List of Texas county seat name etymologies

An enlargeable map of the 254 counties of the State of Texas

The following is a list of Texas county seat name etymologies, taken from the Handbook of Texas. A separate list of Texas county name etymologies, covering Texas counties instead of its county seats, is also available.

Contents :

A

County Seat County Named for
Abilene Taylor Abilene, Kansas, a famous cowtown
Albany Shackelford Albany, Georgia, the former home of an early settler
Alice Jim Wells Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg, the daughter of Richard King and wife of Robert Justus Kleberg III of the King Ranch
Alpine Brewster its location in mountainous West Texas
Amarillo Potter nearby Amarillo Lake and Amarillo Creek, in turn probably named for the yellow soil along their banks and shores (Amarillo is the Spanish word for yellow)
Anahuac Chambers the Anahuac region of Mexico, the ancient capital of the Aztecs
Anderson Grimes Kenneth Lewis Anderson, the last vice president of the Republic of Texas
Andrews Andrews Richard Andrews, the first Texan soldier to die in the Texas Revolution
Angleton Brazoria the wife of George W. Angle, a railroad official who had been prominent in making Velasco, Texas a deep-water port
Anson Jones Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas
Archer City Archer Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas
Aspermont Stonewall the Latin word for rough mountain
Athens Henderson hopes that the town would be a cultural center in the vein of Athens, Greece
Austin Travis Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated the Anglo American colonization of Texas and is known as the Father of Texas

B

County Seat County Named for
Baird Callahan Matthew Baird, former owner of the Baldwin Locomotive Works
Ballinger Runnels William Pitt Ballinger, a Galveston attorney and railroad stockholder
Bandera Bandera Bandera Pass, named in turn for the Spanish word for flag
Bastrop Bastrop Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, an early German settler
Bay City Matagorda its location on Bay Prairie
Beaumont Jefferson Jefferson Beaumont, brother-in-law of founder and Texas hero Henry Millard
Beeville Bee Barnard Elliott Bee, Sr., a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas
Bellville Austin Thomas B. Bell, one of the Old Three Hundred
Belton Bell its location in Bell County
Benjamin Knox Benjamin Bedford, a lightning victim and the son of Hilory H. Bedford, a president and controlling stockholder in the Wichita and Brazos Stock Company
Big Lake Reagan nearby Big Lake (which is usually dry in most years as it is located in arid West Texas)
Big Spring Howard nearby "big spring" in Sulphur Draw (a popular and often fought for location in arid West Texas; the spring remains active to this day and is now part of a local park)
Boerne Kendall Ludwig Boerne, a German author and publicist
Bonham Fannin James Butler Bonham, who died at the Alamo (ironically, Fannin County is named for the commander whose help Bonham enlisted to aid at the Alamo)
Boston Bowie Old Boston, Texas, named for store-owner W. J. Boston
Brackettville Kinney Oscar Bernadotte Brackett, an early merchant in the region
Brady McCulloch Brady Creek, which runs through the town
Breckenridge Stephens John Cabell Breckinridge, the fourteenth vice president of the United States (note the change in spelling)
Brenham Washington Richard Fox Brenham, a soldier in the Texas Revolution who had practiced medicine in the vicinity
Brownfield Terry a prominent ranching family in the area
Brownsville Cameron Fort Brown, named in turn for Major Jacob Brown, who died during an attack on the fort in the Mexican-American War
Brownwood Brown Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco
Bryan Brazos William Joel Bryan, a nephew of Stephen Fuller Austin who donated land for the town
Burnet Burnet David G. Burnet, president of the Republic of Texas

