List of Massachusetts county name etymologies

This is a list of Massachusetts county name etymologies:

Barnstable County: Barnstable County is named after its county seat of Barnstable, which is named after the English town of Barnstaple.
Berkshire County: Berkshire is named for the English county of Berkshire.
Bristol County: Named for its county seat of Bristol, Massachusetts, which is named for the English port city of Bristol. When Bristol joined Rhode Island, the name was kept.
Dukes County: Formerly a part of Dukes County, New York until 1691. The land at one time was literally the possession of the Duke of York.
Essex County: Essex is named for the English county of Essex.
Franklin County: Franklin is named for Benjamin Franklin who was born and raised in Massachusetts.
Hampden County: Hampden is possibly named for "The Patriot" John Hampden, the famous 17th century English parliamentarian.
Hampshire County: Hampshire is named for the English county of Hampshire.
Middlesex County: Middlesex is named for the English county of Middlesex.
Nantucket County: Coterminous with the Town of Nantucket.
Norfolk County: Norfolk is named for the English county of Norfolk.
Plymouth County: Plymouth County is named for its seat of Plymouth, which is named for the English port city of Plymouth.
Suffolk County: Suffolk is named for the English county of Suffolk.
Worcester County: Worcester is named after its county seat of Worcester, which is named in honor of the English town of Worcester and the English Civil War Battle of Worcester in 1651, a Parliamentarian victory.

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