COUNTY, in British Geography, originally signified the territory of a count or earl, but is now used in the same sense with shire; the one word coming from the French, the other from the Saxon. The territory of England and Wales is divided into fifty-two counties, Scotland into thirty-three, and Ireland into thirty-two.
The origin of the division of England into counties or shires is not known. It is among the many other arrangements popularly attributed to the administrative genius of Alfred. Several of the English counties are identical, or nearly so, with ancient Saxon kingdoms. Others seem to have gradually formed themselves on the model of these old organizations. The county, as a Scottish territorial division, is of comparatively late application, yet nothing particular is known of its origin. In Ireland the division was adopted on the model of England, and it has only recently been popularly recognized.
For the execution of the laws in the several counties of England, excepting Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham, officers are appointed every Michaelmas term under the denomination of sheriffs. The other officers of the several counties are—lord-lieutenant, who has the command of the militia of the county, custodes rotulorum, justices of peace, bailiffs, high constable, and coroner.
The system of county courts has created a new class of judicial officers for administering local justice in a manner deemed by some to be a restoration of the old county administration.
Of the fifty-two English counties, there are three which, from their peculiar origin, are termed counties palatine, viz., Lancaster, Chester, and Durham.