C

County Seat County Named for
Caldwell Burleson Mathew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution
Cameron Milam Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution
Canadian Hemphill Its location on the Canadian River
Canton Van Zandt Old Canton, Texas, in neighboring Smith County
Canyon Randall Nearby Palo Duro Canyon
Carrizo Springs Dimmit The nearby springs
Carthage Panola Carthage, Mississippi
Center Shelby Its location in the center of Shelby County (the town and county, though, are near the Louisiana border in East Texas)
Centerville Leon Its location in the center of Leon County (coincidentally, the town is also located almost midway between Dallas and Houston)
Channing Hartley George Channing Rivers, the paymaster of the railroad when it built through the area
Childress Childress George Campbell Childress, the chairman of the committee which authored the Texas Declaration of Independence
Clarendon Donley Clara Sully Carhart, wife of the founder (& possible homage to the Earls of Clarendon)
Clarksville Red River James Clark, the founder of the town
Claude Armstrong Claude Ayers, the engineer of the first train to travel through the area
Cleburne Johnson Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, a Confederate general in the Civil War
Coldspring San Jacinto The cold springwater found at the location
Coleman Coleman Its location in Coleman County, which was named for Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Colorado City Mitchell Its location on the Colorado River
Columbus Colorado Columbus, Ohio
Comanche Comanche Its location in Comanche County, which was named for the Comanche indians
Conroe Montgomery Isaac Conroe, the first postmaster of the town
Cooper Delta L. W. Cooper, a supporter of the bill creating Delta County
Corpus Christi Nueces Nearby Corpus Christi Bay, discovered by Spanish explorer Alvarez de Pineda on the Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin: "Body of Christ")
Corsicana Navarro The island of Corsica, birthplace of the parents of José Antonio Navarro, the namesake of Navarro County
Cotulla La Salle Joseph Cotulla, the developer of the town
Crane Crane William Carey Crane, a past president of the Baylor University
Crockett Houston Davy Crockett, former Tennessee member of Congress and defender of the Alamo
Crosbyton Crosby Stephen Crosby, former commissioner of the Texas General Land Office
Crowell Foard George T. Crowell, owner of the townsite
Crystal City Zavala The clear artesian water of the area
Cuero DeWitt Spanish word for "hide" or "leather:" cattle was (and still is) a major component of the local economy

D

County Seat County Named for
Daingerfield Morris Captain London Daingerfield, who was killed in an 1830 battle with Indians on the site that became the town in the 1840s
Dalhart Dallam Its location on the border between Dallam and Hartley counties
Dallas Dallas Uncertain: the primary report is that founder John Neely Bryan named it for his "good friend Dallas." This person is variously reported as 1) George Mifflin Dallas, the eleventh vice president of the United States; 2) his brother, Alexander Junior, an American commodore; 3) their father, Alexander Senior, United States Secretary of the Treasury around the end of the War of 1812; or 4) some other person named Dallas whose identity is uncertain. Additionally, another report has the town being named Dallas as the result of a town-naming contest in 1842.
Decatur Wise Stephen Decatur, a Revolutionary War naval hero
Del Rio Val Verde Its location on the Rio Grande
Denton Denton Methodist preacher and Indian fighter John Bunyan Denton, who was killed in 1841 at the Battle of Village Creek
Dickens Dickens Its location in Dickens County, which was named for a J. Dickens who fought in the Battle of the Alamo
Dimmitt Castro W. C. Dimmitt, a land owner and developer
Dumas Moore Louis Dumas, president of the Panhandle Townsite Company in Sherman

E

County Seat County Named for
Eagle Pass Maverick A ford called El Paso del Águila from eagles who nested in a grove beside the mouth of the nearby Río Escondido
Eastland Eastland Its location in Eastland County
Edinburg Hidalgo Settler John Young's hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland
Edna Jackson A daughter of Count Joseph Telfener, an Italian entrepreneur who was building a railroad from Richmond, Texas, to Brownsville
El Paso El Paso El Paso del Norte, "The North Pass," the former Spanish name of nearby modern Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Eldorado Schleicher The mythical city of El Dorado
Emory Rains Rains County, which was named for Emory Rains, an early legislator and surveyor of the area

