This is the last part of my municipal nomenclature series and I’m a little sad. But not too sad, because I know there are plenty more rabbit holes to fall down in my future.
This entry is dedicated to my daughter-in-law Nicole who expressed polite interest in the project and told me to let her know when I got to her hometown. This took me 6 months. It may take me another 6 months to get through this massive list!
Ashburnham
Pronunciation: Ash-burn-ham
Population as of 2020: 6,315
Incorporated: 1765
Original Name: Unknown
Even the local historical societies will tell you they’re not really sure where the name came from, but I have found a clue –
“The request of the petitioners that the new town be called Ashfield was disregarded by the royal Governor. At that date the nobility of England were frequently complimented in the selection of names for the incorporated towns, and Governor Bernard was greatly inclined to this system of nomenclature. The town of Ashfield in this State received its name and its charter only four months after the incorporation of this town, In the employment of that name it is asserted that the Governor tendered a compliment to Lord Thurlow of Ashfield, a member of the king’s council. It is possible that some of the proprietors of Dorchester Canada who were on intimate terms with Governor Bernard proposed the name with a knowledge that it was one he held in reserve for early use, or with equal probability it may be presumed that with more immediate associations the inhabitants found in Ashfield a fitting name for a town engaged in the manufacture of potash. In either event the suggestion was of no avail. The General Court, with an accommodating regard for an assumed prerogative of the Governor, in the act of incorporation, left the name a blank, which was subsequently supplied with the name of Ashburnham which is supposed to be in honor of John, the second Earl of Ashburnham.” (Source)
HA! I KNEW it! I knew we’d see Governor Francis Bernard and his gift for naming towns again. Oh, Francis, you little dickens.
Athol
Pronunciation: ATH-awl
Population as of 2020: 11,945
Incorporated: 1762
Original Name: Pequoiag
“The Indian name of this place was Paqquage or Poquaig. It was incorporated in 1762, and named Athol by Gov. Bernard. It is supposed the Governor named it in honor of James Murray, the second Duke of Athol, Lord Privy Seal of Scotland. There is an Athol in Scotland known as the Province of Athol, from which the Duke derived his title. I am unable to determine how the name originated.” (Source)
Francis, Francis, Francis. What are we going to do with you?
But there’s a twist!
“However, when the town was incorporated in 1762, John Murray, a politician and native of Blair Atholl, chose the name Athol because the rolling hills reminded him of his Scottish hometown. Murray was reported to be a distant cousin of the Duke of Atholl. So, a cousin of royalty bestowed Athol with its name. Very classy.
Or so I thought.
As it turns out, Murray was neither noble nor royal. He was given the paperwork to register the town’s name as Paxton, not Athol. He took it upon himself to change it. Why? Because he was a slippery, duplicitous miscreant. Another town in Worcester County got the name Paxton. We got stuck with Athol.” (Source)
This certainly doesn’t make him out to be a pillar of society:
“It is said that he first began his career as a laborer, but was too lazy to work, so arranged with a friend for a small stock of goods which he peddled about the country, always having a lookout for an opportunity to speculate to his profit. Amassing more wealth, he kept a store for a time, but the confinement of mercantile life became irkmose (sic) to him, and he branched out on more general fields of speculation.” (Source)
That same source says there are records proving Murray’s nobility at the Murray stronghold Blair Castle, which might provide an interesting line of inquiry.
Auburn
Pronunciation: Awe-burn
Population as of 2020: 16,889
Incorporated: 1778
Original Name: Hassanamisitt?
Auburn was originally called Ward but the postmaster complained to the government that they were forever mixing up their mail with mail for Ware, another nearby town. So the state declared Ward to now be Auburn, perhaps inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery. If true, this would make two Massachusetts towns named for cemeteries. (Arlington is the other.) (Source)
Barre
Pronunciation: BAR-ee
Population as of 2020: 5,530
Incorporated: 1774
Original Name: unknown
“This town was incorporated as “Rutland District,” in 1753, but had no representation in the General Court. The people asked for an incorporation as a town under the name of Barre in 1773. The act finally passed in June, 1774. During the interval between the introduction and passage of the act. Gage had succeeded Hutchinson in office, and at its passage procured the insertion of the name of Hutchinson in place of Barre in honor of his predecessor. The name of Hutchinson was odious in the colonies at this time, and the people naturally desired a change, so in 1776 the town petitioned for a change of name, and suggested the name of Wilkes, but through the influence of some one, now unknown, the original name suggested, Barre, was inserted, and in that form the act passed.” (Source)
Isaac Barre was born in Ireland of French refugee parents. He was a war hero and a member of Parliament, where he vehemently opposed the Stamp Act.
