Etymology Map
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County

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means an administrative division of a country

Where does the word "county" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin comitatus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
comitatus
Medieval Latin · medieval
"office of a count"
from 'comes', companion, the title of a count
2
Stage 2 of 3
conté
Old French · medieval
"land of a count"
Normans applied it to the English shires
3
Stage 3 of 3
county
English · 1300s
"a shire"
US states also adopted counties as divisions
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Read the full story

County’s story begins in Medieval Latin: comitatus meant “office of a count.” From 'comes', companion, the title of a count. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as conté. Normans applied it to the English shires. It reached English by 1300s as county. US states also adopted counties as divisions. Today, county means an administrative division of a country.