F

County Seat County Named for
Fairfield Freestone Unknown.
Falfurrias Brooks La Mota de Falfurrias, the grove of trees where Edward Lasater established a ranch
Farwell Parmer John V. Farwell, a Chicago merchant and a principal in the Capitol Syndicate, which built the present Texas State Capitol and owned the gigantic XIT Ranch
Floresville Wilson Canary Islands immigrant Don Francisco Flores de Abrego, who established a ranch in the area
Floydada Floyd Uncertain: The town was originally named Floyd City but was required to change it to avoid confusion with Floyd in Hunt County. The new name may have been created from garbling an intended "Floydalia" on the telegraph to Washington or by the addition of either donor James Price or his wife Caroline's mother Ada to the existing name.
Fort Davis Jeff Davis Fort Davis, which was named for Confederate president Jefferson Davis
Fort Stockton Pecos Camp Stockton, which was named in honor of Captain Robert Stockton, a prominent navy officer in the Mexican War
Fort Worth Tarrant Fort Worth, which was named for William Jenkins Worth, a general in the Mexican–American War
Franklin Robertson Old Franklin, the prior county seat, which was named for settler Francis Slauter, who had owned the land on which it was located
Fredericksburg Gillespie Prince Frederick of Prussia

G

County Seat County Named for
Gail Borden Gail Borden, Jr., businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk
Gainesville Cooke United States General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, a sympathizer of the Texas Revolution
Galveston Galveston Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory and an ally of the United States during the American Revolution
Garden City Glasscock Old Garden City, which had been intended to be Gardner City after a local store owner but was misnamed due to typographical error
Gatesville Coryell Nearby Fort Gates on the Leon River, which was named after Bvt. MJ. Collinson Reed Gates, a hero of the Mexican War
George West Live Oak George Washington West, a rancher who founded the town, paid the railroad to build through it, and paid to build the courthouse after county voters approved moving the county seat
Georgetown Williamson George Washington Glasscock, soldier of the Texan Revolution and politician, who donated the land for the site
Giddings Lee Uncertain: Most likely railroad official Jabez Deming Giddings, but possibly his brother, the politician Dewitt Clinton Giddings
Gilmer Upshur Captain Thomas W. Gilmer, United States Secretary of the Navy, who was killed along with county namesake Abel Parker Upshur when a new naval gun exploded during a demonstration aboard the USS Princeton on the Potomac.
Glen Rose Somervell An inversion of the original Rose Glen, selected by the wife of donor T.C. Jordan as a reminder of her native Scotland
Goldthwaite Mills Joe G. Goldthwaite, railroad official for the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway who auctioned the town lots
Goliad Goliad An anagram of the name of Mexican hero Father Miguel Hidalgo
Gonzales Gonzales Rafael Gonzales, governor of Coahuila y Tejas
Graham Young Gustavus A. and Edwin S. Graham, early settlers in the area
Granbury Hood Hiram B. Granbury, Confederate General
Greenville Hunt Thomas J. Green, a general in the Texas Army in the war for independence from Mexico and, later, a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas
Groesbeck Limestone Abram Groesbeeck, a director of the Houston and Texas Central Railway
Groveton Trinity A grove of blackjack trees situated between the town and the nearby lumber mill
Guthrie King W.H. Guthrie of Kentucky, a major stockholder of the Louisville Land and Cattle Company which owned much of the surrounding area

H

County Seat County Named for
Hallettsville Lavaca Settler, widow, and donor Margaret L. Hallett
Hamilton Hamilton James Hamilton, Jr., the former governor of South Carolina who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas
Haskell Haskell Charles Ready Haskell, a soldier killed in the Goliad massacre
Hebbronville Jim Hogg James Richard Hebbron, a local rancher, who donated land for the town's railroad station.
Hemphill Sabine John Hemphill, an early Texas judge and legal scholar, and later a United States Senator
Hempstead Waller Dr. G.S.B. Hempstead of Portsmouth, Ohio, brother-in-law of town co-founder Dr. Richard Rodgers Peebles
Henderson Rusk James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas
Henrietta Clay Uncertain: The law creating Clay County stated the county seat must be named Henrietta. One theory is that Henrietta was intended as the feminized form of county namesake Henry Clay.
Hereford Deaf Smith The Hereford cattle brought to the area by early ranchers
Hillsboro Hill George Washington Hill, Republic of Texas Secretary of War and Marine, surgeon, and early settler of the area
Hondo Medina Named for the nearby Hondo Creek. Hondo in Spanish means deep.
Houston Harris General Sam Houston, commander at the Battle of San Jacinto, and later President of the Republic of Texas and Governor and Senator for the state of Texas
Huntsville Walker Postmaster Ephraim Gray's hometown of Huntsville, Alabama