Berlin
Pronunciation: BERR-lin
Population as of 2020: 5,530
Incorporated: 1813
Original Name: unknown
“There was some controversy at the time of the incorporation of this district as to the name of the new town. They decided at first to call it “Norrage,” but wisely concluded after due deliberation to name it Berlin, after the capital of Germany. There is a town of this name in nearly every state in the Union. It was frequently pronounced Barlin by the older inhabitants. The true English pronunciation is Berlin, accent on the first syllable, and not Berleen, as pronounced in Germany. It may be presumed that the word pronounced Norrage was spelled Norwich.” (Source)
and
“I have been unable to discover any reason why the incorporators of this District should ask for the name of Berlin…Inquiry of the oldest inhabitants and of the local historian fails to elicit any satisfactory- answer to the question.” (Source)
If they didn’t know in 1883 I’m not sure we’ll ever find out.
Blackstone
Pronunciation: Black-stone (a toughie)
Population as of 2020: 9,208
Incorporated: 1845
Original Name: unknown
“Blackstone…named for the Reverend William Blackstone, an early settler, is located on the southern border of Central Massachusetts with Rhode Island.” (Source)
Blackstone, sometimes spelled Blaxton, was the first English settler of what is now Boston and of what is now Rhode Island. I am unaware of any connection to this town named after him and information online is scarce. Blackstone was on the Blackstone River, so maybe they named it after the river, not the man.
This is a thorough write-up of Blackstone that clears up some of the myths surrounding him.
Bolton
Pronunciation: Bowl-tun
Population as of 2020: 5,665
Incorporated: 1738
Original Name: unknown
“There has always been much conjecture about the naming of Bolton. In earliest days towns chose their own names, often taking that of the English town from whence the settlers had come. After 1725, the Colonial Governor usually inserted a name for the town when he approved and signed the Act of Incorporation. It was customary to compliment men in England who were friendly to the colonies, or to use the name of a particular friend of the Governor.
Governor Belcher chose the name “ Bolton ” in honor of Charles Powlett, third Duke of Bolton. The city of Bolton, England, where the dukedom originated, is in Lancashire County. Several of the early families who settled in Lancaster came to Massachusetts from that county, a fact which may have influenced Governor Belcher in his choice.” (Source)
Charles Paulet, (or Powlett) third Duke of Bolton. (1685-1754) was a “turbulent youth” but eventually got his act together and became a lord of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales (at that time George II).
His mistress was a singer and actress named Lavinia Fenton, who rose to fame playing Polly Peachum in The Beggar’s Opera. I just like saying Polly Peachum.
Here’s a copy of the original act of incorporation.
Boylston
Pronunciation: Boil-stun
Population as of 2020: 4,849
Incorporated: 1786
Original Name: unknown
“The name is derived from one of the eminent Boylston families of Boston, who seemed to have stood for excellent examples in public spirit when the nation well founded was to become a nation fitly adorned. The head of this family made a munificent gift to Harvard College. The first gift of Ward Nicholas Boylston to this new town in 1797 was £40 to be kept as an accumulating fund for such use as the donor should subsequently direct.
The town was faithful to its trust through twenty-eight years, when the patron visiting the town in 1827, found his gift had grown to $1000. He died the following year and by his will directed that the sum of $300 should be given to bring the total fund to $1450, for which in 1830, the town built the substantial and permanently useful granite structure, its Town Hall and school building.” (Source)
“He gave the town a bell and Bible, which is sufficient reason for the belief that the town intended to compliment him in the selection of the name.” (Source)
We have a winner! Boylston actually got their bell!
Brookfield
Pronunciation: Brook-feeld
Population as of 2020: 3,439
Incorporated: 1718
Original Name: Quabog
I can’t find any confirmation but I am going to go out on a limb and guess this name is geographically descriptive.
