218:
209:
812:
32:
924:, cover a little more than half the area of England. The counties that do not use "-shire" are mainly in three areas, in the south-east, south-west and far north of England. Several of these counties no longer exist as administrative units, or have had their administrative boundaries reduced by local government reforms. Several of the successor authorities retain the "-shire" county names, such as
596:
areas. In
Scotland the word "county" was not adopted for the shires. Although "county" appears in some texts, "shire" was the normal name until counties for statutory purposes were created in the nineteenth century. In Ireland "shire" was not used for the counties.
1606:
Today, the concept of a "Shire" still exists in
Virginia code. It is defined as a semi-autonomous subdivision of a consolidated City-County. Currently no Shires exist in the commonwealth and the administrative provision is largely unknown.
699:
have populations exceeding that of towns or municipalities, but retain significant bushlands and/or semi-rural areas, and most have continued to use "shire" in their titles whilst others have dropped it from theirs. These "city-shires" are:
1007:, the word "shire" prevailed over "county" until the 19th century. Earliest sources have the same usage of the "-shire" suffix as in England (though in Scots this was oftenmost "schyr"). Later the "Shire" appears as a separate word.
600:
In most cases, the "shire town" is the seat of the shire's government, or was historically. Sometimes the nomenclature exists even where "county" is used in place of "shire" as in, for instance,
1455:. While these were basically renamed Dutch core settlements, they were quickly converted to English purposes, while the Dutch remained within the colony, as opposed to later practice of the
1775:
3619:
1843:
191:
in the tenth century. In some rural parts of
Australia, a shire is a local government area; however, in Australia, it is not synonymous with a "county", which is a
764:"Shire" also refers, in a narrower sense, to ancient counties with names that ended in "shire". These counties are typically (though not always) named after their
3599:
979:
were formerly known as
Dorsetshire, Rutlandshire and Somersetshire, but these terms are no longer official, and are rarely used outside the local populations.
772:
is attached to most of the names of
English, Scottish and Welsh counties. It tends not to be found in the names of shires that were pre-existing divisions.
1741:
2207:
1836:
1340:
2257:
1383:
1328:
1767:
3614:
192:
1143:
are sometimes found. Also, Morayshire was previously called
Elginshire. There is debate about whether Argyllshire was ever really used.
1866:
3650:
2988:
1829:
208:
217:
3645:
2894:
1207:
are occasionally referred to with the "shire" suffix. The only traditional Welsh county that never takes "shire" in
English is
531:, and spread to most of the rest of England in the tenth century, along with the West Saxon kingdom's political domination. In
3108:
2146:
2837:
3113:
2541:
2045:
1219:
The suffix "-shire" could be a generalised term referring to a district. It did not acquire the strong association with
3040:
581:
2926:
2874:
2783:
528:
184:
115:
96:
3063:
3003:
2963:
2869:
2847:
2631:
2286:
2281:
1952:
963:
was historically known as
Devonshire, although this is no longer the official name. Indeed, it was retained by the
649:
68:
3128:
2889:
2053:
1559:
985:
was a county in the north-east of
England from the early 12th century until 1572, when it was incorporated into
3570:
3123:
2372:
2303:
1633:
1599:
964:
53:
3422:
2497:
1539:
1402:
Colloquially, the term "the Shires" has become used to refer to those counties, particularly of the southern
712:
621:
584:, although other less common sub-divisions existed. An alternative name for a shire was a "sheriffdom" until
75:
1800:
3240:
3047:
2859:
2397:
2274:
2113:
1529:
921:
816:
801:
577:
1427:
was granted county subdivisions and a greater royal presence in 1683, the early ducal colony consisted of
2983:
2728:
1681:
1579:
1011:
3098:
2609:
2197:
1643:
1428:
1004:
82:
3640:
3298:
3270:
3088:
2852:
2604:
2217:
1487:
645:
1821:
539:
was divided into shires. The first shires of
Scotland were created in English-settled areas such as
3303:
3068:
2409:
2086:
1569:
1184:
932:
262:
819:— red indicates "-shire" counties, orange indicates where the "-shire" suffix is occasionally used
64:
2911:
2771:
2749:
2514:
2106:
1853:
1460:
1436:
1432:
1176:
589:
252:
42:
3350:
3427:
3263:
3258:
2788:
2626:
2526:
2262:
2182:
1626:
1589:
1518:
1464:
1406:, which are still largely rural and which are stereotypically thought of as being where a more
49:
20:
3523:
2759:
2443:
2427:
2387:
2377:
2212:
2076:
2058:
1904:
1788:
1549:
1483:
1180:
953:
800:
kingdom before it became an English county. The term "shire" is not used in the names of the
228:
3490:
2382:
1942:
1555:
1514:
1424:
1364:
1304:
797:
637:
295:
243:
8:
3498:
3335:
2993:
2921:
2616:
2574:
2462:
2392:
2367:
2154:
2101:
1914:
1909:
1638:
1595:
1585:
1545:
1468:
1440:
548:
269:), denoting an 'official charge' a 'district under a governor', and a 'care'. In the UK,
588:
reforms separated the two concepts. The phrase "shire county" applies, unofficially, to
3609:
3330:
3318:
3253:
3248:
2968:
2754:
2638:
2521:
2404:
2337:
2229:
2187:
2027:
1648:
1535:
1248:
1055:
998:
730:
718:
629:
3372:
3360:
3008:
2998:
2621:
2599:
2504:
2468:
2362:
2249:
2239:
2224:
2081:
2014:
1621:
1456:
1332:
724:
707:
641:
593:
1382:
are arguably survivals from such districts. Non-county "shires" in Scotland include
327:
is silent, unless the next word begins in a vowel sound. In England and Wales, when
3417:
3215:
2778:
2684:
2437:
2321:
2192:
2172:
2136:
2009:
1980:
1919:
1575:
1379:
1312:
1288:
1208:
1027:
885:
805:
746:
544:
489:
460:
420:
385:
355:
338:
309:
283:
in the later part of the eleventh century. In contemporary British usage, the word
153:
136:
89:
3604:
3589:
Used by ten or more countries or having derived terms. Historical derivations in
3465:
3093:
2796:
2699:
2643:
2580:
2551:
2536:
2316:
2311:
2269:
2234:
2034:
1999:
1974:
1655:
1510:
1387:
1368:
1336:
1224:
1188:
1172:
1164:
1136:
1106:
1047:
1043:
939:
925:
889:
869:
853:
837:
752:
653:
625:
569:
332:
280:
16:
Traditional term for a division of land, found in some English-speaking countries
373:
pronunciation depending on rhoticity. The vowel is normally reduced to a single
2936:
2904:
2766:
2704:
2694:
2689:
2509:
2475:
2343:
2293:
2244:
1937:
1452:
1448:
1300:
1260:
1160:
1039:
986:
946:
913:
881:
841:
379:
3397:
1223:
until later. Other than these, the term was used for several other districts.
