.
• Carlisle County, Kentucky: Carlisle is named for John Griffin Carlisle, a Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
• Carroll County, Kentucky: Carroll is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• Carter County, Kentucky: Carter is named for William Grayson Carter , a Kentucky state senator.
• Casey County, Kentucky: Casey is named for William Casey , an early pioneer in western Kentucky.
• Christian County, Kentucky: Christian is named for William Christian , a soldier and recruiter for the American Revolutionary War in modern-day Kentucky.
• Clark County, Kentucky: Clark is named for George Rodgers Clark, the Kentucky general and a leading figure in the American Revolutionary War.
• Clay County, Kentucky: Clay is named for
• Clinton County, Kentucky: Clinton is named for
• Crittenden County, Kentucky: Crittenden is named for
• Cumberland County, Kentucky: Cumberland is named for

D

• Daviess County, Kentucky: Daviess is named for

E

• Edmonson County, Kentucky: Edmonson is named for
• Elliott County, Kentucky: Elliott is named for
• Estill County, Kentucky: Estill is named for

O

• Owsley County, Kentucky: Owsley is named for William Owsley, a judge on the Supreme Court of Kentucky as well as governor of the state.

See also

• Kentucky
• List of Kentucky counties
• County (United States)
• Lists of U.S. county name etymologies

Source

• County Name Origins from the State web page