Did you know that February 13 has been designated “Get a Different Name Day”? While this national, albeit obscure observation was invented purely for fun, it does put one in mind of the unique impact titular claims to fame have on various people and places throughout the world. Some are meaningful and even powerful, while others are downright enigmatic and perplexing in origin. Others boast particularly fascinating backstories to explain their prominence. Then, others remain inconclusive and obscure, even today.
Many Mid-Atlantic states contain communities with less-than-conventional and somewhat confusing names. Interestingly enough, two of the smallest states in the lineup, Delaware and Maryland, have the most oddly named cities and towns per capita in comparison to the others. For this Flashback Friday Feature, and in honor of today’s occasion, I am sharing the backstories behind some of the most bizarrely named communities throughout Delaware and Maryland.
Devious and Deranged Delaware Destinations
Bacons Switch, Delaware
The small town of Bacons, sometimes referred to as Bacons Switch, was named after the historic Bacon family that helped to establish a community in the area south of the state. The “switch” comes from the local railroad that came into being during the late 19th century between the towns of Laurel and Delmar.
Blue Ball, Delaware
While not a town, per se, there is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, that, oddly enough, is called “Blue Ball.” Located just at the junction of U.S. Route 202, Delaware Route 141, and Delaware Route 261, north of Wilmington, Blue Ball was named after a preexisting tavern of the same title, which was established in the area.
Broadkill Beach, Delaware
While the name may sound sinister, it isn’t what you’re thinking. The “kill” in Broadkill simply means creek in the Dutch language. It makes sense given Broadkill’s location and the prominent Dutch origins of many of its early settlers.
Corner Ketch, Delaware
While the actual name “Corner Ketch” remains largely unconfirmed, there is a common community belief that the word “ketch” comes from cache, which is French for hiding place. A secondary idea is that it is a take on the word “kedge,” which was an old English term for a tavern or rest stop. As such, the community is likely to have contained such a point for food and rest in the early days.
Gumboro, Delaware
Gumboro has always been known as a hub for farmland and orchards growing prominent produce throughout the region. While the “boro” refers to a small town, the “gum” comes from the many native gum trees that were once common to these parts.
Leipsic, Delaware
When pronounced verbally, most people can’t help but think of “lipstick” when they hear the name of this community. But the truth is, this little town, founded in 1839, was named after the German city of Leipzig.
Long Neck, Delaware
You can thank William Burton for this funny name, as he was the one who, back in the 17th century, laid the land track in a long, thin shape. It should be noted, though, that “neck” is a term used to describe a narrow strip of land that extends into a body of water, which is common in coastal regions. This land encompasses an area situated south of Rehoboth Bay and north of the Great River.
Pot-Nets, Delaware
Anyone familiar with the region knows that crabbing is big business. Therefore, it only makes sense that the community of Pot-Nets takes its name from the renowned pots and nets used in commercial crabbing and netting of other shellfish and crustaceans throughout Indian River Bay.
Slaughter Beach, Delaware
One of the state’s most devious and deceptive monikers is Slaughter Beach, which was founded in 1681. Interestingly enough, there is no confirmed evidence for which of the nominative accounts is the accurate one. Most agree that the name likely came from the town’s long-ago postmaster, believed to be surnamed “Slaughter.” Another suggestion is that “slaughter” refers to the springtime spawning of horseshoe crabs on the beach, which are known to resemble a mass slaughter of sorts. An even darker account reveals that the terminology of slaughter may indicate an isolated, mass ambushing of Native American leaders during peace talks with early settlers.
Wyoming, Delaware
Before 1856, the railroad station was known as Camden. It was renamed after Wyoming Valley to honor the Rev. John J. Pierce, a pastor who helped plan and later led a church in the town. Pierce himself was originally from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. Still not the Wyoming we were all thinking about!
Maryland’s Most Maniacal Monikers
Accident, Maryland
Located in Garrett County, Accident has a funny backstory on how it came about its name in the late 18th century. The straightforward origin is that two separate surveyors “accidentally” surveyed the same land at the same time, which resulted in duplicated data. Because it was mistakenly done so, it was only befitting to call the surveyed land “Accident.”
