 The city was originally named Volney after Constantin François de Chassebœuf, comte de Volney, but was changed to honor Robert Fulton, the engineer and inventor, two months after the initial Volney name in 1825.Volney, New York is a town in Oswego County, New York which is also named for Volney.A village within the town of Volney is Fulton, New York which is also named for Robert Fulton.