in 1634, the colony was divided into shires. they were soon renamed counties. it is said that thoroughgood used the name of his home in england when helping name new norfolk county in 1637. the following year, new norfolk county was split into upper norfolk county (soon renamed nansemond county) and lower norfolk county. thoroughgood chose to live along the lynnhaven river, also named for his home in england. lower norfolk county was very big. it stretched all the way from the atlantic ocean west past the elizabeth river. it included the entire area that is now the cities of portsmouth, norfolk, chesapeake, and virginia beach.