Charlton
Pronunciation: Charl-tun
Population as of 2020: 13,315
Incorporated: 1775
Original Name:
Here is the theory, developed by Walter Kendall Watkins, Esq.
- Provincial governors chose names for new town with the “name of some friend, patron or English locality.”
- In 1754, Gov. Shirley was out of state and town naming fell to Lt. Governor Spencer Phips
- Phip’s daughter Mary had recently married Richard Lechmere of Boston
- Lechmere was the son of Thomas Lechmere and Ann Winthrop Lechmere.
- Thomas Lechmere’s brother Edmund married the daughter of Sir Blundell Charlton of Ludford, England.
- Sir Blundell was succeeded by Francis Blundell
- Francis was succeeded by Thomas Lechmere’s nephew, who took the last name “Charlton.”
Let me try to simplify this: Charlton is named for the Lt. Governor’s son-in-law’s uncle’s father-in-law. I think. (Source)
I don’t even know with this one.
Clinton
Pronunciation: Clin-tun
Population as of 2020: 15,428
Incorporated: 1850
Original Name:?
“It was named after the DeWitt Clinton Hotel in New York by its founders, carpet loom inventor Erastus Brigham Bigelow and his brother Horatio, owners of the Bigelow Carpet Company.” (Source)
This is definitely the first town I have encountered that is named after a hotel! Or maybe they named after DeWitt Clinton the man, since he was pretty impressive.
Douglas
Pronunciation: Dug-liss
Population as of 2020: 8,983
Incorporated: 1850
Original Name:?
“But it is time for us to trace the origin of the name borne by our town. Dr. William Douglas, an eminent physician of Boston, a Scotchman by birth, author of several historical and medical works, being withal a somewhat extensive land proprietor in various parts of the State, in consideration of the privilege of naming the township, offered the inhabitants the sum of $500 (old tenor), as a fund for the establishment and maintenance of free schools, together with a tract of thirty acres of land, with a dwelling-house and barn standing thereon. It was stipulated in this offer that this land was not to be sold by the town, but it was sold, nevertheless, in the course of a few years afterwards, though the wise and kind intentions of the donor were doubtless fully met by the inhabitants in ordering the proceeds to be carefully invested for the benefit of the school fund. Something more than $900 of the money thus realized still remain in the keeping of the town, the balance having been invested in nonproductive securities. It is said also that a bell was promised to the Center School by Doctor Douglas, besides £50 a year for seven years for the support of the ministry, though quite a portion of these pledges was never received by the town.” (Source)
A bell you say? A bell that never materialized? Fascinating.
Dudley
Pronunciation: Dud-lee
Population as of 2020: 11,921
Incorporated: 1732
Original Name: Chobonokonomun
“…the Town was named after Thomas Dudley, one of the earliest governors of Colonial Massachusetts. It is interesting to note that Governor Dudley never personally visited the Town!” (Source)
OR
“Dudley was incorporated in 1731, and it is said was named from Paul and William Dudley, who were early proprietors”
They were also Thomas Dudley’s grand children.
We’ve met the Dudleys before!
East Brookfield
Pronunciation: Um
Population as of 2020: 2,224
Incorporated: 1920
Original Name: Quabog
Name origin is obvious, but here’s a fun fact: East Brookfield is the newest town in Massachusetts!
Fitchburg
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 2,224
Incorporated: 1764 (town), 1972 (city)
Original Name: ?
“Settlers in the westerly part of Lunenburg, Amos Kimball, Samuel Hunt, and John Fitch, sought for three years to incorporate as a separate township. In 1764 this was accomplished and the name of Fitchburg -“a synonym for heroism” – was chosen.”(Source)
More about John Fitch here.
Gardner
Pronunciation: GARD-ner
Population as of 2020: 21,287
Incorporated: 1785 (town), 1923 (city)
Original Name: ?
