Avon
Pronunciation: Ay-vahn
Population as of 2020: 4,777
Incorporated: 1888
Original Name:Punkapoag
“On the covers of the annual town reports is a small portrait of William Shakespeare, indicating that the town derives its name from the birthplace of the immortal bard – “Stratford-on-Avon” in England.”
Bellingham
Pronunciation: Belling-ham
Population as of 2020: 16,945
Incorporated: 1719
Original Name: Pecumtuck?
“The Town of Bellingham was named for the third Governor of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, a puritan lawyer, Sir Richard Bellingham . Sir Bellingham, whose name is preserved in. Hawthorne’s famous “Scarlet Letter”, was born in England in 1591 and educated as a lawyer there.”(source)
Quincy
Pronunciation: Quinn-zee
Population as of 2020: 101,636
Incorporated: 1792 (town), 1888 (city)
Original Name: Moswetuset Hummock
Quincy was named for John Quincy, John Quincy Adams’ great-grandfather.
It was also the site of the Merry Mount colony, home of pagan rituals and debauchery. In 17th century Massachusetts? Yes!
Braintree
Pronunciation: like it looks
Population as of 2020: 39,143
Incorporated: 1640 (town), 2007 (city)
Original Name: Monoticut
“The area was resettled and incorporated as the town of Braintree, named after the English town of Braintree in 1640.” (Source)
Brookline
Pronunciation: Brook-lyne
Population as of 2020: 63,191
Incorporated: 1705
Original Name: unknown
“…that Brookline borrowed its name from one of the farms within its bounds, namely, the Gates farm, hired of Judge Sewall, which was probably called Brookline from the circumstance, that Smelt-brook, running through it, was the line of division between that and one of the neighboring farms….” (Source)
Canton
Pronunciation: Can-tun
Population as of 2020: 24,370
Incorporated: 1797
Original Name: Ponkapoag
“…it was renamed because of the local belief that the town was antipodal to Canton (Guangzhou), China.”
It isn’t.
Cohasset
Pronunciation: Coe-hass-it
Population as of 2020: 8,381
Incorporated: 1770
Original Name: Conahasset
“The Town’s name comes from the word Quonahassit or Conahasset, which means “long rock place.” (Source)
Dedham
Pronunciation: Dead-um
Population as of 2020: 25,364
Incorporated: 1636
Original Name: Tiot
Dedham was originally called Contentment by the colonists, but the legislature intervened:
“Though the original settlers sought to name the town “Contentment,” the name “Dedham” was instead selected, it is thought by the Mass Bay governance, perhaps after the northeast Essex village of Dedham, England.” (Source)
The Puritans were a discontented lot, so this tracks.
Dover
Pronunciation: Doe-ver, Doe-vah
Population as of 2020: 5,923
Incorporated: 1836
Original Name: ?
“The chairman of the Springfield Parish committee chose the name “Dover” in honor of his ancestral home in England.” (Source)
Foxborough
Pronunciation: Fox-burro
Population as of 2020: 18,618
Incorporated: 1778
Original Name: Wollomonopoag?
“The date was June 10, 1778, but for whom would the new community be named? News had just reached the Colonies of yet another impassioned presentation before Parliament by Charles James Fox, who was unrelenting in his support for those desiring independence. It was decided that he would be a fitting choice and that the new community would be named Foxborough.” (Source)
Franklin
Pronunciation: like Benjamin
Population as of 2020: 36,745
Incorporated: 1778
Original Name: ?
“In 1778, when the town was incorporated, the designated name Exeter was changed to Franklin in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. In return Franklin was asked to donate a bell for the town’s church steeple.”(source)
Oh dear, another bell. This time they got books instead.
Holbrook
Pronunciation: Hole-brook
Population as of 2020: 11,405
Incorporated: 1872
Original Name: Cochaticquom
“The town, formerly East Randolph, seceded from Randolph in 1872. It was named for Elisha Niles Holbrook, who gave $50,000 to build the town hall, furnish a library and pay off a debt to Randolph.”(source)
Medfield
Pronunciation: easy peasey
Population as of 2020: 12,799
Incorporated: 1651
Original Name: Tiot
“Several reasons have been given for the selection of this name. The most plausible is that the towns of Dedham, Medfield, and Wrentham in England lay near each other; that the early settlers here came from that vicinity, and perpetuated the memory of their native locality in naming these towns. This view is strengthened by the tradition that this town once received the gift of a bell from Medfield in Old England. There is no record, however, in any way relating to it.” (Source)
Bells!
Medway
Pronunciation: like Medfield, but with a way at the end
Population as of 2020: 13,115
Incorporated: 1713
Original Name:Boggastow?
“Medway is the geographical center between Boston, Worcester, and Providence, which is purported by some to explain the origin of the name.” (Source)
Millis
Pronunciation: like Mill-iss
Population as of 2020: 8,460
Incorporated: 1885
Original Name:Boggastow?
Millis was named for Lansing Millis.
“Early in 1885 the easterly part of
Medway was incorporated a new town, and was named Millis, in honor of him who seemed by his social qualities, his interest in the place, and his Christian
character, to win all hearts to himself.” (Source)
That’s…that’s actually really nice.
