When Schuylkill County was carved out of Berks and Northampton Counties in 1811, it had nine townships - Brunswick, Schuylkill, Manheim, Norwegian, Upper and Lower Mahantongo, and Pine Grove from Berks, and West Penn and Rush Townships from Northampton County.

Of these townships, there survive in name if not in original form Schuylkill, Upper mahantongo, Norwegian, Pine Grove, West Penn, and Rush Townships. Brunswick and Manheim Townships split into two. And Lower Mahantongo dissolved entirely into Hubley, Hegins, Porter and Frailey Townships.

In the intervening years, the overall numer of townships has increased to 37, entirely by subdividing the original areas for the purposes of better administration, etc.

No less than 12 townships are named for judges -
Blythe for the Judge Calvin Blythe,
Eldred for Judge Nathaniel Eldred,
Frailey for Judge Charles M. Frailey,
Foster for Judge Nathaniel Foster,
Hubley for Judge Francis B. Hubley,
Kline for Judge Jacob Kline,
Rahn for Judge George Rahn,
Reilly for Judge Bernard Reilly,
Rush for Judge Jacob Rush,
Ryan for Judge James Ryan,
and Walker for Judge Thomas J. Walker.

Schuylkill bestowed the names of 3 famous statesmen on townships. William Orlando Butler, who served in the War of 1812 and the mexican War, was honored by Butler Township. And from his running mate, Lewis Cass, Democratic candidate for President in 1848 and soldier, explorer, and negotiator of Indian Treaties, Cass Township drew its name. Porter Township was named for Pennsylvania's Governor, David R. Porter.

Three townships draw their names from military heroes. Barry Township is named for Commander John Barry, second only to John Paul Jones in Revolutionary War exploits and commander of the original "Lexington," the ship chosen to convey Lafayette back to England after the War. Washington Township is named, of course, after the Father of our Country, and Wayne Township after the colorful "Mad Anthony" Wayne.

One takes root in a family name, Delano, after Warren Delano, founder of the community of Delano and maternal grandfather of the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Some townships have been given names describing their geographical features - Branch from the west branch of the Schuylkill River, Norwegian and East Norwegian from the Norwegian tract of land so described because its mountainous appearance resembled rugged Norway, Pine Grove from a very fine stand of pine trees in the valley south of Mahantongo Mountain and east of Klinger's Gap, and Tremont from the French "tres monts" or "three mountains."

The Manheims, north and south, and the Brunswicks, east and west, are of German origin: Upper Mahantongo is Indian from the term meaning "where we had plenty of meat to eat" or "plenty of venison;" New Castle, from the coal town of the same name in England; Mahanoy and West Mahanoy Townships, from the Indian name, "mahoni," a lick: Schuylkill, the name bestowed by the Dutch settlers on the river which means "hidden stream" because they sailed past its mouth at first, unable to see it because of great quantities of brush.

West Penn Township takes its name, of course, from William Penn or Pennsylvania.

Union Township drew its name from the union of area from Columbia and Luzerne Counties, then dis-united itself by breaking into three parts, Union, East Union, and North Union Townships