J

County Seat County Named for
Jacksboro Jack Patrick Churchill Jack, attorney and early Texas colonist, and his brother William Houston Jack, both veterans of the Texas Revolution who founded the city and for whom the county is also named
Jasper Jasper William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero
Jayton Kent the Jay family, early ranchers in the area
Jefferson Marion Thomas Jefferson
Johnson City Blanco James Polk Johnson, early settler and the nephew of Lyndon Baines Johnson's grandfather.
Jourdanton Atascosa Jourdan Campbell, owner of a local ranch, who lent his name to the city.
Junction Kimble its location at the confluence of the North and South Llano Rivers

K

County Seat County Named for
Karnes City Karnes Henry Wax Karnes, a soldier in the Texas Revolution (The "City" was added to avoid confusion with Kerens)
Kaufman Kaufman David Spangler Kaufman, a Jewish state senator and the second Jewish member of the United States House of Representatives
Kermit Winkler Kermit Roosevelt, younger son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Kermit had visited the county to hunt antelope a few months before the town was named.
Kerrville Kerr James Kerr, a Republic of Texas congressman
Kingsville Kleberg Richard King, establisher of the King Ranch
Kountze Hardin Herman and Augustus Kountze, financial backers of the Sabine and East Texas Railroad

L

County Seat County Named for
La Grange Fayette The name of the former home of General Lafayette, the Revolutionary War hero for whom Fayette County is named
Lamesa Dawson Selected in place of the grammatically correct La Mesa, so called due to flatness of surrounding region.
Lampasas Lampasas The nearby Lampasas River, which was possibly named for Lampazos, Mexico
Laredo Webb Laredo, Spain
Leakey Real John Leakey, an early settler in the area
Levelland Hockley The level topography of the surrounding South Plains
Liberty Liberty Uncertain. The town was originally platted as Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de la Libertad, "Town of the Most Holy Trinity at Liberty," in reference to its position on the Trinity and the recent success of the Mexican War of Independence. The mostly Anglo settlers quickly renamed it to Liberty, which is variously explained as a simple Anglicization of the Spanish name or as an homage to their hometown of Liberty, Mississippi.
Linden Cass Uncertain, but reportedly named after the former home of a Tennesseean immigrant
Lipscomb Lipscomb Judge Abner Smith Lipscomb, a Texian Secretary of State
Littlefield Lamb George W. Littlefield, local ranch owner and town founder
Livingston Polk Livingston, Tennessee, hometown of founder Moses L. Choate
Llano Llano The nearby Llano River, which was named for the surrounding plains
Lockhart Caldwell Byrd Lockhart, an assistant surveyor and reportedly the first Anglo to set foot in the county
Longview Gregg Supposedly, for the impressive view railroad management could see from the house of Ossamus Hitch Methvin, Sr., who sold them the land for the town. Possibly ironic, given the town's location in heavily forested East Texas.
Lubbock Lubbock Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a former Texas Ranger (some sources have Lubbock's first name as Thompson)
Lufkin Angelina Abraham P. Lufkin, a cotton merchant and Galveston city councilman, who was the son-in-law of Paul Bremond, president of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway which developed the town

M

County Seat County Named for
Madisonville Madison James Madison, fourth President of the United States
Marfa Presidio Uncertain, though reportedly suggested by the wife of a railroad executive from a character in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov, which she was reading at the time
Marlin Falls John Marlin, pioneer and father-in-law of town founder Samuel A. Blain
Marshall Harrison John Marshall, fourth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Mason Mason Fort Mason, whose etymology is uncertain, though it was probably named after either Lt. George T. Mason, killed during the Mexican-American War at Brownsville, Texas, or for Gen. Richard Barnes Mason.
Matador Motley The Matador Ranch, which was located in the county
McKinney Collin Collin McKinney, one of five drafters and the oldest signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and early settler in the county
Memphis Hall Following a series of failures for the town to select a name not already in use, Rev. John Brice fortuitously noticed a letter in Austin addressed to Memphis, Texas, and marked No such town in Texas
Menard Menard Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas
Mentone Loving Old Mentone, which was named for Menton, France, the hometown of one of its early settlers
Meridian Bosque Uncertain, though most likely due to Commissioner Jasper N. Mabray's belief the town lay on or near the 98th meridian west. Surveyor George Erath had previously named Meridian Creek and Meridian Knobs for such a proximity.
Mertzon Irion M. L. Mertz, a director of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
Miami Roberts Uncertain: Reportedly an Indian word meaning "sweetheart," but could also be named for rivers or other cities named after the Miami Indians
Midland Midland Its location midway between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railway
Monahans Ward Thomas John Monahan, who dug the first water well between the Pecos River and Big Spring in 1881 and selected the site for a water tank
Montague Montague Daniel Montague, a state senator and early surveyor
Morton Cochran Morton Smith, a land agent hired to sell the property after the death of the original landowner
Mount Pleasant Titus A nearby Caddo burial site known as "Pleasant Mound"
Mount Vernon Franklin Mount Vernon, George Washington's homestead
Muleshoe Bailey The nearby Muleshoe Ranch