3634:
3118:
2958:
2720:
2569:
2432:
2202:
2177:
2020:
1565:
1525:
1479:
1375:
1360:
1324:
1284:
1256:
1192:
1095:
1087:
1051:
1035:
1031:
901:
865:
861:
740:
585:
168:
3518:
3510:
3505:
3470:
2978:
2973:
2884:
2354:
2004:
1966:
1899:
1444:
1391:
1356:
1320:
1292:
1272:
1118:
1110:
1099:
1091:
1079:
1071:
1023:
905:
877:
829:
811:
681:
669:
3412:
1501:
where there is a South Shire – Bennington and a North Shire – Manchester.
568:
and in the later Anglo-Saxon period by a royal official known as a "shire
3138:
3083:
2946:
2941:
2931:
2666:
2661:
2559:
2531:
2096:
2091:
1958:
1676:
1352:
1348:
1344:
1276:
1268:
1236:
1232:
1196:
1128:
1105:
In Scotland four shires have alternative names with the "-shire" suffix:
1059:
982:
893:
765:
605:
3325:
1497:
Vermont has 14 counties – each has one county seat or Shire, except the
3025:
2564:
2419:
2118:
1475:
1459:. Further Anglo-Dutch synthesis occurred when Prince James enacted the
1308:
1296:
1280:
1228:
1168:
1124:
1114:
1083:
1075:
1067:
1063:
1019:
897:
873:
849:
633:
331:
is a place-name suffix, the vowel is unstressed and usually shortened (
288:
573:
3444:
3402:
3377:
3235:
3190:
3078:
3020:
2842:
2591:
1851:
1491:
1316:
1264:
1252:
1244:
1204:
1200:
1140:
1132:
949:
942:
935:
928:
917:
909:
857:
833:
789:
696:
617:
601:
564:
454:
172:
3480:
3475:
31:
3230:
3200:
3030:
2953:
2864:
2676:
2454:
2164:
1403:
1015:
976:
845:
793:
665:
657:
532:
299:
19:
This article is about the administrative unit. For other uses, see
3540:
3434:
3285:
167:) is a traditional term for an administrative division of land in
3535:
3460:
3290:
3280:
3220:
3133:
3103:
3035:
2916:
2128:
1929:
1616:
1407:
1243:
of County Durham, which were incorporated into Northumberland or
1240:
1127:
is occasionally still referred to as Sutherlandshire. Similarly,
972:
677:
552:
540:
188:
1498:
246:
3565:
3555:
3550:
3485:
3439:
3355:
3225:
3210:
3205:
3195:
2879:
2486:
2068:
1220:
968:
781:
692:
661:
524:
315:
275:
232:
mentions locations ending or beginning with 'scire' or 'scira'.
180:
176:
142:
3310:
507:
478:
444:
438:
409:
403:
361:
344:
159:
3560:
3545:
3530:
3407:
3392:
3382:
3367:
3345:
3340:
3275:
3073:
2899:
1801:"§ 15.2-3534. Optional provisions of consolidation agreement"
1152:
960:
773:
644:, use the term "shire" for this unit; the territories of the
374:
498:
469:
3387:
2653:
1991:
777:
685:
673:
672:. Shires are generally functionally indistinguishable from
536:
429:
394:
279:, an administrative term introduced to England through the
828:
Counties in England bearing the "-shire" suffix comprise:
504:
475:
441:
406:
358:
341:
312:
156:
139:
3185:
755:("The Garden Shire", previously "Baulkham Hills Shire")
501:
472:
432:
397:
495:
466:
435:
426:
400:
391:
255:
492:
463:
423:
388:
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
3168:
592:in England, specifically those that are not local
323:; in areas of non-rhotic pronunciation, the final
171:and some other English-speaking countries such as
3632:
1374:Non-county shires were very common in Scotland.
1214:
287:also refers to shires, mainly in places such as
759:
551:more consistently created shires and appointed
1413:
1837:
749:(which is locally referred to as "The Shire")
1509:In 1634, eight "shires" were created in the
523:The system was first used in the kingdom of
3615:List of administrative divisions by country
1418:
1247:in 1844. The suffix was also used for many
1211:; in Welsh it is referred to as 'Sir Fôn'.