“Gardner; town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, named for Col. Thos. Gardner, who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill.” (Source)
Grafton
Pronunciation: GRAF-tun
Population as of 2020: 19,664
Incorporated: 1735
Original Name: Hassanamesit
“Grafton; town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, named for Charles Fitz-Roy, Duke of Grafton.” (Source)
Hardwick
Pronunciation: As written, or Hahd-wick
Population as of 2020: 2,667
Incorporated: 1739
Original Name: Wombemessock
“Hardwick; town in Worcester County. Massachusetts, named for Philip Yorke, Lord Hardwicke, a member of the privy council.” (Source)
Harvard
Pronunciation: As written, or Hah-vahd
Population as of 2020: 6,851
Incorporated: 1732
Original Name: ?
“One of the state’s oldest communities, Harvard, Mass., got its name in 1732. With the form for the articles of incorporation having a blank space for town name, Massachusetts Secretary Josiah Willard, Class of 1698, named the new community after his alma mater.” (Source)
Here’s a letter from Willard.
Holden
Pronunciation: Hole-den
Population as of 2020: 19,905
Incorporated: 1741
Original Name: ?
“Holden derived its name from the Hon. Samuel Holden, a prominent merchant of London, member of Parliament, and a leading director of the Bank of England.
A friend and correspondent for more than forty years of Dr. Benjamin Coleman of Boston, “Mr. Holden furnished abundant proof of his desire to promote the cause of evangelical piety in this country.”” (Source)
Hopedale
Pronunciation: As written
Population as of 2020: 6,017
Incorporated: 1886
Original Name: ?
Hopedale was named after a radical Utopian group that called itself the Hopedale Community. There is a whole bunch of interesting stuff here.
Hubbardston
Pronunciation: HUB-ard-stun
Population as of 2020: 4,328
Incorporated: 1767
Original Name: Naquag
“It does not appear that the people ever suggested a name for the place, and it was probably fixed by the House of Representatives, suggested, perhaps, by some interested individuals. It was given in honor of Hon. Thomas Hubbard, one of the proprietors. He was for many years a prominent man in Boston. Several years he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, and for seventeen years treasurer of Harvard College. As his name appears among the proprietors of some of the neighboring towns, and as treasurer of the proprietors of Royalston, we judge that he was an extensive landholder.
Tradition says that in view of the honor of giving his name to the town, he promised to give the glass for the first meetinghouse ; and to make his liberality more conspicuous, the people planned for an extra number of windows. But he died in 1773, and his estate was so much involved that they received nothing, and were obliged to glaze their windows at their own expense.” (Source)
This is an interesting twist on the bell story.
Lancaster
Pronunciation: LAN-cast-ur
Population as of 2020: 8,441
Incorporated: 1653
Original Name: ?
“The petition requested that the town “be called Prescott” in honor of their leader. The General Court at first granted this request: then someone in authority, remembering that not even a governor of the colony had been honored in this way objected to exalting this blacksmith, who was not even a freeman, and substituted an amendment which was carried, “that it shall be called henceforth ‘West Towne.’” This was not an appropriate name, as Springfield was farther west, and the name was not accepted by the planters. At least then they would ask to honor their leader by remembering his home in England, and another petition went up asking that the town be called ‘Lancaster.’” (Source)
Leicester
Pronunciation: Less-ter
Population as of 2020: 11,087
Incorporated: 1714
Original Name: Towtaid
“The name Leicester was finally settled upon, after Leicester, England, where the father of the first Selectman, Thomas Green, had originated.” (Source)
Leominster
Pronunciation: Lemon-ster
Population as of 2020: 44,209
Incorporated: 1740 (town), 1915 (city)
Original Name: Nashaway?
“The origin of the town’s name is not definitely known. The most convincing explanation refers to John Prescott, the founder of Lancaster. Prescott originally wanted “his” town named after himself, but his request was denied by the General Court. So he named the new town after the county he came from in England – Lancaster. Ancestors of his had once ruled the shire of Leominster, and Prescott’s influence may have convinced the New Grant residents to so name their town. There is no record of any early inhabitant of Leominster having any connection with that English town, and no other explanation has yet surfaced.” (Source)
You know how Johnny Appleseed* went far and wide spreading, well, apple seeds? I like to imagine John Prescott doing the same, but with town names.
*Leominster native!
Lunenburg
Pronunciation: Loon-en-berg
Population as of 2020: 11,782
Incorporated: 1729
Original Name: ?
“Lunenburg derives its name from one of the titles of King George II of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.” (Source)
King George II narrowly edges out his father, King George I, in the race to have the most towns in Massachusetts named after them.