Milton
Pronunciation: like Mill-tun
Population as of 2020: 28,630
Incorporated: 1662
Original Name:Unquatiquisset
“There are no data from which can be ascertained with entire certainty the origin of the name of this township.” (Source)
According to that same source there are 3 theories (or were, back in 1887):
- Named for poet John Milton
- Named for an actual mill
- Named for Milton, England
I’m guessing it was number 2 but I wish it were number 1. Better to rein in hell, etc. etc.
Needham
Pronunciation: like Need-um
Population as of 2020: 32,091
Incorporated: 1711
Original Name:Tiot?
Needham split from Dedham (as did a large amount of these other towns).
“…the new town was given the name Needham, after the English village of Needham Market (a neighbor of the English town of Dedham).”(source)
Norfolk
Pronunciation: Nor-fahk (my kingdom for a schwa)
Population as of 2020: 11,662
Incorporated: 1870
Original Name:?
Hmmm, this town was incorporated a long time after the county of the same name, which it is a part of. Sounds like by 1870 people were running out of names.
It’s also hard to research (esp. on a phone) because search results are mixed between the county and the town. Also, there seems to be a unwritten law that if I decide to contact a local historical society their website will invariably be busted.
Norwood
Pronunciation:Nor-wood, Nah-wood
Population as of 2020: 31,611
Incorporated: 1872
Original Name: Tiot
Here’s what I know:
For some reason Internet Archive won’t let me copy and paste the text directly.
Anywho, this is as reasonable as many of the other reasons given for naming a town.
Plainville
Pronunciation: do you need my help on this one?
Population as of 2020: 9,945
Incorporated: 1905
Original Name: Wollomonuppoag
“Plainville, Massachusetts was founded in 1905 and got its name after Wrentham residents referred to the area as “the plains.” (Source)
Randolph
Pronunciation: Ran-dolf
Population as of 2020: 34,984
Incorporated: 1793
Original Name: Cochaticquom
“The characteristics of the man already suggest his name, and it is hardly necessary to say that our forefathers thought it appropriate to perpetuate the name of Peyton Randolph.” (Source)
Randolph was a Virginian and the president of the first Continental Congress.
Sharon
Pronunciation: Sha-run
Population as of 2020: 18,575
Incorporated: 1775
Original Name:?
Hmm. I spend a lot of time in Sharon and many people have told me it’s named for the Plain of Sharon in Israel but-did nobody think to write it down?
Here’s a little bit more:
“We may pause now to say that in 1775 Stoughtonham became a full town, and that soon after it made application to the General Court to have its name changed to Washington. This request was not granted, but in 1783 permission was given to adopt the name of Sharon. It took a very active and honorable part in the Revolutionary war, not being surpassed in this regard by any town about it.” (Source)
I’m close by, so I’m working on getting more info.
Stoughton
Pronunciation: Stowt-un
Population as of 2020: 29,281
Incorporated: 1726
Original Name: Squantum
“1726 (December 22) Petition granted for a township. The town would be named for William Stoughton.“ (source)
William Stoughton, William Stoughton, where have I heard that name before?
“William Stoughton is best-remembered for his role as Chief Justice of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which heard the Salem witch cases in 1692.” (Source)
Oh.
Walpole
Pronunciation: Wall-pole
Population as of 2020: 26,383
Incorporated: 1724
Original Name: Moswetuset?
“1724-The petition was granted, with certain stipulation. The new town was named Walpole, in honor of England’s prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, a staunch friend of the American colonies.” (Source)
Walpole was given 10 Downing Street by the King. No word on if he had a cat.
Wellesley
Pronunciation: Welz-lee
Population as of 2020: 29,550
Incorporated: 1881
Original Name:?
“Hunnewell added to their existing property until he had amassed an estate of 600-acres that he named “Wellesley” in honor of his wife’s family…In 1881, the town of West Needham officially changed its name to Wellesley, for the Hunnewell estate.” (Source)
Wellesley College is so named for the same reason.
Westwood
Pronunciation: like you’d think
Population as of 2020: 16,266
Incorporated: 1897
Original Name:
“The Committee voted unanimously, in favor of the petitioners, and accordingly a bill to incorporate the Town of Nahatan was reported in the Senate on March 8, 1897, by Senator Charles F. Woodward, Chairman of the Committee on Towns. No opposition to the passage of the bill appeared until it reached the House, when the representative from Nahant objected to the name ”Nahatan,” owing to its alleged similarity to the name Nahant.
It was desirable for the old, as well as the new town, to have the question of incorporation settled, if possible, before April 5, when appropriations for the coming year were to be made. Therefore, in order to remove every trace of friction, however trivial, and thus expedite matters, the name was
changed to Westwood.” (Source)
Well, ok, but WHY? Maybe they just panicked and started looking around the room for a different name. “West…wood! That’s the ticket!”
Weymouth
Pronunciation: Way-muth
Population as of 2020: 57,437
Incorporated: 1622
Original Name:Wessagusset?
“One hundred more people from Weymouth, England, led by Rev. Joseph Hull, were permitted to join the colony in 1635. On September 2 of that year, the colony was incorporated as a town and its name was officially changed to Weymouth.” (source)
Wrentham
Pronunciation: Ren-thum
Population as of 2020: 12,178
Incorporated: 1673
Original Name: Wollomonopoag
“Wrentham was named after Wrentham, England, (Wrenthams Hamlet), where John Thurston and some other settlers were from.” (Source)
Also, they have Helen Keller’s bathing suit!
Ok, Norfolk County, you’ve been lovely, even though some of your record keeping left much to be desired.
Next up: Plymouth County!
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