Schwyz is another founding member of the Swiss Confederation, whose name derives from the old-German word "swedan"(to burn). It was mentioned in 972 and its name reminds of the times, when the region's residents burnt the woods in order to use the land for agriculture.
For the Habsburger from Austria Schwyz was the nearest founding canton, giving the confederation of the thre cantons its name, which led to the name Switzerland in the end.