Brandywine, Maryland
The origins are a bit foggy here, but most agree that the name “Brandywine” likely derives from the Battle of Brandywine. It was fought on September 11, 1777, when the British captured Philadelphia from George Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Boring, Maryland
No, the name didn’t emerge from a community experiencing a bout of boredom. It is a nod to the surname of former postmaster, David Boring. He was the postmaster when the Western Maryland Railroad requested that the town of Farview change its name to alleviate confusion, as there were various other similarly named communities. Therefore, it’s safe to say they’ve been boring since 1880.
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland, has no connection to the well-known actor of the same name. In fact, the land forming it as well as its name both predate that man’s birth by centuries. Originally established back in 1725 by Lord Baltimore, “Cheivy Chace,” is derived from the Scottish word “chevauchee,” which means a border raid. Baltimore named the land in acknowledgment of the historic battle that took place in 1388 between Lord Percy of England and Earl Douglas of Scotland. When the land was purchased by two men in the 1890s, one of whom was a senator from Nevada, they formed the Chevy Chase Land Company and developed the land with a newer, adaptive spelling of the former term.
Crapo, Maryland
The only crappy thing about this unincorporated hidden gem in Dorchester County is its name. Located next to the Honga River, the confusing moniker arose from the French word “crapaud,” meaning toad, which there are plenty of here, by the way, along with crabs and other shellfish, reptiles, amphibians, and water-loving mammals of Eastern Shore nobility.
Flintstone, Maryland
Where’s the likeliest haunt in Maryland to find Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, and the gang? Just head north to Flintstone. While the preexisting community has no associations with the classic 1960s cartoon of the same title, there is a sign featuring the characters that can be located in the main town. Furthermore, it makes an excellent photo opportunity. For those who were wondering, the town got its name from the abundant flint rock of nearby hills. It was once a haven for Indigenous peoples and early settlers, who relied on the rock to craft tools and weapons from flint. FYI, to classic cartoon lovers, there’s also a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park and Camp Resort to check out, more deliberately derived.
Funkstown, Maryland
The funky name of this town can be traced all the way back to Henry Funk, who purchased the existing land (formerly called “Jerusalem”) back in 1754. Name aside, the town’s most prominent claim to historic importance can be summed up by its local Civil War connections. Not only is it surrounded on three sides by Antietam Creek, but in just one week of the Battle of Gettysburg, another battle broke out here. It was the lesser-known Battle of Funkstown, which occurred on July 10, 1863.
Ladiesburg, Maryland
The historic naming of this small town in Frederick is very straightforward and has been in place since 1810. According to legend, that was when the census was conducted on the community’s first eight residents. The tallies concluded that residency comprised seven women and one man.
Pittsville, Maryland
Pittsville, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has long been known for fruit farms and fresh produce (and manufacturing since the introduction of refrigerated rail cars on the passing rails as of 1910). Strawberries are especially prominent in these parts. But produce pits have nothing to do with the town name. That honor goes to Dr. Hilary R. Pitts, who was also a general practitioner from the surrounding area and a very well-respected citizen, loved by all.
Point of Rocks, Maryland
Again, here is a rather obvious, straightforward moniker for the history books. This Western Maryland community derives its name from the rock formations on the adjacent Catoctin Mountain. They were formed by the Potomac River cutting through the ridge in a water gap, common in the Appalachian Mountains.
Savage, Maryland
Based in Howard County, the town of Savage was named after John Savage, a merchant from Philadelphia, who established a cotton mill in the area. The former cotton mill operation now operates as a hotspot and social/shopping hub, familiarly known as Savage Mill. Here you will find a montage of galleries, restaurants, and retailers.
Secretary, Maryland
According to the town’s own historic archives, the name Secretary dates all the way back to the 1660s and again was born of very obvious circumstances. In short, it was the second Lord Baltimore who named the town in honor of Henry Sewall, who served as the Secretary of Maryland between 1661 and 1665. Why he named it after Sewell’s profession rather than the man himself is anyone’s guess.
These are only some of the strangest-named communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic’s smallest states. There are loads more to be unearthed in these states and throughout the various other ones as well. Many still flaunt unknown, unconfirmed origins that remain speculative mysteries even to this day!