This is a list of nicknames for counties of the United Kingdom. This includes the counties of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Counties are only included if they have a nickname.

List CountyNicknameOrigins and notesThe GlenmenFrom the Glens of AntrimThe Orchard CountyThe Cathedral CountyDue to large number of orchardsDue to St Patrick's Cathedral (Church of Ireland) and St Patrick's Cathedral (Catholic) both being in the city of ArmaghBedfordshireClangersFrom Bedfordshire clangersBerkshireBerksThe Royal CountyShortening of BerkshireDue to Windsor Castle being in the countyBerwickshireDuns-shireDue to Duns being the county townBuckinghamshireBucksShortening of BuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCambsShortening of CambridgeshireCarmarthenshireCarms / Sir GarShortening of Carmarthenshire / Welsh for CarmarthenshireCeredigionCardiganshireCeredigion is from the ancient kingdom but Cardiganshire is sometimes colloquially used insteadClackmannanshireThe Wee CountySmallest county in Scotland and the UK by area.CornwallKernowCornish name for CornwallDerbyshireDerbysShortening of DerbyshireDenbighshire / Sir DdinbychDenbs / DdinbychShortening of Denbighshire / Shorthand from WelshThe Mourne CountyFrom the Mourne MountainsLand of the Prince BishopsFrom the Bishops of Durham.The Maguire CountyFrom the medieval lords, the Maguire (Mag Uidhir) family.FifeKingdom of FifeReferring to the old Kingdom of FifeFlintshire / Sir y FflintFlints / FflintShortening of Flintshire / Shorthand from WelshGloucestershireGlos The King's CountyShortening of Gloucestershire The current King, King Charles III, has his family residence in this county.HampshireHantsThe Hog County Jane Austen's CountyShortening of HampshireWild boar hunting in the New Forest Jane Austen born in HampshireHertfordshireHertsShortening of HertfordshireIsle of Anglesey / Ynys MônMônShortened from the Welsh name for AngleseyIsle of WightVectisAncient Roman name for the county. Locals are called VectensiansKentThe Garden of EnglandFrom the county's produce of fruit and agricultural cropsKincardineshireThe MearnsFrom the Anglicisation of the Scots Gaelic word for The StewartryLancashireThe Red Rose County From the red rose symbol of the Duchy of LancasterLeicestershireLeicsShortening of LeicestershireLincolnshireLincs or yellowbelliesShortening of Lincolnshire, old name for Lincoln’s yellow belly soldiersThe Oak-Leaf CountyDerry, an anglicisation of Doire, is Irish for oak grove, leading to an oak leaf being used on the county crestMiddlesexThe Capital CountyLocation of London, capital of England Monmouthshire / Sir FynwyMons / FynwyShortening of Monmouthshire / Shorthand from WelshNorfolkNelson's CountyNaval officer Horatio Nelson born in Norfolk.NorthamptonshireNorthants / Rose of the ShiresShortening of Northamptonshire / Central position within England.NorthumberlandNorthdShortening of NorthumberlandNottinghamshireNotts Robin Hood's CountryShortening of Nottinghamshire From the legend of Robin Hood.OxfordshireOxon Shortening of OxfordshirePeeblesshireTweeddaleDue to being part of the district of TweeddalePembrokeshire / Sir BenfroPembs / BenfroShortening of Pembrokeshire / Shorthand from WelshThe Red Hand CountyThe O'Neill County"Tyrone among the bushes"From the Red Hand of Ulster on the county's GAA crestFrom the Uí Néill, medieval lords.Of unknown origin. Possibly popularised in a poem A Sigh for Old Times by Strabane poet William CollinsDolan 2006, p.108ShetlandZetlandFrom the archaic spelling for ShetlandShropshireSalopFrom old abbreviations for ShropshireStaffordshireStaffsShortening of StaffordshireSussexSxShortening of SussexWarwickshireWarksAbbreviation for WarwickshireWiltshireThe Moonraker County WiltsLocal gin-smuggling story.WorcestershireWorcsShortening of WorcestershireYorkshireGod's Own CountrySelf-proclaimed

See also List of counties of the United Kingdom List of Irish county nicknames

References