N

County Seat County Named for
Nacogdoches Nacogdoches The Nacogdoche Indians
New Braunfels Comal Braunfels, Germany, hometown of German nobleman Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, commissioner general of the Adelsverein Society, whose German immigrants settled the area
Newton Newton John Newton, a veteran of the Revolutionary War under the "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion whose exploits were retold (and likely embellished) by Parson Weems

O

County Seat County Named for
Odessa Ector Reportedly named by railroad workers from the Ukraine who ironically named the flat, dry, and treeless town after their very much different hometown
Orange Orange Named for Orange County, which was named for an orange grove owned by George Patillo
Ozona Crockett The quantity of ozone in the local air

P

County Seat County Named for
Paducah Cottle Paducah, Kentucky, the home of an early settler
Panhandle Carson Its location in the Texas Panhandle
Paint Rock Concho Native American pictographs discovered nearby
Palo Pinto Palo Pinto Palo Pinto County
Palestine Anderson Palestine, Illinois, the home of an early settler
Pampa Gray The Argentine pampas, which George Tyng, manager of the local White Deer Land Company, stated the area resembled
Paris Lamar Paris, France
Pearsall Frio Thomas W. Pearsall, vice president of the railroad
Pecos Reeves Nearby Pecos River, which was named for the Pecos Pueblo, which is of unknown etymology
Perryton Ochiltree George M. Perry, an early county judge
Pittsburg Camp Major William H. Pitts, who settled the tract of land which eventually became the town
Plains Yoakum Unknown, but most likely for the surrounding South Plains
Plainview Hale The unobstructed view of the surrounding South Plains
Port Lavaca Calhoun Nearby Lavaca Bay, which was named for the Lavaca River, which is the Spanish translation of the original French Rivière de Les Veches, so called because La Salle found so many bison along its shore during his expedition
Post Garza Founder C. W. Post, the cereal magnate who attempted to develop the town as a Utopian community

Q

County Seat County Named for
Quanah Hardeman Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Indian chief
Quitman Wood Governor John Anthony Quitman of Mississippi, who also served as a soldier in the Mexican War and proposed a filibuster expedition to Cuba

R

County Seat County Named for
Rankin Upton Frederick Harrison Rankin, one of Stephen F. Austin's original Old Three Hundred settlers
Raymondville Willacy Edward Burleson Raymond, a former foreman of a division of the King Ranch
Refugio Refugio The Spanish mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio, "Our Lady of Refuge," which was moved to the site after failed establishments elsewhere
Richmond Fort Bend Richmond, North Yorkshire, England
Rio Grande City Starr Nearby Rio Grande
Robert Lee Coke Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Roby Fisher M. L. and D. C. Roby, developers from Mississippi
Rockport Aransas The rock ledge underneath its shore along the Gulf of Mexico
Rocksprings Edwards Springs bubbling from nearby rocks
Rockwall Rockwall A stone wall discovered beneath the new town site in 1851
Rusk Cherokee Thomas Jefferson Rusk, Texan Secretary of War

S

County Seat County Named for
San Angelo Tom Green Named San Angela by founder Bartholomew DeWitt after an unknown woman named Angela, possibly a nun sister-in-law or a wife Carolina Angela.

Emended to San Angelo after the postal service complained of the ungrammatical construction.

