The name Michigan is french, it means "Big Lake". Belleville, Michigan ("Beautiful City;" named for a Paris district) Cadillac, Michigan (named after explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac) Charlevoix, Michigan (named for Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761), a French Jesuit in New France ) Detroit, Michigan ("Strait") Grand Blanc, Michigan ("Large White") Grand Marais, Michigan ("Large Marsh") Gratiot County, Michigan Grosse Ile, Michigan ("Big Island") L'Anse, Michigan ("The Cove") Marquette, Michigan (named after explorer Jacques Marquette) Presque Isle, Michigan (from presqu'île, "peninsula") Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan ("St. Mary's Rapids") St. Clair County, Michigan St. Ignace, Michigan (French translation of St. Ignatius) St. Joseph, Michigan