Hundredum, or Centuria, a part or division of a county, and anciently so called from its containing a hundred families, though the term was also applied to much larger county-divisions, as to the wapentakes of the northern counties. The jurisdiction of the hundred was vested in a sheriff, and he or his deputy held both a court-baron and a court-leet; sometimes this jurisdiction was by special crown grant vested in private persons. When damage was done within their district, the hundred were responsible unless they produced the felon. Sub-divisions of shires have existed since the time of Alfred, and hundreds are mentioned in records of still earlier date.