715:(which is locally known as "The Peninsula")
562:The shire in early days was governed by an
1844:
1830:
1715:The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
1703:The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
1474:The word also survives in the name of the
992:
1772:freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
1397:
823:
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
1882:
1517:, King of England. They were renamed as
810:
2820:
1159:preceding the name in Welsh) comprise:
1146:
967:until amalgamation in 2007. Similarly,
3633:
1588:(became consolidated with the City of
611:
3167:
2819:
1881:
1864:
1825:
1742:"How Kentville became the shiretown"
1003:In Scotland, barely affected by the
187:, and spread to most of the rest of
54:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
1521:only a few years later. They were:
1499:Shire Towns of Southwestern Vermont
1010:"Shire" names in Scotland comprise
616:"Shire" is the most common word in
13:
1674:
784:, for example, have never borne a
175:. It is generally synonymous with
14:
3662:
1865:
1778:from the original on 3 June 2016.
1439:, after the three titles held by
691:Three LGAs in outer metropolitan
3651:Types of administrative division
2632:Organized incorporated territory
1717:(1991) C.T. Onions, Ed., p. 821.
1705:(1991) C.T. Onions, Ed., p. 821.
488:
459:
419:
384:
354:
337:
308:
216:
207:
152:
135:
30:
3620:Slavic administrative divisions
1789:Cambridge Dictionary definition
1560:Elizabeth City County, Virginia
1167:(historically Carnarvonshire),
695:and four in outer metropolitan
664:for its rural LGA units, while
576:. The shires were divided into
41:needs additional citations for
3646:Place name element etymologies
3169:Non-English terms or loanwords
2373:Direct-controlled municipality
1793:
1782:
1760:
1733:
1720:
1708:
1696:
1668:
1634:Counties of the United Kingdom
1600:Isle of Wight County, Virginia
1319:, and other districts such as
965:Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
788:, as each represents a former
652:are also shires. In contrast,
335:); the pronunciations include
1:
2498:Special administrative region
1661:
1540:Charles City County, Virginia
1363:was until 2023 the name of a
1155:bearing the "-shire" suffix (
713:Shire of Mornington Peninsula
622:local government areas (LGAs)
193:lands administrative division
2398:Mountain resort municipality
2275:Intermediate school district
2258:Educational service district
2114:Regional county municipality
1739:
1530:Northampton County, Virginia
1490:after the English county of
1199:. In Wales, the counties of
817:historic counties of England
760:Shires in the United Kingdom
198:
7:
2729:Autonomous territorial unit
1740:Coleman, Ed (19 May 2015).
1682:Online Etymology Dictionary
1610:
1580:James City County, Virginia
1504:
1414:Shires in the United States
920:. These counties, on their
10:
3667:
2610:National capital territory
2331:Indian reserve/reservation
2198:Indian government district
1852:Designations for types of
1644:Historic counties of Wales
1005:Norman conquest of England
996:
518:
18:
3600:Autonomous administration
3587:
3453:
3178:
3174:
3163:
3056:
2830:
2826:
2815:
2739:
2713:
2675:
2652:
2605:Federal capital territory
2590:
2550:
2485:
2453:
2418:
2353:
2330:
2302:
2218:Non-metropolitan district
2208:Local government district
2163:
2145:
2127:
2067:
2044:
1990:
1965:
1951:
1928:
1892:
1888:
1877:
1873:
1860:
1746:Annapolis Valley Register
1488:Province of New Hampshire
1365:local government district
721:("The Green Wedge Shire")
590:non-metropolitan counties
2410:Specialized municipality
2087:Consolidated city-county
1768:"RootsWeb.com Home Page"
1570:Henrico County, Virginia
1419:New York and New England
1171:(in Welsh- Ceredigion),
802:six traditional counties
547:, in the ninth century.
2772:Military exclusion zone
2750:Exclusive economic zone
2515:National capital region
2107:Non-metropolitan county
1854:administrative division
1461:Dominion of New England
1410:lifestyle is possible.
993:Shire names in Scotland
650:Cocos (Keeling) Islands
298:pronunciation, such as
273:became synonymous with
266:
257:
247:
179:. It was first used in
2789:Self-administered zone
2627:Incorporated territory
2494:Administrative region
2263:Local service district
2183:Congressional district
1627:Comarques of Catalonia
1590:Newport News, Virginia
1467:took over through the
1465:William III of England
1255:and liberties such as
824:Shire names in England
820:
743:("The Bushland Shire")
529:Anglo-Saxon settlement
527:from the beginning of
185:Anglo-Saxon settlement
183:from the beginning of
21:Shire (disambiguation)
2760:Special economic zone
2444:Praetorian prefecture
2428:Autonomous prefecture
2388:Regional municipality
2378:District municipality
2213:Metropolitan district
2077:Administrative county
2059:Residential community
1905:Local government area
1550:York County, Virginia
1117:(Edinburghshire) and
954:South Gloucestershire
922:historical boundaries
814:
731:Shire of Yarra Ranges
229:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
3351:Njësi administrative
2383:Neutral municipality
2322:Subdivision of India
2054:Autonomous community
1943:Metropolitan borough
1883:Common English terms
1805:law.lis.virginia.gov
1556:Elizabeth City Shire
1482:, whose co-founder,
1425:Province of New York
1147:Shire names in Wales
50:improve this article
2994:Autonomous republic
2922:Enclave and exclave
2821:Other English terms
2617:Dependent territory
2463:Autonomous province
2393:Resort municipality
2368:County municipality
2155:Overseas department
2102:Metropolitan county
1915:Unincorporated area
1639:Counties of England
1596:Warrosquyoake Shire
1586:Warwick River Shire
1546:Charles River Shire
1469:Glorious Revolution
1215:Non-county "shires"
1121:(Linlithgowshire).
