However, if you define a shire as any county with ancient boundaries and local pride, the number is closer to .
Historically, England was divided into 39 ancient counties, many of which were originally called "shires". how many shires in england
Historically, almost all English counties were called “shires” (e.g., Yorkshire, Lancashire, Devonshire). Some never adopted the suffix (e.g., Kent, Sussex, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk) because they originated from older kingdoms (e.g., East Saxons → Essex). Those lacking “-shire” are still shires in the historical sense. However, if you define a shire as any
The Shires of England: A Guide to the Nation’s Historic and Modern Counties Some never adopted the suffix (e
This report is accurate as of 2024. Local government reorganizations (e.g., proposed unitarisation in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Somerset) may change the number of two-tier shire counties in future.