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MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY -i.21
the larger part of them prior to the beginning of the eighteenth
century.
It has been customary in enumerating the counties of the State to
arrange them according to the dates of their erection and this arrange-
ment is the one most familiar on account of its constant use in legisla-
tive roll calls. The origin of the names of the counties together with the
dates of their formation and their areas are given in the following
table:
Counties. Origin of Name. forma Son sqmire
St. Mary's. ...... In honor of the Virgin Mary, the landing
having been made on the Feast of the
Annunciation ......................... 1637 269.1
Kent ........... After the English county. ............... 1642 281.0
Anne Arundel... .After the Lady Anne Arundel, wife of
Cecilius, second Lord Baltimore. ....... 1650 430.4
Calvert ........ .After the family name of the Proprietary. 1650 216.8
Charles ......... After Charles, Lord Baltimore........... 1658 462.0
Baltimore .......From the Proprietary's Irish Barony
(Celtic bilte mor; i. e. the large town). 1659 646.8
Talbot ..........After Grace Talbot, daughter of George,
first Lord Baltimore.................. 1662 267.1
Somerset ....... After Mary Somerset, sister of Lord Balti-
more ................................ 1666 328.6
Dorchester ...... After Earl Dorset, a family friend of the
Calverts ............................. 166S 573.2
Cecil ........... After the forename of the second Lord
Baltimore ............................ 1G74 374.6
Prince George's. .After Prince George of Denmark. ........ 1695 479.6
^ueen Anne's. . . .After Queen Anne of England. ........... 1706 363.4
Worcester ...... After the Earl of Worcester. ............. 1742 491.5
Frederick .......After Frederick, heir apparent. .......... 1748 660.0
Caroline ........After Lady Calvert, sister of the last Lord
Baltimore ............................ 1773 317.4
Harford ........After Henry Harford, last Proprietary. .. 1773 439.8
Washington ..... After General Washington............... 1776 457.3
Montgomery ....After General Montgomery. ............. 1776 517.6
Allegany ........From Oolikhanna; i. e. beautiful stream.. 1789 440.5
Carroll ......... After Charles Carroll of Carrollton....... 1836 445.3
Howard ........After Col. John Eager Howard, the elder. 1851 249.1
Wicomico ....... After the river of that name, from wicko,
house, and mekee, building; i. e. re-
ferring to an Indian town on the banks. 1867 368.9
Garrett ......... After John W. Garrett................... 1872 681.0
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