1113:(Haddingtonshire),
790:Anglo-Saxon kingdom
612:Shires in Australia
535:(1086) the city of
3610:Electoral district
2927:Federal dependency
2755:Free economic zone
2639:Overseas territory
2522:Development region
2405:Rural municipality
2338:Indian reservation
2230:Municipal district
2188:Electoral district
2028:Free imperial city
1649:Shires of Scotland
1536:Charles City Shire
1313:counties corporate
1163:(or Breconshire),
1056:Kirkcudbrightshire
999:Shires of Scotland
821:
719:Shire of Nillumbik
630:Northern Territory
3628:
3627:
3583:
3582:
3579:
3578:
3159:
3158:
3155:
3154:
3151:
3150:
3147:
3146:
2811:
2810:
2807:
2806:
2725:Territorial unit
2622:Federal territory
2600:Capital territory
2505:Autonomous region
2469:Overseas province
2363:City municipality
2254:Service district
2250:Sanitary district
2240:Regional district
2225:Military district
2082:Autonomous county
2015:Incorporated city
1675:Harper, Douglas.
1622:Comarcas of Spain
1457:Acadian Expulsion
725:Shire of Pakenham
708:Shire of Cardinia
642:Western Australia
594:unitary authority
369:, with the final
242:derives from the
126:
125:
118:
100:
3658:
3641:English suffixes
3216:Regierungsbezirk
3176:
3175:
3165:
3164:
2828:
2827:
2817:
2816:
2779:Free speech zone
2685:Charter township
2438:Super-prefecture
2282:Special district
2193:Federal district
2173:Capital district
2137:Overseas country
2010:Independent city
1981:Imperial capital
1920:Unorganized area
1890:
1889:
1879:
1878:
1875:
1874:
1862:
1861:
1846:
1839:
1832:
1823:
1822:
1816:
1815:
1813:
1811:
1797:
1791:
1786:
1780:
1779:
1764:
1758:
1757:
1755:
1753:
1737:
1731:
1724:
1718:
1712:
1706:
1700:
1694:
1693:
1691:
1689:
1672:
1576:James City Shire
1380:Clackmannanshire
1028:Clackmannanshire
886:Northamptonshire
806:Northern Ireland
747:Sutherland Shire
646:Christmas Island
514:
513:
510:
509:
506:
503:
500:
497:
494:
485:
484:
481:
480:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
451:
450:
447:
446:
443:
440:
437:
434:
431:
428:
425:
416:
415:
412:
411:
408:
405:
402:
399:
396:
393:
390:
368:
367:
364:
363:
360:
351:
350:
347:
346:
343:
322:
321:
318:
317:
314:
294:In regions with
260:
250:
220:
211:
166:
165:
162:
161:
158:
149:
148:
145:
144:
141:
121:
114:
110:
107:
101:
99:
58:
34:
26:
3666:
3665:
3661:
3660:
3659:
3657:
3656:
3655:
3631:
3630:
3629:
3624:
3605:Census division
3575:
3449:
3170:
3143:
3094:Imperial Circle
3052:
2822:
2803:
2797:Free-trade zone
2735:
2709:
2700:Survey township
2671:
2648:
2644:Union territory
2586:
2581:Sovereign state
2546:
2537:Overseas region
2481:
2449:
2414:
2349:
2340:(United States)
2326:
2317:Police division
2312:Census division
2298:
2270:School district
2235:Police district
2159:
2141:
2123:
2063:
2040:
2035:Royal free city
2000:Autonomous city
1986:
1975:Federal capital
1961:
1947:
1924:
1884:
1869:
1856:
1850:
1820:
1819:
1809:
1807:
1799:
1798:
1794:
1787:
1783:
1766:
1765:
1761:
1751:
1749:
1738:
1734:
1725:
1721:
1713:
1709:
1701:
1697:
1687:
1685:
1673:
1669:
1664:
1613:
1578:(about 1642-43
1511:Virginia Colony
1507:
1463:and later when
1421:
1416:
1400:
1388:Coldinghamshire
1369:North Yorkshire
1337:Coldinghamshire
1305:West Derbyshire
1225:Bedlingtonshire
1217:
1189:Montgomeryshire
1173:Carmarthenshire
1165:Caernarfonshire
1149:
1137:Caithness-shire
1109:(Forfarshire),
1048:Kincardineshire
1044:Inverness-shire
1001:
995:
890:Nottinghamshire
870:Huntingdonshire
854:Gloucestershire
838:Buckinghamshire
826:
762:
753:The Hills Shire
654:South Australia
626:New South Wales
614:
555:across lowland
521:
491:
487:
462:
458:
422:
418:
387:
383:
357:
353:
340:
336:
333:monophthongized
311:
307:
281:Norman Conquest
263:Old High German
236:
235:
234:
233:
223:
222:
221:
213:
212:
201:
155:
151:
138:
134:
122:
111:
105:
102:
59:
57:
47:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
3664:
3654:
3653:
3648:
3643:
3626:
3625:
3623:
3622:
3617:
3612:
3607:
3602:
3597:
3588:
3585:
3584:
3581:
3580:
3577:
3576:
3574:
