LaGrange is named for the home of the Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, a French citizen who came to America to support the Revolution. LaFayette, as a guest of the United States Government, made a "Farewell Tour" of the nation from September 1824 until December 1825. During this time he spent two weeks in Georgia with Governor George M. Troup (namesake of the county, town, and school) serving as his official host. He commented how much the community reminded him of his home "La Grange" (French, literally "the barn" but more colloquially a reference to a farm in general). To honor LaFayette the town adopted that name.