In just about every other state (looking at you, Alaska) they’re called counties, but here in Louisiana, they’re called parishes (or boroughs in Alaska). Louisiana has 64 parishes, and you might be surprised to learn how a few of them got their names. Sure, there are the presidential ones like Madison, Lincoln, Jackson, and Washington Parishes, but we’ve picked out a few with origin stories that may surprise you.
- Avoyelles Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Created in 1807, Avoyelles Parish may be known for its French colonial history, but this central Louisiana parish is actually named for the Avoyel Native American tribe.
- Bienville Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia This northwestern Louisiana parish was named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the founder of New Orleans.
- Caddo Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia This one was named after the Caddo Native American people, a common thread you’ll notice in the naming of our parishes.
- Cameron Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Cameron Parish was named for Simon Cameron, a Pennsylvanian native who was President Lincoln’s first Secretary of War.
- East and West Baton Rouge Parish
Geetha Prabhakaran/Google The parish names are derived from the French phrase meaning “red stick.” A red stick was used by Native Americans to mark the boundaries between surrounding tribes and their territories.
- Franklin Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia While not a president, you might be surprised to know that this parish is named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
- Iberville Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia You can’t have Bienville without Iberville, which was named after Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, Bienville’s brother.
- Lafayette Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia This one was named for Marquis de la Fayette, America’s favorite fighting Frenchman.
- Lafourche Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Derived from the French phrase “la fourche,” which means “the fork,” Bayou Lafourche is a fork of the Mississippi River, hence the parish’s name!
- Morehouse Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Morehouse Parish was named after an earlier settler, Abraham Morehouse.
- Plaquesmines Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Plaquemines is derived from a Native American word, “piakimin,” which means “persimmon.”
- Richland Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Sometimes, it just exactly what you think - this parish was named for its rich and fertile land!
- St. Tammany Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia St. Tammany is an outlier when it comes to parishes named after saints, as Tammany wasn’t a saint! The parish is actually named for Chief Tamanend, a Principle Lenape Chief who was unofficially considered the “Patron Saint of America.”
- Terrebonne Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia There’s plenty of fertile land that’s great for farming in Louisiana, and that’s why they named Terrebonne after the French phrase for good land, “terre bonne.”
- Vernon Parish
David Benbenick/Wikimedia Last but certainly not least, we can’t have Washington without paying tribute to his home, Mount Vernon.
David Benbenick/Wikimedia
Created in 1807, Avoyelles Parish may be known for its French colonial history, but this central Louisiana parish is actually named for the Avoyel Native American tribe.
This northwestern Louisiana parish was named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the founder of New Orleans.
This one was named after the Caddo Native American people, a common thread you’ll notice in the naming of our parishes.
Cameron Parish was named for Simon Cameron, a Pennsylvanian native who was President Lincoln’s first Secretary of War.
Geetha Prabhakaran/Google
The parish names are derived from the French phrase meaning “red stick.” A red stick was used by Native Americans to mark the boundaries between surrounding tribes and their territories.
While not a president, you might be surprised to know that this parish is named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
You can’t have Bienville without Iberville, which was named after Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, Bienville’s brother.
This one was named for Marquis de la Fayette, America’s favorite fighting Frenchman.
Derived from the French phrase “la fourche,” which means “the fork,” Bayou Lafourche is a fork of the Mississippi River, hence the parish’s name!
Morehouse Parish was named after an earlier settler, Abraham Morehouse.
Plaquemines is derived from a Native American word, “piakimin,” which means “persimmon.”
Sometimes, it just exactly what you think - this parish was named for its rich and fertile land!
St. Tammany is an outlier when it comes to parishes named after saints, as Tammany wasn’t a saint! The parish is actually named for Chief Tamanend, a Principle Lenape Chief who was unofficially considered the “Patron Saint of America.”
There’s plenty of fertile land that’s great for farming in Louisiana, and that’s why they named Terrebonne after the French phrase for good land, “terre bonne.”
Last but certainly not least, we can’t have Washington without paying tribute to his home, Mount Vernon.
Did your parish make the list? Were there any you were surprised to learn? Let us know in the comments! And for further history reading, check out how these small towns in Louisiana got their names.
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Address: Louisiana, USA
