This is a list of U.S. county name etymologies, covering the letters S to Z.
S County name State Origin Sabine County Texas Named for the Sabine River (from Spanish sabina, "cypress") Sabine Parish Louisiana Sac County Iowa Named for the Sauk (Sac) people Sacramento County California Named for the city of Sacramento, California, itself named after the sacrament of the Eucharist Sagadahoc County Maine From an Abenaki word meaning "mouth of the big river;" referring to the Kennebec River. Saginaw County Michigan Uncertain; probably from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet": sag (opening) + ong (place of). Saguache County Colorado From a Ute word, "Sa-gua-gua-chi-pa", which roughly translated to "Blue Earth" and referred to clear blue waters from springs in the county. City of Salem Virginia Named for Salem, New Jersey, in honor of William Bryan, who had moved from there. Salem County New Jersey From Salem, a town mentioned in the Old Testament, from Hebrew shalom, "peace"; also from Salem Tenth, an early division of colonial West Jersey. Saline County Arkansas Named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area. Saline County Illinois Named for the Saline River (a tributary of the Ohio River). Saline County Kansas Named for the Saline River (a tributary of the Smoky Hill River). Saline County Missouri Named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area. Saline County Nebraska Named for a belief held by the early pioneers that great salt springs and deposits could be found in the area, a hope found to be false. Salt Lake County Utah Named for the Great Salt Lake. Saluda County South Carolina Named for the Saluda River, named for a Native American tribe that lived along it (also Seleuda, Salutah). Sampson County North Carolina Named for John Sampson, politician. San Augustine County Texas Named for the town of San Augustine, Texas, named for the Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas. San Benito County California Named for the San Benito River, named in turn for Saint Benedict of Nursia. San Bernardino County California Named for the San Bernardino Valley, named for San Bernardino de Sena Estancia, named in turn for Bernardino of Siena. San Diego County California Named for Saint Didacus of Alcalá. City and County of San Francisco California From Mission San Francisco de Asís, a Spanish mission located in what is now the city's Mission District and named for Francis of Assisi. San Jacinto County Texas Named for the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place near the San Jacinto River, named for Saint Hyacinth of Caesarea. San Joaquin County California Named for the San Joaquin River, named for Joachim, father of Mary, mother of Jesus. San Juan County Colorado Named for the San Juan River, named for John the Baptist. San Juan County New Mexico San Juan County Utah San Juan County Washington Named for the San Juan Islands. San Luis Obispo County California Named for the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa ("Mission of Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse"), named in turn for Louis of Toulouse. San Mateo County California Named for Saint Matthew. San Miguel County Colorado Named for the San Miguel River, which runs through the county. San Miguel County New Mexico Named for the church at San Miguel del Vado, Spanish for "Saint Michael of the ford." San Patricio County Texas Named for Saint Patrick; the original settlers were Irish Catholics. San Saba County Texas Named for the San Saba River, which was named for Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. Sanborn County South Dakota Named for George W. Sanborn, president of the Milwaukee Railroad. Sanders County Montana Named for Wilbur Fiske Sanders, pioneer and U.S. Senator. Sandoval County New Mexico Named for the Sandoval family, 17th-century landowners. Sandusky County Ohio Named for the Sandusky River, from Wyandot saandusti, "water (within water-pools)"; or andusti, "cold water". Sangamon County Illinois Named for the Sangamon River, from Pottawatomie Sain-guee-mon meaning "where there is plenty to eat." Sanilac County Michigan Named for Sanilac, a Wyandot (Huron) chief. Sanpete County Utah Named for Sanpitch, a Ute chief. Santa Barbara County California Named for Santa Barbara, California, named for the Santa Barbara Channel, named for Saint Barbara. Santa Clara County California Named for Santa Clara, California, named for the Mission Santa Clara de Asís, itself named for Saint Clare of Assisi. Santa Cruz County Arizona Named for the Santa Cruz River. ("Holy Cross" in Spanish) Santa Cruz County California Named for Santa Cruz, California, named for the Mission Santa Cruz, itself named for Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Santa Fe County New Mexico Named for Santa Fe, New Mexico, from the Spanish for "holy faith." Santa Rosa County Florida Named for Saint Rose of Viterbo. Sarasota County Florida Named for Sarasota, Florida, first recorded as Zarazote, of uncertain origin. Saratoga County New York From Iroquois sah-rah-ka, "the hill beside the river" Sargent County North Dakota Named for H. E. Sargent, railroad executive. Sarpy County Nebraska Named for Peter A. Sarpy, fur trader and businessman. Sauk County Wisconsin Named for the Sauk people. Saunders County Nebraska Named for Alvin Saunders, governor of the Nebraska Territory. Sawyer County Wisconsin Named for Philetus Sawyer, politician. Schenectady County New York Named for Schenectady, New York, from the Mohawk skahnéhtati, "beyond the pines." Schleicher County Texas Named for Gustav Schleicher, engineer, politician and Confederate soldier. Schley County Georgia Named for William Schley, lawyer, jurist, and politician. Schoharie County New York Named for Schoharie, New York, from the Mohawk skoharle, "driftwood." Schoolcraft County Michigan Named for Henry Schoolcraft, geographer, geologist, and ethnologist. Schuyler County Illinois Named for Philip Schuyler, Revolutionary War general and U.S. Senator. Schuyler