Mendon
Pronunciation: Mend-un
Population as of 2020: 6,228
Incorporated: 1667
Original Name: Squinshepauge
“Did the General Court, in the Act of Incorporation, change the orthography of Mendham to Mendon?” (Source)
Seems likely:
“…and there is no doubt that it was named from Mendham, located on the river ‘Waring, Suffolk County, England, a place of great antiquity. There is no doubt that the General Court in its act of incorporation changed the orthography of the word either accidentally, ignorantly or intentionally, for no such town or place as Mendon existed in England at that time.” (Source)
Milford
Pronunciation: Mil-ford, Mil-fuhd
Population as of 2020: 30,379
Incorporated: 1780
Original Name: Quinshipaug?
“Before any bridges were built, this river had several conspicuous fords, familiar to the Indians, and used for some years by the early white settlers. Hence tradition whispers that Mill River and its fords suggested our town’s name.” (Source)
I don’t know if a traditional whisper counts as a solid answer but it seems to be as good as we’re going to get.
Millbury
Pronunciation: Mil-burry
Population as of 2020: 13,831
Incorporated: 1813
Original Name: unknown
Millbury is a mill town so it probably doesn’t get more complicated than that.
We’ve reached the halfway mark! Yes!
Millville
Pronunciation: Mill rhymes with ville
Population as of 2020: 3,174
Incorporated: 1916
Original Name: unknown
“Millville grew around a succession of mills”
I’m not going to overthink this.
New Braintree
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 996
Incorporated: 1775
Original Name: Wenimessit
This was settled by people from Braintree, so I think this is another gimme.
North Brookfield
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 4,735
Incorporated: 1812
Original Name: Quabog?
Split from Brookfield in 1812.
Northborough
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 15,741
Incorporated: 1766
Original Name: Quabog?
“Marlborough was settled in 1654 and incorporated in 1660. It included, at that time, what is now Southborough, Westborough, Northborough, and Hudson. All these towns, with the exception of Northborough, were set off from Marlborough at different times. Westborough was set off and incorporated in 1717, and it included what is now Northborough. Two settlements grew up in widely separated parts of the town, one of which was in the north part. This settlement was made a precinct in 1744, and was set off as a separate town under the name of Northborough in 1766.” (Source)
Marlborough, Southborough, Westborough, Northborough, and Hudson makes me think of this.
Northbridge
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 16,335
Incorporated: 1772
Original Name: Unknown
“Before its incorporation, July 14, 1772, it was the north part of
Uxbridge, hence its name.” (Source)
Sometimes these seemingly obvious names are the most difficult to document!
Oakham
Pronunciation: Oak-ham
Population as of 2020: 1,851
Incorporated: 1762
Original Name: Naquag
The important part in that is “There is however, nothing in the early historical records which affords any safe clue as to how Oakham, Massachusetts, came to be so named.” (Source)
Oxford
Pronunciation: Like the University and the comma
Population as of 2020: 13,347
Incorporated: 1713
Original Name: Manchawg
“The place was named Oxford after the city of that name in England.” (Source)
Paxton
Pronunciation: Pax-tun
Population as of 2020: 13,347
Incorporated: 1765
Original Name: ?
“When the bill for incorporating this town passed the House of Representatives no name was inserted ; the blank was filled in the Council by the word Paxton, in honor of Charles Paxton, who at that time was marshal of the Admiralty Court and a friend and favorite of Francis Bernard, the Governor, and of Thomas Hutchison, the Deputy-Governor. It is said that Paxton promised the town a church-bell if it was named for him; this promise was never fulfilled. Charles Paxton, although polished in manners and of pleasing address, was an intriguing politician and a despicable sycophant ; ‘ every man’s humble servant, but no man’s friend,’ as his paper figure was labeled, when, on Pope’s day*, as the anniversary of the gunpowder plot was called, it was paraded through the streets of Boston standing between the effigies of the Pope and the devil. He was the tool of Charles Townsend, the Chancellor of the English Exchequer, and with him devised the scheme of raising a revenue from the colonies by a tax on glass, paper, painter’s colors and tea. The passage of this bill by the Parliament of England was greatly aided by Paxton, and returning to Boston, he was put at the head of this internal tax system, and made himself especially obnoxious to the people by reason of his issuing search-warrants to discover supposed smuggled goods, and his course was so insolent and tyrannical that he became an object of public hatred, was even hung in effigy upon Liberty Tree, and was subsequently, by the wrath of the people, driven into Castle William, and finally, at the evacuation, he departed with the British troops and went to England, where he died in 1788.”