3573:
3568:
3563:
3558:
3553:
3548:
3543:
3538:
3533:
3528:
3527:
3526:
3521:
3513:
3508:
3503:
3502:
3501:
3493:
3488:
3483:
3478:
3473:
3468:
3463:
3457:
3455:
3451:
3450:
3448:
3447:
3442:
3437:
3432:
3431:
3430:
3420:
3415:
3410:
3405:
3400:
3395:
3390:
3385:
3380:
3375:
3370:
3365:
3364:
3363:
3353:
3348:
3343:
3338:
3333:
3328:
3323:
3322:
3321:
3313:
3308:
3307:
3306:
3301:
3293:
3288:
3283:
3278:
3273:
3268:
3267:
3266:
3261:
3256:
3251:
3243:
3238:
3233:
3228:
3223:
3218:
3213:
3208:
3203:
3198:
3193:
3188:
3182:
3180:
3172:
3171:
3161:
3160:
3157:
3156:
3153:
3152:
3149:
3148:
3145:
3144:
3142:
3141:
3136:
3131:
3126:
3121:
3116:
3111:
3106:
3101:
3096:
3091:
3086:
3081:
3076:
3071:
3066:
3060:
3058:
3054:
3053:
3051:
3050:
3045:
3044:
3043:
3033:
3028:
3023:
3018:
3013:
3012:
3011:
3001:
2996:
2991:
2986:
2981:
2976:
2971:
2966:
2961:
2956:
2951:
2950:
2949:
2939:
2934:
2929:
2924:
2919:
2914:
2909:
2908:
2907:
2897:
2892:
2887:
2882:
2877:
2872:
2867:
2862:
2857:
2856:
2855:
2845:
2840:
2834:
2832:
2824:
2823:
2813:
2812:
2809:
2808:
2805:
2804:
2802:
2801:
2800:
2799:
2791:
2786:
2781:
2776:
2775:
2774:
2767:Exclusion zone
2764:
2763:
2762:
2757:
2752:
2746:Economic zone
2743:
2741:
2737:
2736:
2734:
2733:
2732:
2731:
2723:
2717:
2715:
2711:
2710:
2708:
2707:
2705:Urban township
2702:
2697:
2695:Paper township
2692:
2690:Civil township
2687:
2681:
2679:
2673:
2672:
2670:
2669:
2664:
2658:
2656:
2650:
2649:
2647:
2646:
2641:
2636:
2635:
2634:
2624:
2619:
2614:
2613:
2612:
2607:
2596:
2594:
2588:
2587:
2585:
2584:
2577:
2572:
2567:
2562:
2556:
2554:
2548:
2547:
2545:
2544:
2539:
2534:
2529:
2524:
2519:
2518:
2517:
2510:Capital region
2507:
2502:
2501:
2500:
2491:
2489:
2483:
2482:
2480:
2479:
2476:Roman province
2472:
2465:
2459:
2457:
2451:
2450:
2448:
2447:
2440:
2435:
2430:
2424:
2422:
2416:
2415:
2413:
2412:
2407:
2402:
2401:
2400:
2390:
2385:
2380:
2375:
2370:
2365:
2359:
2357:
2351:
2350:
2348:
2347:
2344:Indian reserve
2341:
2334:
2332:
2328:
2327:
2325:
2324:
2319:
2314:
2308:
2306:
2300:
2299:
2297:
2296:
2294:Urban district
2291:
2290:
2289:
2279:
2278:
2277:
2267:
2266:
2265:
2260:
2252:
2247:
2245:Rural district
2242:
2237:
2232:
2227:
2222:
2221:
2220:
2210:
2205:
2200:
2195:
2190:
2185:
2180:
2175:
2169:
2167:
2161:
2160:
2158:
2157:
2151:
2149:
2143:
2142:
2140:
2139:
2133:
2131:
2125:
2124:
2122:
2121:
2116:
2111:
2110:
2109:
2099:
2094:
2089:
2084:
2079:
2073:
2071:
2065:
2064:
2062:
2061:
2056:
2050:
2048:
2042:
2041:
2039:
2038:
2031:
2024:
2017:
2012:
2007:
2002:
1996:
1994:
1988:
1987:
1985:
1984:
1977:
1971:
1969:
1963:
1962:
1957:
1955:
1949:
1948:
1946:
1945:
1940:
1938:County borough
1934:
1932:
1926:
1925:
1923:
1922:
1917:
1912:
1907:
1902:
1896:
1894:
1886:
1885:
1871:
1870:
1858:
1857:
1849:
1848:
1841:
1834:
1826:
1818:
1817:
1792:
1781:
1759:
1732:
1719:
1707:
1695:
1666:
1665:
1663:
1660:
1659:
1658:
1653:
1652:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1631:
1630:
1629:
1619:
1612:
1609:
1604:
1603:
1593:
1583:
1573:
1568:(later became
1563:
1553:
1543:
1533:
1506:
1503:
1453:Earl of Ulster
1449:Duke of Albany
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1399:
1396:
1301:Tynemouthshire
1261:Blackburnshire
1216:
1213:
1161:Brecknockshire
1148:
1145:
1040:Dunbartonshire
997:Main article:
994:
991:
987:Northumberland
959:The county of
914:Worcestershire
882:Leicestershire
842:Cambridgeshire
825:
822:
761:
758:
757:
756:
750:
744:
734:
733:
728:
722:
716:
710:
682:municipalities
613:
610:
520:
517:
380:Leicestershire
306:is pronounced
253:Proto-Germanic
225:
224:
215:
214:
206:
205:
204:
203:
202:
200:
197:
124:
123:
38:
36:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3663:
3652:
3649:
3647:
3644:
3642:
3639:
3638:
3636:
3621:
3618:
3616:
3613:
3611:
3608:
3606:
3603:
3601:
3598:
3595:
3594:
3592:
3586:
3572:
3569:
3567:
3564:
3562:
3559:
3557:
3554:
3552:
3549:
3547:
3544:
3542:
3539:
3537:
3534:
3532:
3529:
3525:
3522:
3520:
