2006-11-30 22:49:00 · 5 answers · asked by webster_12 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
"Shire" was a saxon territorial unit for taxation purposes only, generally rural districts outside the great cities.
The suffix -sex , means "saxon" and was probably employed to establish the political boundaries between the different tribes, on the very first days of their presence in England: "Sussex" for the southern saxons, "Essex" for the eastern saxons, "Wessex" for the westerns ones.
2006-11-30 23:14:27 · answer #1 · answered by Lobo-Feroz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A shire is a term that goes back a long way to describe a governing district. Most shires would have a central city from where the shire "reeve" would rule (shire reeve is where the word "sherriff" is derived)
So for example: the sherriff of the city of nottingham would rule over nottinghamshire :) simple!
as for the "sex" bit - its something to do with the saxon invasion - but not entirely sure to be honest.
2006-12-01 06:58:51 · answer #2 · answered by Sir Digby Chicken Bhuna 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shire is to the British what town is to us. We do Jamestown, Johnstown, etc. They do Jameshire, Johnshire (not really but you get the idea).
Re 'sex' - e.g. Middlesex which was named after a noble.
2006-12-01 06:56:33 · answer #3 · answered by Judith 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sex is short for saxon
2006-12-01 06:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by http://hogshead.pokerknave.com/ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know really, i have been to madainhead england tho.
2006-12-01 07:03:51 · answer #5 · answered by DASH 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