The course of this man, who had christened the town with his own name, was such that the bad odor of it readied the inhabitants of the newly fledged district and they were intensely disgusted, and among the earlier public acts of the citizens was to petition for a change of name, and why the Legislature did not grant this reasonable request is a marvel. It should be attempted even at this late day, and there is no good reason why a new name would not be readily granted.”
Whew! Not only was this a Bernard proposition but a missing bell story as well. (I have now collected 7 almost identical tales of promised and never materialized bells. Post to come.)
Paxton sounds like a jerk and Bill Ledyard, the author of this piece in 1889, would be disappointed that the name remains.
*Guy Fawkes Night
Petersham
Pronunciation: Peter-sham
Population as of 2020: 1,194
Incorporated: 1754
Original Name: Nichewaug
“The two plantations of Quabbin and Nichewaug petitioned the General Court at the same time for incorporation as Townships, and the two were acted upon together, the names of both towns left blank until time for the final signatures to be placed upon the documents. Therefore, it is inferred that the Court officials selected the names of two good Old English towns, Greenwich and Petersham, at the time the petitions were approved.” (Source)
Phillipston
Pronunciation: Phillip-ston
Population as of 2020: 1751
Incorporated: 1786
Original Name: None recorded
Phillipston was originally named for politician Elbridge Gerry, he of Gerrymandering fame. But wait! There’s more:
““Elbridge Gerry promised Phillipston that if they named the town after him, he would provide windows for the meeting house, which also served as a church, according to Carole Gariepy, co-author of the “Spirit of Phillipston,” which documents the history of the town. “The History of Worcester County” by A. P. Marvin, according to Peter Drummey, Chief Historian & Stephen T. Riley, Librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society, also mentions Gerry’s supposed offer to “glaze the meeting house” at the time of the town’s incorporation as Gerry in 1786.” (Source)
I see your never delivered bells and raise you never delivered windows!
I am still searching for why they chose Phillipston instead. A lovely reader has alerted me to an article explaining that the town was renamed for the much more preferable Lt. Governor William Phillips. The article in question? The one I already had linked above. Durr.
Princeton
Pronunciation: Like the University
Population as of 2020: 3,495
Incorporated: 1759
Original Name: Wachusett
“This district thus incorporated, and which comprised nearly 15,000 acres, constituting the main part of Princeton, was called Prince Town, to perpetuate the name and memory of Rev. Thomas Prince, then colleague pastor of the Old South Church, Boston, and a large proprietor of this tract of land.” (Source)
I wonder if he knew he had Pelham’s bell.
Royalston
Pronunciation: Royal-stun
Population as of 2020: 1,250
Incorporated: 1765
Original Name:?
“The Proprietors held their meetings in Boston, “at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern,” and at the first meeting it was motioned that the land aforesaid be called Royal-shire, and they unanimously agreed thereto, whereupon the Hon. Isaac Royal generously gave his word to give the Partners twenty-five pounds sterling towards a meeting house for said town. Here we first find our name which is later called Royalston.” (Source)
Isaac Royall Jr. owned a sugar plantation in Antigua and lived in Medford with his family and 24 enslaved people. He increased his wealth by speculating on real estate, which is how he ended up lending his name to the town.
No word whether he actually put up the 25 pounds.
Rutland
Pronunciation: Rut-land
Population as of 2020: 9,049
Incorporated: 1713
Original Name: Naquag
There is absolutely nothing I can find about this town’s name. It’s like a black hole.
Anyway, based on what I know about naming a town (and that’s quite a bit at this point) it was either named after a person or a place. The place would be Rutland, England, which is England’s smallest county. The person is more difficult to pin down. My money’s on John Manners, Second Duke of Rutland, who was Duke in 1713. There’s more about his family here. This is pure speculation on my part.