County Missouri Schuyler County New York Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Named for the Schuylkill River, from Dutch meaning "hidden river" or "sheltered creek." Scioto County Ohio Named for the Scioto River, from Wyandot skɛnǫ·tǫ, "deer." Scotland County Missouri Named for Scotland. Scotland County North Carolina Scott County Iowa Named for General Winfield Scott. Scott County Kansas Scott County Minnesota Scott County Tennessee Scott County Virginia Scott County Indiana Named for Charles Scott, 4th Governor of Kentucky. Scott County Kentucky Scott County Arkansas Named for Andrew Scott, judge. Scott County Illinois Named for Scott County, Kentucky. Scott County Mississippi Named for Abram M. Scott, 7th Governor of Mississippi. Scott County Missouri Named for John Scott, politician. Scotts Bluff County Nebraska Named for Scotts Bluff, named for mountain man and trapper Hiram Scott. Screven County Georgia Named for General James Screven, Revolutionary War soldier. Scurry County Texas Named for William Read Scurry, Confederate general. Searcy County Arkansas Named for Richard Searcy, first clerk and judge in the Arkansas Territory. Sebastian County Arkansas Named for William K. Sebastian, U.S. Senator. Sedgwick County Colorado Named for Fort Sedgwick, an Army post itself named for Civil War general John Sedgwick. Sedgwick County Kansas Named for Civil War general John Sedgwick. Seminole County Florida Named for the Seminole people. Seminole County Georgia Seminole County Oklahoma Seneca County New York Named for the Seneca people. Seneca County Ohio Sequatchie County Tennessee From a Cherokee chief, whose name was from Cherokee siqua utsetsisti, "opossum, he grins or runs". Sequoyah County Oklahoma Named for Sequoyah, Cherokee linguist. Sevier County Arkansas Named for Ambrose Hundley Sevier, politician. Sevier County Tennessee Named for John Sevier (1745–1815), governor of the State of Franklin and first Governor of Tennessee. Sevier County Utah Named for the Sevier River (Spanish: Río Severo, "harsh river"). Seward County Kansas Named for William H. Seward, U.S. Secretary of State and opponent of slavery. Seward County Nebraska Shackelford County Texas Named for Jack Shackelford, doctor and soldier of the Texas Revolution. Shannon County Missouri Named for George Shannon, explorer on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sharkey County Mississippi Named for William L. Sharkey, 25th Governor of Mississippi. Sharp County Arkansas Named for Ephraim Sharp, a state legislator. Shasta County California Named for Mount Shasta, named in turn for the Shasta people. Shawano County Wisconsin From Sawanoh, a Menominee chief. Shawnee County Kansas Named for the Shawnee people. Sheboygan County Wisconsin Named for the Sheboygan River, from Chippewa Shawb-wa-way-gun, meaning "hollow bone", "noise underground" or "river disappearing underground." Shelby County AlabamaNamed for Isaac Shelby, soldier and politician. Shelby County Illinois Shelby County Indiana Shelby County Iowa Shelby County Kentucky Shelby County Missouri Shelby County Ohio Shelby County Tennessee Shelby County Texas Shenandoah County Virginia Named for the Shenandoah River, named for the Senedo people. Sherburne County Minnesota Named for Moses Sherburne, politician and judge. Sheridan County Kansas Named for Philip Sheridan, U.S. Army general. Sheridan County Montana Sheridan County Nebraska Sheridan County North Dakota Sheridan County Wyoming Sherman County Kansas Named for Founding Father Roger Sherman. Sherman County Nebraska Sherman County Oregon Sherman County Texas Shiawassee County Michigan Named for the Shiawassee River, from the Chippewa shia-was-see, "river straight ahead." Shoshone County Idaho Named for the Shoshone people. Sibley County Minnesota Named for Henry Hastings Sibley, first Governor of Minnesota. Sierra County California Named for the Sierra Nevada ("snowy jagged mountain range"). Sierra County New Mexico Named for the Black Range (Spanish: Sierra Diablo). Silver Bow County Montana Named for the Silver Bow Creek, named for how it sparkled in the sun. Simpson County Kentucky Named for John Simpson, soldier and politician. Simpson County Mississippi Named for Josiah Simpson, judge. Sioux County Iowa Named for the Sioux (Oceti Sakowin) people. Sioux County Nebraska Sioux County North Dakota Siskiyou County California Named for the Siskiyou Trail, of unclear origin: Chinook Jargon for "bob-tailed horse," or French six callioux, "six stones." Sitka City and Borough Alaska From Tlingit Shee At'iká, "people on the outside of Baranof Island." Skagit County Washington Named for the Skagit peoples. Skamania County Washington From the Cascades Chinook sk'mániak, "swift waters." Slope County North Dakota Named for the Missouri Slope, a geographical feature. Smith County Kansas Named for J. Nelson Smith, Union soldier in the Civil War. Smith County Mississippi Named for David Smith, Revolutionary War major. Smith County Tennessee Named for Revolutionary War officer and U.S. Senator Daniel Smith Smith County Texas Named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution. Smyth County Virginia Named for Alexander Smyth, politician. Snohomish County Washington Named for the Snohomish River and the Snohomish people. Snyder County Pennsylvania Named for Simon Snyder, third Governor of Pennsylvania. Socorro County New Mexico Named for Socorro, New Mexico, from the Spanish socorro, "help, aid." Solano County California Named for Sem-Yeto, Suisun chief baptized as Francisco Solano. Somerset County Maine Named for Somerset, England. Somerset County Maryland Named for Mary, Lady Somerset, wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour. Somerset County New Jersey Named for Somerset, England. Somerset County Pennsylvania Somervell County Texas Named for Alexander Somervell, Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas. Sonoma County California Named for the city of Sonoma, California, from the Miwok sonoma, "many moons." So