There are two different stories describing the way in which Ann Arbor got its name.  Both of these stories illustrate some of the rich history of Ann Arbor.  Both of these stories begin with the lives of two women, the wives of the initial founders of Ann Arbor.  Founder John Allen was married to a woman named Ann and founder Elisha Rumsey was married to a woman named Mary Ann.  It is agreed that in 1824, these two men officially founded Ann Arbor.  At this point, the story goes one of two ways.

In the first version of the story, the settlement of Ann Arbor began with the two wives discovering a wild grape arbor which they proceeded to tend over the course of their days, turning it in to a beautiful and relaxing area.  To honor both the wives and the area, Ann Arbor was so-named.

In the second version of the story, the men are more prevalent, with the decision to name Ann Arbor being made by founder John Allen.  It is said that he originally considered naming it Allenville, but this was rejected by founder Elisha Rumsey.  He then considered naming it Annapolis, but eventually, the founders determined that the term arbor best described the natural state of the land, and the name Ann Arbor was selected.

Less than fifteen years after these influential men and their wives founded the beautiful area, the University of Michigan was established and Ann Arbor began to grow.  To this day, the interconnection between the men and women of Ann Arbor, the lush vegetation of the area, and the university campus are central to the life of the city.

The Making of Ann Arbor ..... Ann Arbor District Library