The first warship, an armed cargo ship from World War II, was named for the Somerset counties of Maine, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The modern ship was named specifically for Somerset County Pennsylvania, in honor of the passengers who died on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the terror attacks of 11 September 2001.

The passengers prevented the plane from reaching its intended target by forcing it to crash in Stonycreek Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

"Approximately 22 tons of steel from a Marion 7500 dragline that stood near Flight 93's crash site were used to construct Somerset's keel.

[3] The contract to build the Somerset was awarded on 21 December 2007 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Pascagoula, Mississippi.