3517:
3516:
3514:
3512:
3509:
3507:
3504:
3500:
3497:
3496:
3494:
3492:
3489:
3487:
3484:
3482:
3479:
3477:
3474:
3472:
3469:
3467:
3464:
3462:
3459:
3458:
3456:
3452:
3446:
3443:
3441:
3438:
3436:
3433:
3429:
3426:
3425:
3424:
3421:
3419:
3416:
3414:
3411:
3409:
3406:
3404:
3401:
3399:
3396:
3394:
3391:
3389:
3386:
3384:
3381:
3379:
3376:
3374:
3371:
3369:
3366:
3362:
3359:
3358:
3357:
3354:
3352:
3349:
3347:
3344:
3342:
3339:
3337:
3334:
3332:
3329:
3327:
3324:
3320:
3317:
3316:
3314:
3312:
3309:
3305:
3302:
3300:
3297:
3296:
3295:Kommun/Kunta
3294:
3292:
3289:
3287:
3284:
3282:
3279:
3277:
3274:
3272:
3269:
3265:
3262:
3260:
3257:
3255:
3252:
3250:
3247:
3246:
3244:
3242:
3239:
3237:
3234:
3232:
3229:
3227:
3224:
3222:
3219:
3217:
3214:
3212:
3209:
3207:
3204:
3202:
3199:
3197:
3194:
3192:
3189:
3187:
3184:
3183:
3181:
3177:
3173:
3166:
3162:
3140:
3137:
3135:
3132:
3130:
3127:
3125:
3122:
3120:
3119:Roman diocese
3117:
3115:
3112:
3110:
3107:
3105:
3102:
3100:
3097:
3095:
3092:
3090:
3087:
3085:
3082:
3080:
3077:
3075:
3072:
3070:
3067:
3065:
3062:
3061:
3059:
3055:
3049:
3046:
3042:
3039:
3038:
3037:
3034:
3032:
3029:
3027:
3024:
3022:
3019:
3017:
3014:
3010:
3007:
3006:
3005:
3002:
3000:
2997:
2995:
2992:
2990:
2987:
2985:
2982:
2980:
2977:
2975:
2972:
2970:
2967:
2965:
2962:
2960:
2959:Neighbourhood
2957:
2955:
2952:
2948:
2945:
2944:
2943:
2940:
2938:
2935:
2933:
2930:
2928:
2925:
2923:
2920:
2918:
2915:
2913:
2910:
2906:
2903:
2902:
2901:
2898:
2896:
2893:
2891:
2888:
2886:
2883:
2881:
2878:
2876:
2873:
2871:
2868:
2866:
2863:
2861:
2858:
2854:
2851:
2850:
2849:
2846:
2844:
2841:
2839:
2838:Alpine resort
2836:
2835:
2833:
2829:
2825:
2818:
2814:
2798:
2795:
2794:
2792:
2790:
2787:
2785:
2782:
2780:
2777:
2773:
2770:
2769:
2768:
2765:
2761:
2758:
2756:
2753:
2751:
2748:
2747:
2745:
2744:
2742:
2738:
2730:
2727:
2726:
2724:
2722:
2721:Regional unit
2719:
2718:
2716:
2712:
2706:
2703:
2701:
2698:
2696:
2693:
2691:
2688:
2686:
2683:
2682:
2680:
2678:
2674:
2668:
2665:
2663:
2660:
2659:
2657:
2655:
2651:
2645:
2642:
2640:
2637:
2633:
2630:
2629:
2628:
2625:
2623:
2620:
2618:
2615:
2611:
2608:
2606:
2603:
2602:
2601:
2598:
2597:
2595:
2593:
2589:
2583:
2582:
2578:
2576:
2573:
2571:
2570:Federal state
2568:
2566:
2563:
2561:
2558:
2557:
2555:
2553:
2549:
2543:
2540:
2538:
2535:
2533:
2530:
2528:
2525:
2523:
2520:
2516:
2513:
2512:
2511:
2508:
2506:
2503:
2499:
2496:
2495:
2493:
2492:
2490:
2488:
2484:
2478:
2477:
2473:
2471:
2470:
2466:
2464:
2461:
2460:
2458:
2456:
2452:
2446:
2445:
2441:
2439:
2436:
2434:
2433:Subprefecture
2431:
2429:
2426:
2425:
2423:
2421:
2417:
2411:
2408:
2406:
2403:
2399:
2396:
2395:
2394:
2391:
2389:
2386:
2384:
2381:
2379:
2376:
2374:
2371:
2369:
2366:
2364:
2361:
2360:
2358:
2356:
2352:
2345:
2342:
2339:
2336:
2335:
2333:
2329:
2323:
2320:
2318:
2315:
2313:
2310:
2309:
2307:
2305:
2301:
2295:
2292:
2288:
2285:
2284:
2283:
2280:
2276:
2273:
2272:
2271:
2268:
2264:
2261:
2259:
2256:
2255:
2253:
2251:
2248:
2246:
2243:
2241:
2238:
2236:
2233:
2231:
2228:
2226:
2223:
2219:
2216:
2215:
2214:
2211:
2209:
2206:
2204:
2203:Land district
2201:
2199:
2196:
2194:
2191:
2189:
2186:
2184:
2181:
2179:
2178:City district
2176:
2174:
2171:
2170:
2168:
2166:
2162:
2156:
2153:
2152:
2150:
2148:
2144:
2138:
2135:
2134:
2132:
2130:
2126:
2120:
2117:
2115:
2112:
2108:
2105:
2104:
2103:
2100:
2098:
2095:
2093:
2090:
2088:
2085:
2083:
2080:
2078:
2075:
2074:
2072:
2070:
2066:
2060:
2057:
2055:
2052:
2051:
2049:
2047:
2043:
2037:
2036:
2032:
2030:
2029:
2025:
2023:
2022:
2021:Imperial city
2018:
2016:
2013:
2011:
2008:
2006:
2003:
2001:
1998:
1997:
1995:
1993:
1989:
1983:
1982:
1978:
1976:
1973:
1972:
1970:
1968:
1964:
1960:
1956:
1954:
1950:
1944:
1941:
1939:
1936:
1935:
1933:
1931:
1927:
1921:
1918:
1916:
1913:
1911:
1908:
1906:
1903:
1901:
1898:
1897:
1895:
1891:
1887:
1880:
1876:
1872:
1868:
1867:English terms
1863:
1859:
1855:
1847:
1842:
1840:
1835:
1833:
1828:
1827:
1824:
1806:
