named for the lake of that name within its borders. The word is a Chippewa term, somewhat modified, and signifies "southern" -- Wis. Hist. Colls., xii. It is similar to the French Chaouanon (English, Shawnee), a tribal term. There is no evidence that the Shawnee Indians ever lived in this locality. It was probably the southern boundary of Chippewa tribal territory, although later claimed by the Menominee.

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[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]