Think of it as England's original "local government" district, long before modern councils existed. The term "shire" comes from the Old English word scir , meaning an "office," a "charge," or a "care." It reflects the area that a royal official, known as a sheriff (from shire-reeve ), was responsible for looking after.

In England, a shire is a historic term for a county. For over a thousand years, it has been the primary way the country has been divided for administrative, legal, and military purposes.