Wait, this guy has a point:
“A local historian claims that it was named in honor of the Duke of Rutland, but I am inclined to believe that this claim is erroneous. The incorporators no doubt had in mind the County of Rutlandshire, England, which in territory corresponded nearly in size to the then large township of Rutland. It was named at a time when nearly all towns were named after places in the old country. The incorporators asked for the name of Rutland in their petition, and no reason can be assigned why there, coming as they did from the eastern part of Massachusetts, should wish to compliment the Duke of Rutland.” (Source)
EDITED 7/20/26
But on the other hand…look at all the other towns named for random nobles. I’m back on the Duke’s side.
Shrewsbury
Pronunciation: Shrews-burry
Population as of 2020: 38,325
Incorporated: 1727
Original Name:
“The inhabitants, in their petition for incorporation, did not ask for a name, and on what account, and under what circumstances, it took its name, does not appear of record. Probably it was so called by the Proprietors, soon after the grant, from a town of that name in England, whence some of their ancestors came, when they left their native land.” (Source)
Southborough
Pronunciation: South-burro
Population as of 2020: 3,542
Incorporated: 1727
Original Name:?
Here’s where they split from Marlborough.
Southbridge
Pronunciation: Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 17,740
Incorporated: 1816
Original Name: Tantiusques
“In 1801 a poll parish, named the Second Religious Society of Charlton, and popularly called Honest Town, was formed from the west part of Dudley, the south-west part of Charlton and the south-east part of Sturbridge; and in 1816 this parish became the township of Southbridge.” (Source)
Spencer
Pronunciation : Spenser
Population as of 2020: 7,985
Incorporated: 1753
Original Name: Towtaid
“This town was probably named Spencer, in honor of Lieutenant Governor, Spencer Phipps.” (Source)
Sterling
Pronunciation : Stir-ling
Population as of 2020: 11,992
Incorporated: 1781
Original Name: Chocksett
“In 1781, Chocksett separated from Lancaster and was incorporated as Sterling, in honor of William Alexander, Lord Stirling, a Scottish lord who helped the colonists during the Revolutionary War.” (Source)
Sturbridge
Pronunciation : Stir-ling
Population as of 2020: 9,867
Incorporated: 1738
Original Name: Tantiusques
“The name Sturbridge was adopted because ancestors of the first settlers were from Stourbridge which is located in Worcestershire, England.” (Source)
Sutton
Pronunciation : Sut-ton
Population as of 2020: 9,357
Incorporated: 1716
Original Name: Unsure
“The origin of the name of the Town is unknown. Dea. Leland in his papers gives an old tradition concerning it which he regards as well established. It is this:
John Wampus crossed the Atlantic ocean and visited England. While on his return voyage to New England his health failed him, and he received particular attention from one of his fellow-passengers, a Dr. Sutton ; and from gratitude to him for his kindness suggested his name for the Township when he gave the deed conveying it to the Proprietors.”
Templeton
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 8,149
Incorporated: 1762
Original Name: Unsure
“Then in 1762, Narragansett No. 6 was incorporated under the name of Templetown, later Templeton. There were then about four hundred inhabitants. Why this name was given to the town, history does not reveal; but tradition says it was named for Sir John Temple, who at one time was Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire. His picture hangs in our Public Library.”
The timeline fits for this to be a Bernard-named town. Interestingly, Temple seems to have served as Lt. Governor of NH and as surveyor general of customs in the Northern District of America at the same time. That seems…difficult to do, or do well.
Upton
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 8,000
Incorporated: 1728
Original Name: Unsure
“It is not clear who chose the name Upton for our town, however, it is known that in England there is an Upton which is situated 13 miles south of Worcester. Many towns in New England were named after English towns. In Massachusetts, the town of Upton, like its counterpart is also 13 miles south of Worcester.” (Source)
Uxbridge
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 14,162
Incorporated: 1727
Original Name: Unsure
“At the time, the colonies were under the rule of England. The Earl of Paget, who hailed from Uxbridge, England, was the area’s authoritative figure.
While no records verify how the town received its name, Wrona said the correlation with the British city and the Earl of Paget’s influence on the region offers the most logical inference.” (Source)
I can’t find an Earl of Paget. I found a Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, but I’ve no proof that he served as a colonial administrator in any way. He’s certainly not on any list of Massachusetts governors.