San Antonio Bexar Named for the San Antonio River, discovered on the Catholic Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua
San Augustine San Augustine Uncertain, but most likely for Saint Augustine of Hippo
San Diego Duval Nearby San Diego Creek, presumably named after Saint Didacus of Alcalá
San Marcos Hays Nearby San Marcos River, mistakenly named for original San Marcos (probably either the current Colorado or Navidad), which was discovered on the Catholic Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
San Saba San Saba Nearby San Saba River, which was discovered on the Catholic Feast of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified
Sanderson Terrell Thomas P. Sanderson, a construction engineer
Sarita Kenedy Sarita Kenedy, daughter of ranch owner John Gregory Kenedy, Sr., and granddaughter of Mifflin Kenedy
Seminole Gaines Nearby Seminole watering holes
Seguin Guadalupe Juan Seguín, Tejano soldier in the Texan Revolution
Seymour Baylor Uncertain: The most common version is the name was chosen to honor a local cowboy named Seymour Munday, but other versions report that the name was simply chosen by settler J.W. Fullock or that it was selected to honor New York Governor Horatio Seymour.
Sherman Grayson General Sidney Sherman, hero of the Texas Revolution and man credited with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo!"
Sierra Blanca Hudspeth Nearby Sierra Blanca Mountain
Silverton Briscoe Named by founder Thomas J. Braidfoot.
Sinton San Patricio A major stock-holder in the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company
Snyder Scurry William Henry Snyder, a merchant and buffalo hunter who operated a trading post in the area
Sonora Sutton Sonora, Mexico, hometown of a family servant of landowner Charles G. Adams
Spearman Hansford Railroad executive Thomas E. Spearman
Stanton Martin Supreme Court Justice Edwin McMasters Stanton
Stephenville Erath Landowner John M. Stephens
Sterling City Sterling W.S. Sterling, an early settler
Stinnett Hutchinson Albert Sidney Stinnett of Amarillo, who helped purchase the right-of-way for the railroad
Stratford Sherman Stratford Hall Plantation, the Virginia boyhood home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Sulphur Springs Hopkins Nearby sulphur springs
Sweetwater Nolan Nearby Sweetwater Creek

T

County Seat County Named for
Tahoka Lynn Unknown.
Throckmorton Throckmorton Throckmorton County, which was named for settler William E. Throckmorton, father of Texas Senator and Governor James W. Throckmorton
Tilden McMullen Samuel J. Tilden, Democratic presidential candidate and victim of the Compromise of 1877
Tulia Swisher Nearby Tule Creek
Tyler Smith American President John Tyler

U

County Seat County Named for
Uvalde Uvalde Nearby Cañon de Ugalde, the site of a victory by Spanish governor Juan de Ugalde over the Apache, which was renamed in his honor

V

County Seat County Named for
Van Horn Culberson Union Army Major Jefferson Van Horne
Vega Oldham The Spanish word for meadow.
Vernon Wilbarger Mount Vernon, Virginia, George Washington's homestead
Victoria Victoria Mexican hero and president Guadalupe Victoria

W

County Seat County Named for
Waco McLennan The Waco (Spanish: Hueco) band of the Wichita Indians, who established a village near the modern city
Waxahachie Ellis Nearby Waxahachie Creek, supposedly an Indian name meaning "Buffalo Creek"
Weatherford Parker Jefferson Weatherford, a Texas State Senator for Parker County
Wellington Collingsworth The Duke of Wellington (The nearby Rocking Chair Ranch was partially owned by a relative of the Earl of Aberdeen, who had been with the duke at the Battle of Waterloo)
Wharton Wharton John Wharton and his brother William Wharton, two leaders of the Texas Revolution
Wheeler Wheeler Royal Tyler Wheeler, a chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Wichita Falls Wichita A series of falls formerly located on the Wichita River, before being destroyed by a flood in 1886
Woodville Tyler George T. Wood, the governor of Texas who introduced the bill to establish the county (coincidentally, the city is located in heavily forested East Texas where the timber industry is a major employer)

Z

County Seat County Named for
Zapata Zapata Mexican Colonel Antonio Zapata, a ranch owner and military leader involved in the failed Republic of the Rio Grande

Sources

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