This week’s “Daily Journal” guest columnist is Dr. Troy Kickler, Director of the North Carolina History Project. Learn more about the project at northcarolinahistory.org.

A few North Carolina counties, including Cherokee, Pasquotank, and Perquimans, are named for Indian tribes who possessed the land before English settlers arrived. A few, including Watauga and Alamance, are named for bodies of water or land formations. And more than a few are named for English nobles, such as the Earl of Halifax, Sir George Carteret, or the Earl of Mount Edgecombe.

Yet the majority of North Carolina counties are named after American patriots, friends of the American cause during the Revolutionary period, or defenders of liberty during the state’s early years. I hope the namesakes of each county remind readers about both North Carolina’s rich history and the principles that these men defended. Let’s consider one-third of North Carolina’s 100 counties:

1. Buncombe County (established 1791) is named for Col. Edward Buncombe of North Carolina. At the battle of Germantown (1777), the English captured the wounded Patriot. He later died of wounds.
2. Edmund Burke, English statesman and political theorist, is the namesake of Burke County (1777). Many consider Burke to be the father of Anglo-American conservatism.
3. Camden County (1777) is named in honor of the Earl of Camden, who opposed taxation of the American colonies. Disgusted with the Earl’s political views, Lord North removed Camden from his post as Lord High Chancellor.
4. Chatham County (1770) derives its name from William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. In Parliament, Pitt had defended the American colonies. On his deathbed in 1778, Pitt praised the colonies for their resistance.
5. Cleveland County (1841) is called in honor of Col. Benjamin Cleaveland, who fought Tories at the Battle of King’s Mountain (1780).
6. Davidson County (1822) derives its name from Gen. William Davidson. He died at Cowan’s Field (1781) during the American Revolution.
7. Davie County is so called in compliment of Gen. William R. Davie. When North Carolina lacked money to raise troops, Davie donated his fortune and helped raise money to form North Carolina regiments.
8. In 1848, Forsyth County was named for Col. Benjamin Forsythe, who was killed in a skirmish during the War of 1812.
9. Franklin County was named after Benjamin Franklin, an innovative thinker and esteemed diplomat who helped create the United States of America.
10. Gates County derives its name from General Horatio Gates, who defeated the British at Saratoga (1777) and helped turn the tide of war in the American favor.
11. An American hero of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Nathaniel Greene, is the namesake for Greene County, established in 1791 as Dobbs County and renamed in 1799.
12. Iredell County (1788) is named for James Iredell Sr., a leading Federalist during the ratification debates and later one of the first justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.
13. Jones County was named for Willie Jones, who not only fought during the Revolutionary War but also opposed the ratification of the Constitution out of a concern to protect liberty.
14. Lincoln County (1779) was named not for Abraham Lincoln, but for Benjamin Lincoln, who battled the English throughout the South and who was appointed by Gen. George Washington to accept conquered English guns at Yorktown.
15. Col. Joseph McDowell is remembered in the naming of McDowell County (1842). The Colonel served during the Revolutionary War.
16. Madison County is named after the fourth president of the U.S., James Madison.
17. Jackson County is named after Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President.
18. In 1828, Macon County was named for Nathaniel Macon — a leading statesman and opponent of taxation during the early republic era and one whom Thomas Jefferson called “the last of the Romans.”
19. Montgomery County (1779) derives its name from Gen. Richard Montgomery, who died in 1775 while fighting heroically at Quebec.
20. Moore County (1784) is named after the esteemed associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Alfred Moore.
21. Nash County (1777) is named in honor of Gen. Francis Nash, who died fighting the British at Germantown.
22. Gen. Thomas Person was honored with the naming of Person County (1791). The general had opposed the Stamp Act, evinced a “devoted love of liberty,” and risked life during the Revolutionary War.
23. Pitt County was named after William Pitt (see Chatham County).
24. Randolph County (1779) is named for Peyton Randolph, the president of the First Continental Congress and uncle of the first U.S. attorney general, Edmund Randolph.
25. The Duke of Richmond, who championed the American cause in the House of Lords, is the namesake of Richmond County (1779).
26. Robeson County (1786) is named for Col. Thomas Robeson, who “distinguished himself” at the Battle of Elizabethtown (1781).
27. In 1785, Rockingham County was formed and named after another friend of America, Charles Watson Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham. He and William Pitt worked in concert to defend American rights in Parliament.
28. Rutherford County (1779) is called such in honor of Griffith Rutherford, a general during the Revolutionary War.
29. Sampson County (1784) was named for John Sampson, a colonel in the state militia and the first mayor of Wilmington.
30. Stokes County (1789) derives its name from Col. John Stokes, who gallantly served during the American Revolution, most notably at Waxhaw, where an enemy sword cut off his hand. President Washington later appointed Stokes to be a district judge.
31. Created in 1779, Warren County’s namesake is Dr. Joseph Warren. The Massachusetts doctor’s popularity grew when he strongly criticized the British for killing Americans at the Boston Massacre and for unfairly taxing Americans. His contemporaries said that “no example in Roman history” exceeded his moral courage and oratory. The doctor died while fighting at Breed’s Hill (1775).
32. Washington County (1799) is named for George Washington.
33. Wayne County (1779) is named in compliment of Gen. Anthony Wayne (also known as “Mad Anthony” for his daring style and quick temper). He served valiantly throughout the Revolution and earned commendations and medals for his bravery.