The jury’s out on this one
Warren
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 4,975
Incorporated: 1742, renamed 1834.
Original Name: Unsure
“The name was given in honor of Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell on the field of Bunker.” (Source)
According to that source the name change from Western to Warren happened because their mail was getting confused with mail from Weston.
Webster
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 17,776
Incorporated: 1832
Original Name: Chaubunagungamaug
“This town was incorporated in 1832, and named in compliment to Hon. Daniel Webster.” (Source)
Webster was a statesman, politician, orator, slavery defender who was and friend of industrialist Samuel Slater, who founded the town.
West Boylston
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 7,877
Incorporated: 1808
Original Name: Unknown
West Boylston split from Boylston and now has a larger population. Because of the way the surrounding towns were carved up to create new towns “It is no exaggeration to say that every part of West Boylston has been part of at least three different towns.” (Source)
West Brookfield
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 3,833
Incorporated: 1848
Original Name: Wekabaug
I think this one is all set.
Westborough
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 21,567
Incorporated: 1717
Original Name: Unknown
“The town’s name was earned as it lies at the western section – or “borough” – of Marlborough.” (Source)
Westborough was the 100th town incorporated in Massachusetts.
Westminster
Pronunciation : Like it looks
Population as of 2020: 8,213
Incorporated: 1770
Original Name: Unknown
Bear with me…
“The name of the town, thus introduced to the reader’s notice, is one widely known in the world, associated, as it has been for generations, with both the civil and religious interests of the English realm, and found, as it frequently is, on the pages of English literature and in the annals of English life. It is of Anglo-Saxon derivation and of very ancient date. Traced to its origin, it leads back to the time when the course of empire was passing over from the continent of Europe to the British Isles, and when the crude elements of English nationality were emerging from chaos and crystalizing into the forms and institutions of modern society. It is a compound word, formed by the union of two primitive ones, to wit: — West, a cardinal point of the compass, and minster, signifying church, making the combination stand for the West church. How this combination took place and how the resultant term, Westminster, came into use, are matters easily explained. The first converts to Christianity in the mother country erected, at a very early period, a house of worship in the heart of the already existing “city of London,” and dedicated it to the Apostle Paul, the original of the cathedral now bearing the name of that saint; and also, about the same time, a similar structure, in the midst of a settlement some two miles to the westward, which they consecrated to St. Peter. To distinguish these from each other, on the basis of their relative position, the former was sometimes called the East minster, or house of religious convocation, and the latter the West minster. As time went on, however, the first assumed permanently its apostolic designation, while the other retained the one given it by reason of its location, which in due time took on its consolidated form, Westminster; a name that was afterwards applied, not to the ecclesiastical structure alone, but to the whole section of country adjacent thereto. With the growth of the nation, that locality increased in population, wealth, and importance, till it became the “city of Westminster,” and until it was finally incorporated, with the ” city of London ” and contiguous boroughs, as a constituent part of the kingdom’s metropolis. In fact, it rose to be, as it still is, the most noteworthy part of that metropolis — the part not only in which stands the renowned abbey bearing its name, but in which cluster the great interests of the empire, — where the houses of parliament and all the important public offices are situated, where culture and refinement chiefly center, and where are displayed more than in any other locality, the glittering ensigns of royalty and the proud emblems of a mighty nation’s majesty, power, and glory.” (Source)
I’ve been waiting all this time for this sort of robust (albeit rambling) explanation of a name. Westminster it is.
Winchendon
Pronunciation : Win-chen-den
Population as of 2020: 10,364
Incorporated: 1764
Original Name: Unknown
“In 1764, the residents petitioned the court to incorporate and asked for the name Epesberry. The petition came back with the name Winchendon, the name of the estate in England that Gov. Francis Bernard had a heir’s interest in.” (Source)
Francis is up to his old shenanigans!
Worcester
Pronunciation : Wuster, Wooster
Population as of 2020: 213,862
Incorporated: 1722 (town), 1848 (city)
Original Name: Quinsigamond
“”The reasons for the selection of the name of Worcester cannot now be ascertained. It was probably adopted from the place of residence of some of the committee or planters in England.” (Source)”
Fin.
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