1802:
1796:
1790:
1785:
1777:
1773:
1769:
1763:
1747:
1743:
1736:
1729:
1728:Medieval York
1726:Gareth Dean,
1723:
1716:
1711:
1704:
1699:
1684:
1683:
1678:
1671:
1667:
1657:
1654:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1636:
1635:
1632:
1628:
1625:
1624:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1614:
1608:
1601:
1597:
1594:
1591:
1587:
1584:
1581:
1577:
1574:
1571:
1567:
1566:Henrico Shire
1564:
1561:
1557:
1554:
1551:
1547:
1544:
1541:
1537:
1534:
1531:
1527:
1526:Accomac Shire
1524:
1523:
1522:
1520:
1516:
1512:
1502:
1500:
1495:
1493:
1489:
1485:
1481:
1480:New Hampshire
1477:
1472:
1470:
1466:
1462:
1458:
1454:
1450:
1446:
1442:
1438:
1434:
1431:, as well as
1430:
1426:
1411:
1409:
1405:
1395:
1393:
1389:
1385:
1381:
1377:
1376:Kinross-shire
1372:
1370:
1366:
1362:
1361:Richmondshire
1358:
1354:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1338:
1334:
1333:Carlisleshire
1330:
1326:
1325:Bamburghshire
1322:
1318:
1314:
1310:
1306:
1302:
1298:
1294:
1290:
1286:
1285:Richmondshire
1282:
1278:
1274:
1270:
1266:
1262:
1258:
1257:Allertonshire
1254:
1250:
1246:
1242:
1238:
1234:
1230:
1226:
1222:
1212:
1210:
1206:
1202:
1198:
1194:
1193:Pembrokeshire
1190:
1186:
1185:Monmouthshire
1182:
1178:
1174:
1170:
1169:Cardiganshire
1166:
1162:
1158:
1154:
1144:
1142:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1122:
1120:
1116:
1112:
1108:
1103:
1101:
1097:
1096:Stirlingshire
1093:
1089:
1088:Roxburghshire
1085:
1081:
1077:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1061:
1057:
1053:
1052:Kinross-shire
1049:
1045:
1041:
1037:
1036:Dumfriesshire
1033:
1032:Cromartyshire
1029:
1025:
1021:
1017:
1013:
1012:Aberdeenshire
1008:
1006:
1000:
990:
988:
984:
980:
978:
974:
970:
966:
962:
957:
955:
951:
948:
944:
941:
937:
934:
930:
927:
923:
919:
915:
911:
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902:Staffordshire
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768:. The suffix
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741:Hornsby Shire
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583:
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169:Great Britain
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67: –
66:
62:
61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
44:
39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
3590:
3511:Maalaiskunta
3471:Heerlijkheid
3311:Län (Sweden)
3015:
2979:Protectorate
2974:Principality
2895:Constituency
2784:Neutral zone
2579:
2474:
2467:
2442:
2355:Municipality
2033:
2026:
2019:
2005:Charter city
1979:
1910:Special area
1900:Insular area
1808:. Retrieved
1804:
1795:
1784:
1771:
1762:
1750:. Retrieved
1745:
1735:
1727:
1722:
1714:
1710:
1702:
1698:
1686:. Retrieved
1680:
1670:
1605:
1548:(since 1643
1538:(since 1637
1528:(since 1642
1513:by order of
1508:
1496:
1486:, named his
1473:
1445:Duke of York
1441:Prince James
1422:
1401:
1398:"The Shires"
1392:Yetholmshire
1373:
1357:Yetholmshire
1341:Coxwoldshire
1321:Applebyshire
1293:Salfordshire
1273:Leylandshire
1218:
1177:Denbighshire
1156:
1150:
1123:
1119:West Lothian
1111:East Lothian
1104:
1100:Wigtownshire
1092:Selkirkshire
1080:Renfrewshire
1072:Peeblesshire
1024:Berwickshire
1009:
1002:
981:
958:
906:Warwickshire
878:Lincolnshire
830:Bedfordshire
827:
792:. Similarly
785:
769:
763:
735:
702:
690:
670:municipality
615:
599:
563:
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549:King David I
522:
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130:
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112:
103:
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79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
3506:Landskommun
3398:Savivaldybė
3264:Switzerland
3259:South Tyrol
3139:Viceroyalty
2932:Governorate
2890:Condominium
2793:Trade zone
2667:Market town
2662:Census town
2560:Proto-state
2532:Microregion
2097:County town
2092:County seat
1959:Half-canton
1423:Before the
1384:Bunkleshire
1353:Mashamshire
1349:Hallamshire
1345:Cravenshire
1329:Bunkleshire
1277:Powdershire
1269:Howdenshire
1237:Islandshire
1233:Norhamshire
1197:Radnorshire
1129:Argyllshire
1060:Lanarkshire
983:Hexhamshire
894:Oxfordshire
766:county town
727:(1862–1994)
703:Melbourne:
606:Nova Scotia
302:, the word
251:, from the
244:Old English
3635:Categories
3454:Historical
3418:Shahrestān
3361:Autonomous
3109:Presidency
3057:Historical
3026:Suzerainty
3009:Autonomous
2853:Autonomous
2575:Free state
2565:City-state
2527:Mesoregion
2420:Prefecture
2147:Department
1752:3 November
1748:. SaltWire
1662:References
1484:John Mason
1429:York Shire
1309:Wivelshire
1297:Triggshire
1289:Riponshire
1281:Pydarshire
1253:wapentakes
1229:Craikshire
1181:Flintshire
1151:Shires in
1125:Sutherland
1115:Midlothian
1084:Ross-shire
1076:Perthshire
1068:Nairnshire
1064:Morayshire
1020:Banffshire
898:Shropshire
874:Lancashire
850:Derbyshire
634:Queensland
620:for rural
582:wapentakes
289:Shire Hall
106:March 2015
76:newspapers
3495:Landskap
3491:Län/Lääni
3445:Vingtaine
3413:Seniūnija
3403:Selsoviet
3378:Poblacion
3315:Landskap
3245:Gemeinde
3236:Freguesia
3191:Apskritis
3114:Residency
3079:Exarchate
3021:Sultanate
2912:Eldership
2843:Bailiwick
2592:Territory
2542:Subregion
2287:in the US
2119:Viscounty
2046:Community
1810:5 October
1515:Charles I
1492:Hampshire
1317:Hullshire
1265:Halfshire
1245:Yorkshire
1205:Glamorgan
1201:Merioneth
1141:Fifeshire
1133:Buteshire
950:Yorkshire
943:Yorkshire
936:Yorkshire
929:Yorkshire
918:Yorkshire
910:Wiltshire
858:Hampshire
834:Berkshire
697:Melbourne
618:Australia
602:Kentville
565:ealdorman
455:Berkshire
238:The word
199:Etymology
173:Australia
3596:See also
3331:Maakunta
3326:Località
3271:Gemeente
3231:Frazione
3201:Barangay
3031:Townland
2969:Precinct
2954:Muftiate
2905:District
2865:Cadastre
2677:Township
2455:Province
2346:(Canada)
2304:Division
2165:District
1776:Archived
1730:2008:21.
1611:See also
1598:(became
1562:in 1643)
1558:(became
1519:counties
1505:Virginia
1404:Midlands
1315:such as
1249:hundreds
1241:exclaves
1209:Anglesey
1016:Ayrshire
977:Somerset
846:Cheshire
794:Cornwall
736:Sydney:
678:boroughs
666:Tasmania
658:district
648:and the
638:Victoria
578:hundreds
553:sheriffs
543:and the
533:Domesday
377:, as in
300:Scotland
285:counties
3591:italics
3551:Satrapy
3536:Pargana
3461:Commote
3319:Finland
3299:Finland
3291:Kampong
3281:Hromada
3254:Germany
3249:Austria
3221:Comarca
3179:Current
3134:Tithing
3104:Monthon
3089:Hundred
3036:Village
2989:Regency
2984:Quarter
2917:Emirate
2885:Commune
2875:Circuit
2831:Current
2129:Country
1967:Capital
1930:Borough
1688:18 July
1677:"Shire"
1617:Comarca
1408:bucolic
973:Rutland
798:British
574:sheriff
545:Borders
541:Lothian
519:Origins
189:England
150:, also
90:scholar
65:"Shire"
3566:Syssel
3556:Socken
3524:Greece
3499:Sweden
3486:Korale
3481:Köping
3476:Komunë
3440:Tehsil
3356:Oblast
3304:Sweden
3226:Comune
3211:Bezirk
3206:Bashki
3196:Bakhsh
3069:Barony
3064:Agency
3041:Summer
3004:Sector
2999:Riding
2964:Parish
2937:Hamlet
2880:Colony
2870:Circle
2848:Banner
2487:Region
2069:County
1953:Canton
1437:Ulster
1433:Albany
1221:county
1195:, and
1098:, and
969:Dorset
952:, and
796:was a
786:-shire
782:Sussex
780:, and
770:-shire
693:Sydney
686:cities
662:region
640:, and
628:, the
557:shores
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296:rhotic
276:county
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3541:Plasă
3531:Pagus
3519:Egypt
3515:Nome
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3428:China
3408:Sitio
3393:Raion
3383:Purok
3373:Ostān
3368:Okrug
3346:Mukim
3341:Muban
3336:Megye
3286:Județ
3276:Gmina
3129:Tenth
3099:March
3074:Burgh
3016:Shire
2947:Royal
2942:Manor
2900:Duchy
2860:Block
2552:State
1476:state
1239:were
1153:Wales
1107:Angus
961:Devon
940:South
926:North
774:Essex
684:, or
674:towns
668:uses
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570:reeve
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